Charity Collections

Find out about licences for house-to-house collection and street collections for charity.

House-to-House Collection Permit

If you want to carry out a house-to-house collection for a charity you will need a licence from the council.

Are there any Exemptions?

Some of the larger or well-known charities such as Christian Aid and Help the Aged etc, have an exemption order granted to them by the Home Office and this saves them from having to apply to the licensing authority for a permit.

How do I apply?

  1. We operate a diary booking system for collections and you must contact us at licensing@swdevon.gov.uk to check that your required date(s) are available.
  2. To apply, please download and complete the application form below:
  3. Once you have completed the form, please upload it via our webform:

Upload your application form

We assess all applications to make sure collections are being made legitimately for a genuine good cause.

The target completion date is 28 days after receipt of your completed application (including all associated supporting documents, if required).

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

Yes. This means that if you have not heard from us within the target completion period of 28 days you will be able to act as though your application is granted. Please note this period will not commence until a complete application has been submitted.

We would always recommend that you contact us for a copy of your permission, as you are required to have this when making collections.

Additional Information

You can read our Frequently Asked Questions here.


Charitable Street Collection Permits

To carry out street collections for charitable purposes in the district, you need a licence from the Council.

Licence Summary

A permit is needed if a street collection is being carried out on public land and the proceeds are being donated to a charity or for a charitable purpose. The definition of 'street' is wide and includes any highway, public bridge, road, lane, footway, square, court, alley or passage.

You must give at least 28 days' notice of any collection. Applications which do not give the required period of notice will be rejected.

Within one month of the date of any collection the applicant must submit to the Council a financial return showing how much money was collected, any expenses and what happened to the remainder. The financial return has to be signed by the applicant and certified by an accountant (or other independent responsible person who has previously been accepted by the Council).

Refer to the Guidance Notes for full details of the requirements.

How do I apply?

  1. We operate a diary booking system for collections and you must contact us at licensing@swdevon.gov.uk to check that your required date(s) are available.
  2. To apply, please download and complete the application form below:
  3. Once you have completed the form, please upload it via our webform:

Upload your application form

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

Yes. This means that if you have not heard from us within the target completion period of 28 days you will be able to act as though your application is granted. Please note this period will not commence until a complete application has been submitted.

We would always recommend that you contact us for a copy of your permission as you are required to have this when making collections.