Guidance for Candidates at Parish council elections in England

Candidate spending

The following section provides guidance on candidate spending at parish elections in England.

This guidance covers:

  • how much you can spend in the lead up to the election
  • which activities count as candidate spending
  • what records you must keep
  • how to account for different types of spending

Election agents are not required at parish council elections. The candidate has the main responsibility for complying with these laws, even if they appoint an agent to help with expenses. 

Last updated: 1 December 2023