York is proud of its long tradition in street entertainment which provides colour, interest and vibrancy to its city centre streets. The city plays host to an all year round programme of events and attracts a diverse range of street entertainers from around the world. To ensure that this valuable tradition continues to thrive, it is important that the city preserves good relations between street performers, the local community and businesses. York therefore operates a 'Busking Badge' registration scheme for street entertainers, which is based on a balance between various statutory laws and a local by-law which gives certain powers to members of the public. The scheme sets down minimum standards that can be expected of entertainers performing on York's streets. All buskers should register under the scheme before performing in the city.

This page sets down the obligations of street performers and provides guidelines to help them perform in York. Following these guidelines will help performers get the best out of York and enable everyone to enjoy the vibrancy that street entertainers provide.

Choosing Your Pitch

Certain areas of the city are more appropriate than others for busking, while some streets have by-laws in place which prohibit busking altogether

Buskers are encouraged to use the city's larger squares, in particular Parliament Street, St Sampsons Square, Exhibition Square and Kings Square (though louder acts should avoid Kings Sq). Please note, however, that some of these squares often host visiting markets and other events. If an event has been/is being set up in the area that you hope to perform, buskers must obtain permission from the event organiser before setting up.

Other city streets also offer spaces for buskers to perform. When choosing your pitch, please ensure that you do not obstruct the flow of pedestrians, including pushchair or wheelchair users. You should also be mindful of the possibility of occasional moving vehicles in the area, being careful not to build up your audience in a position where they may come into conflict with traffic.

Busking is not permitted on Stonegate or The Shambles. Please note that Coppergate Square (near JORVIK) is owned by a private landowner and buskers wishing to perform in this area must first seek permission from the Coppergate Centre Manager's Office on Coppergate Walk.

Sale of Merchandise

The sale of any merchandise (eg, CDs) is not allowed unless an appropriate Street Trading Consent has been obtained from the council's Licensing Unit. Sale of merchandise is not permitted on St Helen 's Square.

Busking For Charities

If you are busking for a charity, you must be able to provide evidence to confirm this (eg, a letter from that charity confirming that you are busking on their behalf).

Amplification

Use of amplifiers and backing tracks are only acceptable in certain areas. Amplifiers must not be used either on King's Square, St Helen's Square or on Davygate. In consideration of nearby businesses, we ask buskers who use amplification not to perform in the same location on more than one occasion between Monday and Friday.

We ask users of amplification to remember that they are performing in a working city and to set their volume at a reasonable level. As a variety of factors can affect sound levels, it is difficult to provide a 'set decibel' for buskers to follow and we ask buskers to exercise some common sense in this matter to avoid disturbance to neighbours. If any issues do arise, however a council officer will help you set your volume at a suitable level: please co-operate with them and follow their advice on a suitable volume level for the future. Performers who repeatedly exceed previously agreed volume levels will have their badge withdrawn.

Safety and Risk Management

We advise all buskers to think about public safety when planning and setting up their act. City of York Council cannot be held liable for the activities of buskers and we advise all buskers to carry Public Liability Insurance (PLI). If granted a badge, fire-breathers or those undertaking 'high-risk' activities (eg, circus / acrobatic) must have PLI (min £2m). Evidence of insurance, along with details of the risks involved in the act and how the performer intends to manage those risks, should be submitted along with the application form. lf you need advice on safety management, please contact our Events Manager on 01904 552270.

Temporary Badges

Temporary Busking Badges may be issued to buskers who only wish to perform in York for a limited period of up to 30 days only (eg, over the Festive Season or during a short-term visit). Temporary buskers should complete the usual application form but note that they only wish to apply for a temporary badge.

Conditions of the Busking Badge:

Please DO:

• Clearly display your busking badge when performing.
• Try to co-ordinate and co-operate with other buskers.
• Try to use recognised busking areas.
• Be considerate to neighbours when setting your volume.
• Vary your pitch from day to day
• Move location after 2 hours.
• Stop busking if requested to do so by anyone who is inconvenienced or disturbed by what you are doing, or if asked by a police or council officer.
• Turn off any microphones if a member of the public or a council or police officer approaches you.

Please DON'T:

• Set up your pitch within 50 metres of another busker.
• Perform for more than 2 hours in the same location.
• Conduct amplified performances in the same location more than once between Monday and Friday.
• Spread out equipment or other items so as to obstruct the flow of pedestrians.
• Busk near phoneboxes, postboxes, doorways or cashpoints.
• Perform on Sunday before midday.
• Busk in an area where an event is already taking place without obtaining the event organiser's permission.
• Actively solicit contributions. This is begging and you could be arrested/ prosecuted if you do.
• Put pressure on another busker who is performing on your preferred pitch.
• Act or speak aggressively to people exercising their right to ask you to stop.
• 'Reserve' a pitch in advance of your performance (eg, by setting down equipment early on Sunday before noon).
• Perform under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.
• Behave in a manner causing or likely to cause a 'Breach of the Peace'.

Buskers who breach any of the above conditions will risk having their badge temporarily withdrawn. Those who repeatedly breach these conditions may have their badge permanently withdrawn. Anyone considered to be under the influence of drugs/alcohol will be dealt with immediately and will have their badge withdrawn.