Apply for a sports ground or stand safety certificate

Use this guide to find out more about the different types of sports ground safety certificates and how to apply.

Apply to certify a regulated stand at a sports ground

Sports grounds which are not required to hold a sports ground safety certificate for the entire ground still require a safety certificate for any covered stand that holds 500 or more spectators. This is issued by the council under the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987.

What you need to know...

A safety certificate may be either:

  • a general safety certificate which covers the use of the stand for viewing an activity, or a number of activities, specified in the certificate for an indefinite period which starts on a specific date
  • a special safety certificate which covers the use of the stand for viewing a certain specified activity or activities on a certain specified occasion or occasions.

One certificate may cover more than one stand.

A person holding a general safety certificate must be responsible for the management of the ground.

A person holding a special safety certificate must be responsible for the activity to be viewed from the stand on that occasion.

Costs for this service

Type of application Application fee
Application for a new certificate £5,500
Application to change a certificate £1,000
Application to transfer a certificate £1,000

Do it online

Certify a regulated stand at a sports ground

Next steps

Once we receive your application, we must determine whether the stand is a regulated stand, and if it is, whether you qualify for the certificate.

We will send copies of an application for a safety certificate to

  • the Metropolitan Police
  • the London Fire Brigade
  • our Building Control officers.

Each of these bodies must be consulted about the terms and conditions to be included in a certificate. We will also consult these bodies about any proposed amendment, replacement or transfer applications.

We will also consider whether you are in a position to prevent any breach of the terms and conditions of a certificate.