Organisations wanting to fundraise or appeal for donations in a public place must obtain a fundraising permit from us.
Fundraising permits are usually granted for charitable organisations, local non-profit groups and other organisations whose activities will benefit the residents of the City of Whittlesea.
Charitable organisations are those who use the proceeds from their fundraising activities to relieve poverty, suffering or social distress.
Non-profit groups generally provide a service to the community and aim to enhance the wellbeing of residents.
Fundraising permits are only issued to registered charitable organisations. There are no fees applicable to registered charitable organisations.
Street stalls selling food may need to pay a fee for Temporary Food Act registration.
Get more information about market stalls and food trucks
Your organisation must hold a public liability insurance policy for at least $10 million in the joint names of the Council and the organisation.
This policy must be current for the period of the fundraising and insure the organisation and Council against any actions, costs, claims or damages that may arise from the event.
We accept no responsibility for any property damage, injury or financial loss arising from running a fundraising event.
To apply for a fundraising permit, complete and submit a charity fundraising permit form.
We must receive your application for a fundraising permit one to three months before the proposed date of the fundraising event.
Applications submitted earlier or later than this will not be accepted.
You can lodge your application in person or by mail.
Apply in person
Bring your completed form and a copy of your current public liability policy to our Local Laws counter.
Civic Centre
25 Ferres Boulevard
South Morang
Apply by mail
Post your completed form and a copy of your current public liability policy to:
City of Whittlesea
Locked Bag 1
Bundoora MDC, VIC 3083
Download the charity fundraising permit form
Charity fundraising permit form - accessible word doc(DOCX, 30KB)
Charity fundraising permit form - accessible pdf(PDF, 107KB)
If approved, you will receive your permit within five business days of your application date.
Different conditions apply depending on which type of fundraising permit you need.
Appeals on streets/footpaths
Organisations appealing for public donations on the footpath, street, parkland, playground or in any other public place, must:
- provide proof of the business owner's permission, if the public appeal will take place outside a shop
- obey Victoria's Road Rules and the Road Safety (General) Regulations 1999
- ensure people involved with the public appeal wear highly visible clothing
- ensure each site has at least one supervisor who will have a copy of the relevant permit to show police or Council when requested
- have appropriate signage in place at each site
- not take place in a location with tram services
- ensure each site does not cause any inconvenience to pedestrian or vehicular traffic
- notify the closest Victoria Police station when the public appeal will take place.
Door knocks
Organisations holding a door knock to raise money for a club or charity must:
- clearly identify each person involved in the door knock
- produce a copy of the permit to any door-knocked residents upon request
- tell the closest Victoria Police station when the door knock will take place.
The maximum number of door knocks allowed within the City of Whittlesea is four per year, to ensure maximum success for each door knock and to avoid inconvenience to residents.
Highway collections
Organisations holding a collection at intersections to raise money for a club or charity must:
- obtain a separate highway permit from the Victoria Police and obey any conditions
- ensure highway collectors wear highly visible clothing and obey Victoria's Road Rules and the Road Safety (General) Regulations 1999
- ensure each site has at least one supervisor with a copy of the relevant permit to show police or Council when requested
- have appropriate signage in place at each site
- not take place at any locations with tram services
- ensure each site doesn't cause any inconvenience to pedestrian or vehicular traffic
- notify the closest Victoria Police Station when the highway collection will take place.
The maximum number of highway collections allowed within the City of Whittlesea is four per year, to ensure maximum success for each collection and to avoid inconvenience to residents.
Visit the Victoria Police website to apply for a highway permit.
Outdoor raffles
Fundraising permits for outdoor raffles are temporary and are valid only for the duration of the raffle.
Organisations holding a raffle in a public shopping centre, in parks, or on a footpath or nature strip, must:
- adhere to the requirements of the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
- provide proof of the business owner's permission, if raffle tickets will be sold outside a shop
- ensure raffle ticket sellers wear highly visible clothing or identifying badges
- obey Victoria's Road Rules, the Road Safety (General) Regulations 1999
- ensure each raffle site has at least one supervisor who will have a copy of the relevant permit to show police or Council when requested
- have appropriate signage in place at each site
- ensure each raffle site does not cause any inconvenience to pedestrian or vehicular traffic
- notify the closest Victoria Police Station before raffle sales begin.
Street stalls
You do not need a permit for stalls held on private land such as shopping centres, the Northern Hospital or RMIT, but you will need to ask the owners' permission.
Fundraising permits for street stalls are temporary and valid only for the duration of the stall.
Organisations holding a street stall on a footpath or in a public carpark must:
- hold the stall at an agreed location
- provide proof of the business owner's permission, if the stall is located outside a shop
- ensure the stall has at least one stall supervisor who will have a copy of the relevant permit
- ensure the stall does not block pedestrian or vehicle traffic and is clear of shop doorways
- ensure food being sold is adequately wrapped or enclosed
- hold Temporary Food Act registration
- remove all goods, materials and rubbish at the end of the stall
- leave the site in a clean and tidy condition.
See details on getting Temporary Food Act registration