Street collection licences

Information about street collection licences including a definition of a 'public place'.

It is illegal in this country to hold a Street Collection in a street or public place to collect money or sell articles for the benefit of charitable or other purposes without obtaining a Street Collection Licence from the Council. A 'public place' is a 'place where the public has access'.

It is often assumed that collections held in shop doorways or car parks do not need a Street Collection Licence because they are being held on 'privately owned land'. This is not true, as the legislation does not mention the ownership of the land or treat collections on 'privately owned land' as exempt from the licensing regulations. A shop doorway or car park, when that shop is open for trading, is a 'public place' because the public has access at that time.

No other licence would be valid. A Pedlars Licence, issued by the Police cannot be used for this purpose. Only Local Authorities issue Street Collection Licences under Section 5 of the Police, Factories, etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1916, as amended by the Local Government Act 1972 and Schedule 29 of that Act.

There is no cost for the issuing of consent but there are rules to be followed.

• Street Collections are usually made by Charities.
• Collections usually take place in a town centre on busy shopping days.
• Money is collected in tins.
• the person collecting to make a return to the council following the collection.

There are regulations, which govern this type of collection. Consents are restricted to enable charities to raise money without their collections clashing with those of other charities.

The purpose of the legal requirement to obtain consent is to ensure collectors are properly authorised and that money is collected in a secure way and the total proceeds collected are properly accounted for.

How to Apply for a Licence

To apply please contact Licensing for a Street collection licence application.

Contact Details

For more information please contact Licensing:

Trading Standards & Licensing
PO Box 1833
Solihull
B91 9DZ
Tel: 0121 704 8003
Fax: 0121 704 6888
Email: connectcc@solihull.gov.uk

We will respond to any request for advice within the following time frame

• Telephone calls - 95% answered
• Telephone messages - responded to within two working days
• Personal callers - initial consultation at Solihull Connect, a further appointment will be made necessary
• Email responded to within one working day
• Letters and faxes responded to within five working days from receipt