FAQs
Northwest corner of Government and Wharf Streets
Northeast corner of Government and Courtney Streets
Northwest corner of Government and Broughton Streets
Near the northwest corner of Government and Fort Streets
Near the Government and View Street intersection (next to Trounce Alley entrance)
Upper Causeway near the Visitor Centre
Ship Point
Bastion Square (plaza area near Wharf Street)
Bastion Square (southwest corner of Langley and Bastion Streets)
Johnson Street plaza
Northwest corner of Broad and Fort Streets
Northeast corner of Broad and Yates Streets
Northeast corner of Douglas and Broughton Streets
Competency and skill in performance
Engagement with audience
Expressiveness and confidence
Innovation and originality
What is the City of Victoria’s Street Entertainment Bylaw?
The City’s Street Entertainment Bylaw sets out basic guidelines for street entertainers to follow when busking in Victoria.
What is busking?
Busking means to entertain people in an outdoor public space. It provides an opportunity for street entertainers to perform in return for voluntary donations by passersby. It can include singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, street theatre, juggling, mime, magic tricks and more.
Busking dates back to medieval times. Local merchants would invite buskers to perform at their storefronts to attract customers.
Why is the City reviewing its Street Entertainment Bylaw now?
The City of Victoria is reviewing its Street Entertainment Bylaw to improve the quality of busking performances downtown. Concerns have been expressed by the busking, business and downtown resident community about the quality, locations and timing of performances.
The City’s Street Entertainment Bylaw, which guides busking downtown, was last updated in 2012. The review is part of the OUR DWTN program’s vision for a refreshed and improved downtown experience.
The review also aligns with objectives outlined in Victoria’s Music Strategy. A specific action item is: increase music programming budget and the busking licensing program to expand music in publicly accessible places.
Currently, who can perform as a busker in downtown Victoria?
Currently, anyone who considers themselves to be a busker may apply for an annual Street Entertainment licence through the City of Victoria. Auditions are not required. Licensed buskers must comply with the guidelines of the City’s Street Entertainment Bylaw.
What happens if a busker doesn't comply with the Street Entertainment Bylaw?
City Bylaw officers investigate non-compliance proactively through patrols and respond to submitted complaints. The goal is to achieve compliance through education.
When there is repeated non-compliance, a range of consequences can be applied, such as suspensions of licences, fines or the temporary seizure of equipment.
How many buskers were licensed in 2023? How many in 2024
Over 200 buskers were licensed in 2023. As of mid-June 2024, there are 324.
Under the City’s Street Entertainment Bylaw, where can buskers perform?
City-licensed buskers may perform in locations that do not obstruct business entrances or the flow of pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
In addition, buskers must select a space that is not too close to another street entertainer and are to perform no more than two consecutive hours in one location.
This summer, licensed buskers are asked to use the five designated busking locations along Government Street that are being piloted, rather than anywhere on the street.
What is the City piloting this summer for feedback in an online survey?
Based on input from a stakeholder working group representing buskers, local businesses, downtown residents and the Downtown Victoria Business Association, the City is piloting new busking locations downtown this summer, which will be identified by “Busking in Victoria” pavement decals.
The decals will include a QR code linking to the City’s online survey and identify if the spot is an "Elevated" Busking Location.
Five designated busking locations will be available along Government Street from Yates to Wharf Streets for any licensed busker to use on a first come-first served basis to perform for tips.
Buskers are to follow the rules of the City’s Street Entertainment Bylaw. The five designated busking locations include:
Eight curated "elevated" busking locations around downtown will be open to licensed buskers who have been selected in an audition/juried process and invited to sign up to perform on scheduled dates and times at:
Auditioned/juried buskers will be paid $50 per scheduled performance to complement their tips at the "elevated" busking locations.
All licensed buskers may perform in other areas downtown as per the City's Street Entertainment Bylaw.
The pilot will end on September 19, 2024.
Can buskers perform outside of these 13 piloted locations this summer?
Licensed buskers may perform just about anywhere in Victoria, as long as they abide by the City’s Street Entertainment Bylaw. Busking is not allowed in parks.
For the busking pilot this summer, on Government Street specifically, the City is asking licensed buskers to only perform at the five identified, designated busking locations.
What will happen if a busker doesn't abide by the piloted locations on Government Street?
The City anticipates that local buskers will comply with the piloted locations on Government Street this summer.
Those who busk outside of these five designated locations along Government Street will be provided information about the busking pilot and asked to comply.
Do all buskers need to audition to busk downtown this summer?
No. The City is conducting a juried process to select licensed buskers to perform at eight elevated busking sites that are being piloted around downtown this summer.
Licensed buskers were invited by email to sign up online to participate in a juried process that took place on June 14 and 17.
Each busker was given five minutes to perform in front of judges. Buskers were evaluated based on the following:
An additional juried process will take place in mid-July. Licensed buskers will be invited by email or phone at the beginning of July to sign up for a time slot to audition.
An information booth will be available on Canada Day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at a busking showcase at Ship Point for local buskers and the public to learn more about the pilot and the online survey.
How much does it cost to apply for an annual busking licence to perform in downtown Victoria?
The cost to apply for an annual busking licence is $25.
Will this review propose an increase in the busking licence fee?
The annual busking licensing fee, which has not increased since 2012, will be reviewed as part of this pilot and through conversations with local buskers this summer.
Under the current Street Entertainment Bylaw, do buskers need to audition to obtain a licence? And is this something being considered in the City’s review?
No, buskers do not have to audition to receive their City of Victoria Street Entertainment licence. This may be considered as part of this year’s review.
Where can sound-amplified buskers currently perform?
Currently, sound-amplified busking is not allowed in Victoria. Only buskers who have been selected through the piloted, juried process this summer may perform at the elevated busking Ship Point location, where amplification will be allowed for public feedback.
Performances at all eight elevated busking locations will be scheduled by City staff.
Will this year’s review create changes to sound-amplified busking in 2025?
This summer, we are engaging with the community and local buskers on their level of support for specific sound-amplified locations for juried buskers. Their feedback will help inform recommendations for Council’s consideration to potentially pilot specific amplified locations next year.