The City:
Busking, permits, filming and events

Brisbane City Council requires permits for any activities or events that are in public places, such as filming, vehicle access and performances.

IN THIS ARTICLE
IN THIS ARTICLE

Busking in Brisbane City

Dancing to the beat of your own drum is easy for buskers in Brisbane City.

Busking is allowed wherever you like in Brisbane City, except in Queen Street Mall, Reddacliff Place or the Valley Malls. Council regulates busking in these locations to ensure pedestrian safety. If you would like to busk in these spots, you must first earn a busking licence through a formal audition process.

How to apply for a Busking licence in Brisbane City:

01. If you are under 18, you will need a letter of support from your parent/guardian consenting to you performing as a busker in the City of Brisbane Local Government Area. If you are under 16, this letter must also state that the parent/guardian agrees to accompany the applicant to each and every performance. The letter of support needs to be attached to your online application as a PDF, Word or jpg file.

02. Complete your Malls Busking Audition Application which can be located here.

03. Complete your audition at the Queen Street Mall stage between 9am and 1pm on Saturday 18 February 2023, Saturday 20 May 2023 and Saturday 19 August 2023.

Once a permit is obtained, buskers must also obey the city's Busking Code of Conduct, which includes requirements such as not blocking pedestrian traffic, not playing amplified sound after 9pm, and not performing in unauthorised areas.

Filming in Brisbane City

Brisbane City is a popular filming location for many productions offering a range of filming locations, from city centre streets to suburban parks and waterways.

Brisbane City Council regulates film production and still photography to ensure that activities are carried out safely and disruption to residents and businesses is minimised.

The first step in filming in a public place in Brisbane City is to contact the Brisbane City Council to obtain a Filming Permit. This permit allows filmmakers to film on public land such as parks, streets, and footpaths and will specify the filming locations and times, as well as any other conditions that need to be met.

In addition to the Filming Permit, filmmakers will also need to check with the local council to see if there are any noise or safety restrictions in place for the area.

For more information, phone the Brisbane City Council Film Approvals Liaison Officer on 133 263.

Event and Venue Hire

Queen Street Mall is Queensland’s premier shopping, entertainment and leisure hub. If you are planning an event or function in Brisbane City, you will need to apply for a permit from the Brisbane City Council.

Commercial Activities

Commercial events may involve the exchange of goods or services for a fee, or the promotion of a business activity or entity. Examples of commercial events include product launches or brand promotions.

To apply for consent under the Public Land and Council Assets Local Law 2014, complete the Use of City Malls for Special Event online form.

To ask to use the malls for a commercial activity or promotion, please contact:

  • For Queen Street Mall, Brisbane Economic Development Agency
  • For Brunswick Street Mall and Chinatown Mall, City Malls Management.

It is recommended that you seek consent from Council at least five working days before your event.

Vehicle Access

To ensure pedestrian safety, traffic restrictions apply to all malls. You must obtain a permit of vehicle access for cars, trucks and other types of vehicles.

To apply for an annual or weekly vehicle access permit complete the Malls Traffic Permit Application online form and pay by credit card. Permits take five working days to process.

If you have any questions call City Malls management on 07 3403 8195.