Introduction

It is an offence to distribute 'free printed matter' within Oxford without our consent.

This includes:

Examples of activities that would require our consent are:

a promoter for a nightclub giving out flyers to passing members of the public promoting an event at a venue
the owner of a shop giving out leaflets to passing members of the public promoting the sale of goods at their premises
an estate agent who leaves a box of property newspapers on the street at the entrance to their premises
a board left outside a college promoting a theatre production that has a pocket containing leaflets attached to it
a pile of flyers left on top of a piece of street furniture or a window ledge for passing members of the public to pick up
a promotional stand set up in the street from which free leaflets are available promoting tourist activities such as bus rides or walking tours
a promoter placing leaflets under the windscreen wipers of parked cars in a park and ride car park

Exemptions and summary consent

We allow distribution of printed matter without any further consent if it is:

for the benefit of a charity,
for political purposes
for the purpose of a religion or belief
by an organisation promoting public health or carbon reduction (NHS, Fire Service, Police, Health Protection Agency, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Environment Agency)
by an organisation promoting bus travel within Oxford (Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach, Thames Travel)