Why do I need a safety certificate for a sports ground?
All sports grounds / stadium with a capacity of more than 10,000 spectators, together with all football league and rugby league grounds irrespective of capacity require a safety certificate issued by the Local Authority issued under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975.
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.
You must comply with any terms or conditions attached to a certificate.
What do the Regulations say?
Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987
Who can apply?
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.
What is the application process?
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fails to provide the requested information within the specified time the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.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, 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. 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.
Application process and Council procedures
The Legislation sets out certain requirements in terms of considering an application for a certificate but our policy document attached here gives further details on how we will consider; process and administer the certification process Safety certificate procedure
Is the certificate granted if I do not hear from the Licensing Authority? - (Tacit Consent)
No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within the target completion period of 2 months, please contact us.
Fees
Dependant on application. Please contact for advice. Contact us.
How to Apply
Or
Download application form for a Safety Certificate at Sports Grounds (PDF, 24KB)
What if the application is refused?
Please contact us in the first instance.
Any applicant who is refused a safety certificate 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.
Can I appeal against a decision made on my application?
Please contact us in the first instance.
Any certificate 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.
Making a complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the certificate holder by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, the Citizens Advice Bureau will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
More on appeals
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.
Trade Associations
Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA)
Scottish Sports Association (SSA)