Who needs one?
Charitable organisations who are planning to hold a collection of money (or articles for sale or use) by means of visits from house to house (including business premises).
When to make an application?
Applications for house to house collections must be made at least four weeks before the proposed date of the collection. The licence, together with a form for The Stationery Office, will normally be issued within one week of the application being submitted.
How do I apply?
Download application for house to house collection licence (PDF 19Kb)
Please submit your application to Licensing Services at least 28 days before the proposed collection.
How much will it cost?
There is no charge for a house to house collection licence. However, once a licence has been issued, you will need to apply to The Stationery Office for copies of the certificate of authority and badges (which you will need to supply to all your collectors). The Stationery Office charges for badges: 30p each £4 for 20 £10 for 100 plus a handling charge of £3 (plus VAT) per order (all other prices are inclusive of VAT and payable to The Stationery Office.
The council will supply you with an order form for this purpose when your licence is issued.
When can I hold a collection and how long can I hold it for?
There are no restrictions on the allocation of dates for house to house collections, or on the length of the collection (provided it is less than one calendar year). Many collections are carried out by regional or national charitable organisations who often book their collections well in advance. If you would like to be sure that your collection will not clash with another organisation, please contact us and check in advance of completing your application form.
Contact details
Licensing Services
St Edmundsbury Borough Council
Borough Offices
Angel Hill
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 1XB
Phone: 01284 757103/757119
Email: licensing@stedsbc.gov.uk
