Sports ground - safety certificate

If you operate a sports ground that holds more than 10,000 spectators, or a designated football ground that holds more than 5000 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; or
• 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 us, you must comply with any terms or conditions attached to the certificate.

The fee for an application is dependant on the size and complexity of the project and are for the cost of the administration, preparation, printing and advertising of the new certificate.

If you require any further information about the cost of the application, please contact the Chief Building Surveyor at building.control@manchester.gov.uk

You may wish to print the guidance notes before completing the application online.

Application and guidance notes

Within 10 working days of receipt of a completed application, an officer will contact you to discuss the next steps.

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. Read a summary of the regulation relating to this licence.

Contact us in the first instance via email:  contact@manchester.gov.uk

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.