How long does a liquor licence take in Victoria?

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In short

• A straightforward new liquor licence usually takes around 12 weeks from lodgement, if there are no objections and the documents are complete.
• Before lodgement comes preparation. We lodge new licence applications within 10 business days of receiving your documents.
• Most new licences must be advertised with a 28-day public notice, when people can object.
• Liquor Control Victoria's guidance for some variations is 9–11 weeks, but actual times vary and can be much longer.
• Objections, missing documents, further information requests and planning issues are the usual causes of delay. No one can promise a decision date.

How long does a liquor licence take in Victoria?

The honest answer to how long a liquor licence takes in Victoria is that it depends. For a straightforward new licence, allow around 12 weeks from lodgement to a decision by Liquor Control Victoria (LCV). That assumes the application is complete and nobody objects.

"From lodgement" is the important part. The clock you care about starts earlier, when you decide to open, and it can be stretched by things that have nothing to do with the licence itself, such as a planning permit for the building works or a lease that isn't signed yet. Here's how the stages fit together.

Stage 1: how long does it take to prepare an application?

Most of the time before lodgement goes on gathering information and documents. With us, it works like this:

1. A 15-minute call. We confirm the licence you need and what we'll need from you, and we fix our fee.
2. Our online form. Through your client portal, you answer questions and upload documents from your phone or computer.
3. We prepare everything. That includes the application and the red line plan, which is the plan showing where liquor can be served. You review it all and sign off.
4. We lodge. New licence applications are lodged within 10 business days of receiving your documents.

The part you control is how quickly the documents arrive. One complete upload is quicker than five partial ones. If you're still negotiating the lease or finalising the fit-out plans, that time sits here, before the 12 weeks starts.

Stage 2: the 28-day public notice

Most new licences, and many variations, must be advertised by displaying a public notice at the site for 28 days. After that, a signed Statement of Display (also called an affirmation) is lodged to confirm the notice was up for the full period.

The 28 days sit inside the overall timeframe, not on top of it, as long as the notice goes up promptly. If it goes up late, or the affirmation isn't signed and returned, the application can stall. We manage this step with you and follow up the affirmation so it doesn't sit in an inbox.

During these 28 days, Victoria Police, the local council and members of the public can object.

Stage 3: LCV assessment and decision

While LCV assesses the application, it may send a further information request asking for more detail or documents. These come with a deadline, and the assessment waits until the answer is in. Because we're listed as the agent, these requests come to us, and we answer them with you.

If there are no objections and nothing is missing, a decision usually follows around 12 weeks from lodgement. LCV's workload also plays a part, so treat that as a typical figure, not a promise.

How long does a liquor licence variation take?

A licence variation changes an existing licence: the hours, patron numbers, licensed area, licence category or conditions. LCV's own published guidance for some variations is 9–11 weeks. In practice, times vary and can be much longer, especially where the change is advertised and someone objects.

It helps that the question for LCV is the change, not the whole licence again. A well-prepared variation keeps the focus there. When police objected to a variation for an alpine hotel, we negotiated directly with local police and agreed terms that worked for the venue. You can read how in our alpine hotel outcome.

How long do event licences and transfers take?

• Event licences. For a temporary limited licence for a one-off event, LCV's guidance is to apply at least eight weeks before the event. You'll also need an event management plan. Leave more time for larger events. See liquor licences for events.
• Transfers. When you buy a licensed business, the licence is transferred to you through LCV, and you must pass suitability checks. A transfer can be timed to settlement, so make the contract subject to the transfer. See transfer a liquor licence.

What slows a liquor licence down?

• Incomplete documents. Missing items mean we can't lodge, or LCV asks for them later.
• Further information requests. Each one pauses the assessment until it's answered.
• Objections. An objection from police, council or the public needs a written response and often agreed conditions. It nearly always adds time.
• Planning issues. Since 1 July 2025, you don't need a planning permit to sell liquor, but the use or building works may need one. Council has 60 statutory days to decide a standard application (the clock pauses for further information requests and notice), and VicSmart applications for simple matters have 10 business days. Real-world times are often longer.
• Late night trading. Some inner-Melbourne council areas have had restrictions on new late night licences, so check the address before you plan around trading after 1am.
• Changes along the way. Changing the layout or hours after lodgement can mean new plans and more back and forth with LCV.

How do I avoid the common delays?

• Check the site before you sign the lease. Know the zone, any existing planning permit and its conditions. Our site check covers this.
• Send documents together. A complete set lets us lodge sooner.
• Answer questions quickly. When LCV or we ask for something, a same-week answer keeps things moving.
• Plan for objections if you're near homes or trading late. An acoustic report or a noise limiter can answer concerns before they become objections.
• Don't fix an opening date until you have a decision. Build in a buffer, especially for staff start dates and launch events.

Getting started

If you're opening a new venue, our new liquor licence service explains what we prepare and how we manage it to a decision. If you're not sure which licence you need, start with our liquor licence overview. Book a 15-minute call and we'll give you a realistic timeframe for your site.

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