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.

Refer to the attached Guidance Note for full details of the requirements.

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?

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.
To apply, please download and complete the application form. You will need to use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7 or above - you can get this for free here.
Right-click the Application Form (PDF) [180KB] and choose "save link as." Save the form to your device or computer before completing it.

Once you have completed the form, please email it to us at licensing@swdevon.gov.uk.

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.

How much does it cost?

There is no fee payable for a House to House collection permit. However, you must comply with certain regulations.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Please see the download section on the right-hand side for relevant legislation.

You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions here.