Place of Public Entertainment (POPE)

When do you need a place of public entertainment (POPE) permit

A place of public entertainment is a building or place used or intended to be used for conducting public entertainment or a public meeting - being either of the following:

• A public assembly building of more than 500m2 or
• A place of more than 500m2, which may include the erection of a prescribed temporary structure being one of the following:
• A seating stand for more than 20 persons
• A marquee of more than 100m2
• A tent of more than 100m2
• A booth of more than 100m2
• A stage or platform of more than 150m2

Public Entertainment means an entertainment or meeting to which admission may ordinarily be gained by members of the public.

Examples of Public Entertainment

• Festivals
• Carnivals/Circus
• Community fairs/agricultural shows
• Rodeos
• Outdoor Cinema
• Sporting events
• Community Cup/Races
• Live Performances (e.g. music concerts/festivals)

Safety Officers

The role of the Safety Officer is of critical importance in terms of managing public safety during an event. It is important that the Safety Officer/Officers have the required training and expertise to perform that role. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), run recognised training courses for Safety Officers for a Place of Public Entertainment. Please contact the MFB to obtain information in relation to such training or to obtain contact details of trained Safety Officers who may be able to provide their services for your event.

Exemptions

When you complete our event application form our Deputy Municipal Building Surveyor will assess the application and advise if your event is exempt from a POPE permit.

The regulations exempt community-based organisations from the requirements of an occupancy permit for place of public entertainment, if:

Regulation 206(1)(b) prescribes a class of places as a place with an area greater than 500m2 unless:

(i) the place is used for the purposes of conducting an event or activity which is organised and controlled by a community-based organisation; and

(ii) the number of persons in the place at any one time during the event or activity does not exceed 5000.

Regulation 206(2) clarifies that a community-based organisation means a body that:

(i) is not established primarily for the purposes of profit or gain; and

(ii) does not distribute any part of any profit or gain made in the conduct of its activities to any member of the organisation; and

(iii) operates in a community wholly for:

a. a philanthropic or benevolent purpose including promotion of art, culture, science, religion, education, or charity, or

b. any sporting or recreational purpose, including the benefitting of any sporting or recreational club or association.

In some instances, community-based organisations host events that require an occupancy permit for POPE. These events are larger scale (e.g., the number of persons in the place at any one time during the event or activity exceeds 5,000 in a place larger than 500m²), where the event is conducted in an enclosed or semi enclosed place and entry to the event is controlled, or to which admission can be gained by payment of an admission fee or other consideration.

Prescribed temporary structures

Some temporary structures require an occupancy permit before they can be used for public entertainment.

These structures include:

• tents, marquees or booths with a floor area greater than 100m²
• seating stands for more than 20 people
• stages or platforms (including sky boarders and stage wings) exceeding 150m² in floor area
• prefabricated buildings exceeding 100m² other than ones placed directly on the ground surface.

Temporary Structures Application Form(DOCX, 109KB)

To apply for a POPE Occupancy Permit and Siting Approval for temporary structures please download and complete a POPE Permit Application(PDF, 287KB)

If you are exempt from a POPE but your event has Prescribed temporary structures complete the Temporary Structures Application Form(DOCX, 109KB)