Safety in Sports Grounds Certificates - Applying for a Licence

If you operate a sports ground in England, Scotland or Wales that holds more than 10,000 spectators, you may be required to hold a safety certificate.

A safety certificate may be either:

• a general safety certificate issued for the use of a sports ground for a specified activity, or activities, during an indefinite period
• a special safety certificate for the use of a sports ground for a specified activity or activities on a specified occasion or occasions

Safety certificates are obtained from your local authority.

To be eligible for a safety certificate, you must be likely to be in a position to prevent contravention of the terms and conditions of a certificate.

You must comply with any terms or conditions attached to a certificate.

Information on the sports grounds legislation can be found in the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975

A list of legislation affecting sports grounds can be found here.

If you wish to apply for a safety certificate or to change the details of an existing licence, download a copy of the application for a safety certificate - designated ground form here.

Download a copy of the Licence Fees

Applicants must provide requested information and plans to the local authority within the time specified. If the applicant fails to provide the requested information within the specified time the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.

A local authority will consider if the applicant is in a position to prevent any breach of the terms and conditions of a certificate.

The local authority must send a copy of an application for a safety certificate to the chief police officer of the area and the fire and rescue authority. Each of these bodies must be consulted about the terms and conditions to be included in a certificate.

If an application is made to transfer a certificate the local authority must determine if the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred, if they made an application, would qualify for the issue of a certificate. The applicant may be the current holder of the certificate or the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred.

The local authority must send a copy of a transfer application to the chief police officer of the area, the fire and rescue authority if they are not that authority and the building authority if they are not that authority in England and Wales. In Scotland they shall send an application to the chief police officer and either the fire authority or building authority. They shall consult them about any proposed amendment, replacement or transfer.

If there are any areas where improvement is needed, we will provide you with the information you need to comply with the licensing conditions.

The size and complexity of a sports ground or regulated stand, and the ability of the premises management to provide information and carry out any works required, will affect the time involved in the various actions needed to prepare, issue and monitor a General Safety Certificate. Please note that it can take some months for the process to be completed and a certificate issued.

Once your premises have a certificate, we will inspect as appropriate and when renewing your certificate, and we may also carry out interim visits. As part of the certification process, you will need to update us with any changes to your business.

Please note that some details of your premises may be included on our web-site, and your details may also be shared with other statutory bodies as appropriate.

Tacit approval does not apply to this licence, as it is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within 28 days, please contact us for an update on your application.

Please note that the overall approval process will take longer than 28 days, to allow for the necessary consultation processes .

If your application is refused, or if you do not accept any of the licence conditions imposed as part of the approval, you should contact the officer dealing with your licence in the first instance. We will always inform you of the appeal procedures when refusing a licence, or on request. We will also inform you of our complaints procedure, should you feel that your application has been improperly processed.

Any applicant who is refused a safety certificate because they are not considered to be an eligible person can appeal to the Magistrates court. An applicant who is refused a special safety certificate may also appeal to the Magistrates court against a refusal of his application based on grounds other than a decision that they are not an eligible person.

Any licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, their safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate, may appeal to the Magistrates court. They may also appeal to the county court against an order of the Magistrate's court.

Any person concerned in ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the safety certificate may appeal to the Magistrate's court against any condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, a safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate.

Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA)