Why November and December are a smart time to apply for a liquor licence

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In short

• Every Victorian liquor licence must be renewed by 31 December each year, and renewal notices go out in November.
• The renewal fee is payable by 31 December whenever the licence was granted. A licence granted in early December still needs renewing within weeks.
• A straightforward new licence takes around 12 weeks from lodgement, so an application lodged in November or December is likely to be granted in the new year.
• For 2026–27, the base renewal fee is $391.70 for a restaurant and café licence and $1,327.50 for a general or on-premises licence.
• If your venue is ready to trade, don't wait. This is about choosing the best time when you have the flexibility.

Timing matters as well as paperwork

When you apply for a new liquor licence in Victoria, most people focus on what they need to lodge and how long it will take. Very few think about when they apply. But timing can make a real difference to what you pay in your first year.

How the renewal cycle works

Every Victorian liquor licence has to be renewed by 31 December each year, and renewal notices are sent out in November. The renewal fee covers the year ahead, and it's due on the same date for everyone.

The renewal date doesn't depend on when your licence was granted. Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) says the renewal fee is payable by 31 December, irrespective of when the licence is granted. So if your licence comes through in early December, you'll pay the application fee and then, a few weeks later, a full renewal fee as well.

Two venues, same licence

Imagine two venues applying for the same type of licence.

• Venue A applies in August. Its licence is granted in November. It pays the application fee, trades for a few weeks, and then pays a full renewal fee by 31 December.
• Venue B applies in November. Its licence is granted in February. It pays the application fee and trades for around 10 months before its first renewal fee is due.

Same licence type, same fees, very different value in the first year. It's the system every venue works within, so it pays to use it to your advantage.

Processing times work in your favour

New licence applications aren't approved overnight. For a straightforward new licence, allow around 12 weeks from lodgement to a decision, if the documents are complete and nobody objects. We explain the stages in How long does a liquor licence take in Victoria?

That means an application lodged in November or December is likely to be granted in the new year, depending on the licence type, how complete the application is and whether LCV asks for further information. That timing lines up well with the renewal cycle.

What it could save you

The saving depends on your licence type. For 2026–27, the base renewal fee is:

• $391.70 for a restaurant and café licence
• $1,327.50 for a general or on-premises licence.

Some venues also pay additional risk-based fees on top, for example for later trading hours. A licence granted in the new year, rather than just before 31 December, means you won't be paying a renewal within weeks of being granted. You get most of a year's trade before it's due. For the full picture of what a licence costs, see How much does a liquor licence cost in Victoria?

Things to keep in mind

• Decision times aren't guaranteed. Objections, missing documents or requests for further information can add weeks or months.
• Get your paperwork right first time. Incomplete applications cause delays, which can move your grant date.
• Don't let timing hold up your opening. If your venue is ready to trade, waiting months to save a renewal fee rarely makes sense. This is about choosing the best time when you have the flexibility.

The bottom line

If you're planning to open a licensed venue in the next few months, or you've been sitting on an application, now is a good time to lodge it. An application lodged in November or December is likely to be granted in the new year, giving you most of a year of trade before your first renewal.

How Plan2Pour can help

We prepare and lodge new liquor licence applications within 10 business days of receiving your documents, and manage them through to a decision. To get started, email hello@plan2pour.com.au or call (03) 7064 8477.

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