Permits are valid from the date of issue until December 31 each year.

Steps

1. Send us an e-mail to book an appointment. 
2. Bring all required documents to the Accès Montréal office on the day of your appointment.  
3. We’ll give you a form to fill out.  
4. Once you’ve completed the form, you’ll be able to pay the fee and receive your permit.  
5. To perform at certain locations, you’ll also need to register online. 

Rules

Please see the PDF Street Performers’ Guide (in French) below.

Amplifiers

The use of sound amplification equipment or a soundtrack must not be heard more than 25 metres away. Percussion instruments or brass instruments must not be amplified.

Fire performances

An accreditation from the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal is required in order for the permit to be issued. See safety requirements for special effects and requirements for fire artists. The applicant must then call 514-872-2662 or complete this form.

Solicitation

Street artists can only sell services or goods that result directly from his or her work. They are authorized to sell their own goods at the location where they are performing, during their performance. They cannot sell products from other musicians or groups to which they belong.

Soliciting children in any way is prohibited.

Authorized locations

When no other activities are scheduled, street performers are allowed on all public property in the borough from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., except on sites where a program of events already been authorized.

Certain restrictions apply in some parts of the borough, such as the area around the Quartier des spectacles, Île Sainte-Hélène, Île Notre-Dame, Parc du Mont Royal and the Old Port.

Performances cannot last more than one hour at the same location. After this time, the permit holder must move to another location at least 60 metres away from the original location until at least an hour has passed since the original performance in this location.

Place d’Armes and Place Jacques-Cartier

To perform on Place d’Armes or Place Jacques-Cartier (and surroundings), musicians, public entertainers and balloon sculptors that hold a valid permit must register using the borough’s online reservation system: mapvillemarie.com (in French).

It is prohibited to offer a service within 2 metres of a site reserved by another person. Balloon sculptors are not permitted on Place d’Armes.

Old Montréal

Within the area bounded by Rue de la Commune Est, Rue Berri, Rue Saint-Antoine Est and Rue Saint-François-Xavier, the activities of street performers are authorized only at designated locations on Place d’Armes and Place Jacques-Cartier (and surrounding areas). Permit holders must register using the borough’s online reservation system: mapvillemarie.com (in French).

Old Port of Montréal

Street performers are not allowed to perform in the Old Port area.

Île Sainte-Hélène, Île Notre-Dame et La Ronde

Street performers are not allowed to perform on Île Sainte-Hélène, Île Notre-Dame or La Ronde.

Fees

• PDF file Guide to musicians, public entertainers and balloon sculptors – Ville-Marie (in French) [PDF 324 KB]

• By-law concerning musicians and public entertainers performing on public property (in French)