diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index b3f898183..8a01106c1 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ android {
             proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.txt'
         }
         debug {
-             testCoverageEnabled true
+            testCoverageEnabled true
         }
     }
 
@@ -64,4 +64,9 @@ android {
         disable 'ExtraTranslation'
         abortOnError false
     }
+
+    //FIXME: Temporary fix for https://github.com/commons-app/apps-android-commons/issues/709
+    configurations.all {
+        resolutionStrategy.force 'com.android.support:support-annotations:25.2.0'
+    }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyActivity.java
index 1060cf25e..f2d3b6726 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyActivity.java
@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
 package fr.free.nrw.commons.nearby;
 
+import android.Manifest;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.DialogInterface;
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
 import android.location.LocationManager;
 import android.net.Uri;
 import android.os.AsyncTask;
+import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
+import android.support.v4.app.ActivityCompat;
 import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;
 import android.support.v4.app.FragmentTransaction;
+import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
 import android.support.v7.app.AlertDialog;
 import android.view.Menu;
 import android.view.MenuInflater;
@@ -38,6 +44,7 @@ public class NearbyActivity extends NavigationBaseActivity {
     @BindView(R.id.progressBar)
     ProgressBar progressBar;
     private boolean isMapViewActive = false;
+    private static final int LOCATION_REQUEST = 1;
 
     private LocationServiceManager locationManager;
     private LatLng curLatLang;
@@ -52,13 +59,8 @@ public class NearbyActivity extends NavigationBaseActivity {
         if (getSupportActionBar() != null) {
             getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
         }
-
+        checkLocationPermission();
         bundle = new Bundle();
-        locationManager = new LocationServiceManager(this);
-        locationManager.registerLocationManager();
-        curLatLang = locationManager.getLatestLocation();
-        nearbyAsyncTask = new NearbyAsyncTask(this);
-        nearbyAsyncTask.execute();
         initDrawer();
     }
 
@@ -89,6 +91,51 @@ public class NearbyActivity extends NavigationBaseActivity {
         }
     }
 
+    private void startLookingForNearby() {
+        locationManager = new LocationServiceManager(this);
+        locationManager.registerLocationManager();
+        curLatLang = locationManager.getLatestLocation();
+        nearbyAsyncTask = new NearbyAsyncTask(this);
+        nearbyAsyncTask.execute();
+    }
+
+    private void checkLocationPermission() {
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
+            if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this,
+                    Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
+                startLookingForNearby();
+            } else {
+                ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this,
+                        new String[]{Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION}, LOCATION_REQUEST);
+            }
+        } else {
+            startLookingForNearby();
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, @NonNull String[] permissions, @NonNull int[] grantResults) {
+        switch (requestCode) {
+            case LOCATION_REQUEST: {
+                if (grantResults.length > 0 && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
+                    startLookingForNearby();
+                } else {
+                    //If permission not granted, go to page that says Nearby Places cannot be displayed
+                    if (nearbyAsyncTask != null) {
+                        nearbyAsyncTask.cancel(true);
+                    }
+                    if (progressBar != null) {
+                        progressBar.setVisibility(View.GONE);
+                    }
+                    FragmentTransaction fragmentTransaction = getSupportFragmentManager().beginTransaction();
+                    Fragment noPermissionsFragment = new NoPermissionsFragment();
+                    fragmentTransaction.replace(R.id.container, noPermissionsFragment);
+                    fragmentTransaction.commit();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     protected void checkGps() {
         LocationManager manager = (LocationManager) getSystemService(LOCATION_SERVICE);
         if (!manager.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER)) {
@@ -128,16 +175,18 @@ public class NearbyActivity extends NavigationBaseActivity {
     }
 
     private void showMapView() {
-        if (!isMapViewActive) {
-            isMapViewActive = true;
-            if (nearbyAsyncTask.getStatus() == AsyncTask.Status.FINISHED) {
-                setMapFragment();
-            }
+        if (nearbyAsyncTask != null) {
+            if (!isMapViewActive) {
+                isMapViewActive = true;
+                if (nearbyAsyncTask.getStatus() == AsyncTask.Status.FINISHED) {
+                    setMapFragment();
+                }
 
-        } else {
-            isMapViewActive = false;
-            if (nearbyAsyncTask.getStatus() == AsyncTask.Status.FINISHED) {
-                setListFragment();
+            } else {
+                isMapViewActive = false;
+                if (nearbyAsyncTask.getStatus() == AsyncTask.Status.FINISHED) {
+                    setListFragment();
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -151,7 +200,9 @@ public class NearbyActivity extends NavigationBaseActivity {
     @Override
     protected void onPause() {
         super.onPause();
-        nearbyAsyncTask.cancel(true);
+        if (nearbyAsyncTask != null) {
+            nearbyAsyncTask.cancel(true);
+        }
     }
 
     protected void refreshView() {
@@ -166,7 +217,9 @@ public class NearbyActivity extends NavigationBaseActivity {
     @Override
     protected void onDestroy() {
         super.onDestroy();
-        locationManager.unregisterLocationManager();
+        if (locationManager != null) {
+            locationManager.unregisterLocationManager();
+        }
     }
 
     private class NearbyAsyncTask extends AsyncTask<Void, Integer, List<Place>> {
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NoPermissionsFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NoPermissionsFragment.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5065a7d93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NoPermissionsFragment.java
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package fr.free.nrw.commons.nearby;
+
+import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;
+import android.view.LayoutInflater;
+import android.view.View;
+import android.view.ViewGroup;
+
+import butterknife.ButterKnife;
+import fr.free.nrw.commons.R;
+import timber.log.Timber;
+
+/**
+ * Tells user that Nearby Places cannot be displayed if location permissions are denied
+ */
+public class NoPermissionsFragment extends Fragment {
+
+    public NoPermissionsFragment() {
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
+                             Bundle savedInstanceState) {
+        Timber.d("NoPermissionsFragment created");
+        View view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_no_permissions, container, false);
+        ButterKnife.bind(this, view);
+        return view;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_no_permissions.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_no_permissions.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8ea6f3a45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/fragment_no_permissions.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<FrameLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
+    android:layout_width="match_parent"
+    android:layout_height="match_parent"
+    tools:context="fr.free.nrw.commons.nearby.NoPermissionsFragment">
+
+    <TextView
+        android:id="@+id/textView2"
+        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+        android:layout_height="match_parent"
+        android:gravity="center"
+        android:paddingLeft="30dp"
+        android:paddingRight="30dp"
+        android:text="@string/nearby_needs_permissions"
+        android:textAlignment="center"
+        android:textSize="18sp" />
+
+
+</FrameLayout>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 4d8060d58..aad1ae7e7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -194,7 +194,9 @@ Tap this message (or hit back) to skip this step.</string>
   <string name="navigation_item_logout">Logout</string>
   <string name="navigation_item_info">Tutorial</string>
 
+  <string name="nearby_needs_permissions">Nearby places cannot be displayed without location permissions</string>
   <string name="no_description_found">no description found</string>
   <string name="nearby_info_menu_commons_article">Commons Article</string>
   <string name="nearby_info_menu_wikidata_article">Wikidata item</string>
+
 </resources>