Applying for a Liquor Licence in Victoria can be a tedious process especially when starting a new business
At On Tap Liquor Consulting we’ve made our name helping new business get their licence fast tracked but there are a few things you need to know.
Plans of Licensed Premises (Your Red Line Plan)
The defined area of your liquor licence indicates where in your premises liquor can be supplied and consumed. The defined area is shown by a red-line drawn on a plan of the premises. Your premises plan provides the basis of your licence application.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) has specified that a plan must contain the following elements:
- be of a scale of 1:100 (1cm = 1m) and be on at least A4 size paper (graph paper is not acceptable)
- be drawn in ink and be neat and legible;
- include the premises address and a compass point showing north and names of the surrounding streets
- define the boundaries of the property
- outline the proposed licensed area/s in red
- outline in red areas to be authorised such as footpath
- show measurements of areas to be licensed, including authorised areas
- show the basic functions or fixtures, for example, bar and dining area/kitchen area or in the case of a packaged liquor outlet, shelf areas where alcohol is displayed and the cash register is located.
If your plan does not meet these requirements, you may be required to resubmit your plan.
Planning Permit for your Liquor Licence
Most liquor licence categories in Victoria require a planning permit to be in place. This process involves making application to your local council for planning permission to allow for the supply of liquor at your venue. As part of this process you will need to provide extensive details to Council including:
- The appropriate application fee and a completed application form
- Detailed floor plans of your venue, including details of seating arrangements, location of your proposed ‘Red Line’ and other relevant information
- Details of your venues waste management arrangements
- A detailed description of your proposal including hours of trade, licence category, provision of music/entertainment, supply of food, number of staff employed at your venue, patron capacity etc.
- A report detailing the ‘Cumulative Impact’ your proposed liquor licence may have on the area surrounding your venue
- A review of parking availability in the area
- A recent copy of the property title and title plan (available via Landata).
The planning permit process will involve public display of your application. The planning permit process can take from anywhere between 2 to 12 months depending on the complexity of the proposal. Most restaurant and café licence applications will take approximately 4 months.
Liquor License Required Training
There are two courses that applicants may be required to complete, new entrant training and Responsible Service of Alcohol. Late night venue operators may be required to undertake the ‘Advanced RSA’ course. The new entrant training is provided in a number of formats:
Club Seminar:
Course provided by Good Sports – only available for restricted club licence and renewable limited (club) licence applicants.
Licensee Compliance Certificate:
Course provided by Franklyn Scholar including a Responsible Service of Alcohol course if required.
Licensees’ First Step:
Course offered by a number of registered training organisations including a Responsible Service of Alcohol course if required.
Application to LCV
When submitting your application to the Commission, you will need to provide appropriate information pertaining to the category of licence you have chosen. This could include:
- The appropriate application fee, along with a completed application form
- A maximum capacity calculation undertaken by a registered building surveyor
- A copy of your planning permit and Council endorsed plan
- A ‘Declaration of Right to Occupy’ your premises
- 4 copies of your Red Line Plan
- The application will require a 28 day display period and will be forwarded to both Council and Victoria Police for comment’
- Details of Company directors and proposed Nominee (including provision of Licensee’s First Step certification and RSA certification).
A new licence application submitted to the Commission will generally take approximately 6 to 8 weeks be processed. This is in addition to the planning permit process.
