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Who it's for
A general liquor licence in Victoria lets you sell liquor for drinking on site and for takeaway. It's the licence for pubs and hotels, including those with a bottle shop attached. Because it allows the most, it gets the closest look: from Liquor Control Victoria (LCV), Victoria Police, the council and neighbours during the public notice.
- You're opening or reopening a pub or hotel
- You want a bottle shop attached to the venue
- You plan to sell online or deliver
- You want one licence covering the bar, dining room and beer garden
Not you? Restaurant or café: restaurant and café licence. Bar with no takeaway: on-premises licence. Bottle shop only: packaged liquor licence. Not sure? Compare every licence type.
Two trades, one licence. Expect questions on how on-site drinking and takeaway are each managed. Answer them in the application, not after.
Why a general licence gets more attention
It covers drinking on site and takeaway. Hours, capacity and compliance history are risk factors for LCV, and they feed into its fee as well as its questions. Police and council look at the same things. A clear application answers the obvious questions up front: how takeaway, late crowds and noise are managed. A venue management plan sets this out.
Bottle shops, online sales and delivery
Liquor sold online and delivered comes with delivery rules and reporting obligations under a Ministerial Order. Large packaged liquor outlets (over 750 m² of public floor space) need a community impact assessment; if a pub's bottle shop is that size, we'll check early whether it applies.
Pubs and the planning permit
A pub's use, such as hotel or tavern, may need a planning permit depending on the zone. Older pub permits often carry conditions on hours, patrons and music; since Amendment VC286 on 1 July 2025, some may no longer bind and others still do. Car parking for the use is set by clause 52.06, and reductions can be applied for; see car parking.
Speak with Jacob
Principal. Twelve years running venues and working inside local government.
The first conversation is free.
Book a 15-minute call(03) 7064 8477We reply within 24 hours.
How it works
Four steps, covering every area of the venue.
- 15-minute call We talk through the pub, the takeaway side, hours and capacity, and fix the fee.
- Online form You upload plans, the lease, business details and the permit through your client portal.
- Red line plan and application We draw the red line plan (the plan showing where liquor can be sold and served) across the bar, dining room, beer garden and bottle shop, and prepare the application. You sign off.
- Lodged and managed Lodged within 10 business days of receiving your documents. We deal with LCV, the 28-day public notice and any objections.
Fees and timing
A fixed fee for our work, agreed before we start. LCV's fee is separate.
- Our fee
- From $1,599 + GST, red line plan included.
- LCV fee
- Set by LCV; hours, capacity and compliance history feed into it.
- Public notice
- 28 days at the site, for most new licences.
- Decision
- Around 12 weeks from lodgement without objections. With objections, allow longer.
- Objections
- Quoted separately, as a fixed fee.
What we need from you
Upload these through our online form.
- Floor plans of every area, and your lease or title
- The planning permit and endorsed plans
- Proposed hours for on-site trade and takeaway
- Business details: the applicant, directors, associates and nominee
- RSA and new entrant training certificates
- Details of any online or delivery sales
Questions
What is a general liquor licence?
A general licence lets you sell liquor for drinking on site and for takeaway, which is why pubs and hotels hold it. It can cover a bar, dining room, beer garden and an attached bottle shop. The licence sets your hours, patron numbers and licensed area, shown on the red line plan. Trading after 1am needs the late night (general) version, which is a separate licence type.
Do I need a general licence or a packaged liquor licence?
If you want to serve drinks on site and sell takeaway, you need a general licence; if you only sell takeaway, a packaged liquor licence fits. A pub with an attached bottle shop usually holds a general licence, while a standalone bottle shop holds a packaged licence. A large standalone bottle shop (over 750 m²) also needs a community impact assessment. We'll confirm which licence fits on the first call.
How long does a pub liquor licence take?
Allow around 12 weeks from lodgement for a straightforward general licence with no objections. Pubs can draw objections from police, council or residents, and objections add time. We lodge within 10 business days of receiving your documents and deal with further information requests and objections through to a decision. LCV's workload also affects timing, so build a buffer into your opening or reopening date.
Can a hotel or pub deliver alcohol?
Yes, if your licence covers takeaway and you follow the delivery rules. Liquor sold online and delivered comes with delivery rules and reporting obligations under a Ministerial Order. Our ComplianceCare service includes delivery reporting for venues that sell online, along with tracking your licence conditions and renewals in one place, through an online compliance portal. The monthly fee is quoted per venue.
I'm buying a pub. Do I need a new licence?
Usually not: the existing general licence is transferred to you through LCV, timed to settlement where possible. You'll need to pass suitability checks, and the contract should be made subject to the transfer. Check what the licence and permit allow before you sign, because a transfer moves the licence as it stands. If you plan to change the hours or areas, budget for a variation too. See transferring a liquor licence.