Rules for Munich Street Artists

Here is a letter from the City of Munich to artists in Munich wanting to perform, show and create art on the streets of the pedestrian zone of Munich, Germany.

Dear street musicians and street artists in Munich,

Despite the fact that the city and the city administration generally take pleasure in your musical and artistic performances in the pedestrian zone, our experience in recent years has shown that the large number of musicians and artists and some of their instruments have become a nuisance to residents and businesspeople.

That’s why the City Council decided to issue some general rules.
On the one hand, these rules will guarantee that as many interested street musicians and artists as possible will repeatedly get a chance to perform. On the other hand, these rules will also make sure that residents and those working in nearby shops will not be bothered too much.

The following rules need to be followed:

A. Musicians

1. Every day, up to five permits will be issued for the morning (performance allowed from 11am until 2 pm) and five permits will be issued for the afternoon (performance allowed from 3 pm until 10 pm).
   From 2 to 3 pm, playing music is prohibited.These permits can only be picked up the day you wish to perform, Monday-Friday 10 am – 8 pm and Saturday 10 am – 4 pm. Permits are available at the city information office in the City Hall (Marienplatz, 80331 Munich) for a fee of € 10.00
2. Every musician can be issued a permit on a maximum two days from Monday to Saturday.
3. The musician will have to change his/her pitch every 60 minutes; every pitch can only be used once a day.
4. Interested musicians can only pick up their permit in person upon production of his/her identity card or passport.
5. If several musicians (a maximum of 5) wish to perform together, such a “small band”, has to apply for a permit together. On this joint permit, the names of all musicians must be listed. Such a permit can also be obtained at the office mentioned under A.1.
6. Several musical instruments which are considered particularly annoying must not be used; this especially applies to:
   • wind instruments (trumpet, saxophone, trombone, etc.)
   • drums and similar rhythm instruments
   • bagpipes
   • barrel organs
   • keyboards
   • electronic instruments
   • amplifiers
7. On Sundays and on public holidays a total of only 10 permits will be issued for the afternoon (1 pm – 10 pm). Starting at 3 pm on the workday before the respective Sunday or public holiday these permits can be collected in the office mentioned under A1.
   Permits issued for Sundays and public holidays are not relevant to the rule that only two permits can be issued within a period of Monday-Saturday.All musicians will have to audition at the city information office.

B. Statues

1. Every day, a maximum of three permits for the period from 12:15 pm until 10 pm of the same day will be issued. These permits are available at the office mentioned under A.1 for a fee of € 10.00.

2. Every artist can be issued a permit on a maximum of three days from Monday to Saturday.

3. The artist will have to change his/her pitch every 60 minutes; every pitch can only be used once a day.
4. On Sundays and public holidays, permits are issued for the period from 1 pm – 10 pm. Starting at 10 am on the workday before the respective Sunday or public holiday these permits can be collected in the office mentioned under A1.
5. Permits issued for Sundays and public holidays are not relevant to the rule that only three permits can be issued within a period of Monday-Saturday.All artists will have to audition.

C. Active Street Artists

1. Every day, a maximum of two permits for the period from 12:15 pm until 10 pm of the same day will be issued. These permits are available at the office mentioned under A.1 for a fee of € 10.00.
2. Every artist can be issued a permit on a maximum of three days from Monday to Saturday.
3. On Sundays and public holidays, permits are issued for the period from 1 pm – 10 pm. Starting at 3 pm on the workday before the respective Sunday or public holiday these permits can be collected in the office mentioned under A1.
4. Permits issued for Sundays and public holidays are not relevant to the rule that only three permits can be issued within a period of Monday-Saturday.
5. Performances involving fire, knives or animals will not be permitted.
6. The artist will have to change his/her pitch every 60 minutes; every pitch can only be used once a day.All artists will have to audition.

D. Sidewalk Artists

See rules 1-4 under C.
5. A maximum area of 10 m2 may be used.
Every artist will have to show sketches of his/her works of art.

The City of Munich regrets that these rules entail some bureaucracy for performances which are, in principle, beautiful and very welcome in our city.
Please understand that in cases of conflicting interests, mutual consideration sometimes unfortunately needs to be helped along by some rules.

Contact Information:

City of Munich
Managerial Board
Press and Information Office City Information Office
City Hall, Marienplatz 8 80331 München
Phone: 089 / 22 23 24