Is busking legal?

It depends on where you live.

It all depends on the city's ordinance. Even though it is legal in a lot of cities, most have different rules and regulations you must follow.

Yes

And it not only depends on where you live, but where you are performing and where you are from. Some areas of Europe will be problematic if you are (or if you sound) American. Of course it may be the same in the US in terms of profiling working foreigners.

Just remember...

it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission....

But it's more expensive to come up with bail.

Bail or jail? Does a magician get to use a Magician's Choice for this? Would a person get arrested for a first-time violation? If so, what city? I don't think it would happen for first-time offence in New Zealand. I have yet to be challenged for setting up in NZ without permission. Different rules for different countries/cities, no doubt.

On the books leagle and what you can get away with is often different. If the cops don't know the law, and think you are a problem then so will you, however if you are not causing problems and the cops have higher priorities, they may pass you buy, eaven if you are not quite leagle.
Philli as of last I looked had no busking laws, most of the city people we talked to had no idea what we were talking about, and would send us to a difrent department. as best as I can work out, the only thing they have is an agressive panhandling law. It is a stick they can shake at you gut not hit you with.

All this to get to the point that MMReed made. and don't tick off the cops.

In Houston, the area around Minute Maid park has become full of panhandlers, some with, some without guitars or other "acts." They want to pass themselves off as buskers. They aren't. They are beggars. Period.

So the city has become somewhat aggressive about making them move along. If they catch them more than once or twice, then they go to jail. This is allright with them. They are mostly homeless, and it's better than where they are staying. But it isn't better for the rest of us.

There is a law in Houston that states that a panhandler cannot come within a certain distance of any person. If your act violates that distance requirement, and a cop catches you, then you can be tossed in the hoosegow.

If you get a large enough crowd to block the sidewalk, same problem. And if they are having a festival of some kind, then the entertainment is controlled by an agency of some sort.

In cases like this, it's best to just leave it alone.

Martha Herrmann Square is the only place in Houston where you won't be hassled.

How about busking in Phoenix Arizona. Has anybody tried it there? If you have where?

Isn't Phoenix one of the most awfulist places on the planet? If you can busk there I'd say go for it, they need all the help they can get...

Just busk short 10 minute sets in the US because at the rate the dollar is dropping, with a longer show your hat devalues more as the minutes pass. Exchange into thumbtips, flashpaper, and other mediums of exchange, ASAP!:0

Isn't Phoenix presently the fastest growing city in the US? It now has a bigger population than Detroit, over 1,000,000.

Its about 2 million now and getting smoggy. I haven't tried to busk there yet because I can find a good place to go I'm still working 6 days aweek on my everyday job.
But I plan to start lookin soon before the heat hits. I sent a email to the city but they never answered me yet. Its been a week.

I've never lived in Phoenix... but you've never lived in Providence!