Liquor licences in Victoria, sorted.

Usually, if you sell or supply liquor as part of a business. That includes liquor in a ticket or entry price, catering with drinks at private events, and BYO that you mix or serve. You may not need one if the liquor is genuinely free, with nothing given in return, such as a home party or after-work drinks for staff. Not sure? Tell us about the venue and we'll tell you which licence, if any, you need.

Most restaurants and cafés need a restaurant and café licence: meals are the main trade and most guests have a table and chair. We confirm it's the right licence, check your planning permit and seating, draw the red line plan, lodge with LCV within 10 business days of receiving your documents, and deal with LCV until a decision. Our fee starts at $1,199 + GST.

Our fee for a new liquor licence starts at $1,199 + GST for a restaurant or café licence, or $1,599 + GST for other licence types, fixed before we start, with the red line plan included. LCV's application fee is separate. LCV sets it in fee units, it changes every 1 July, and it depends on the licence type and risk factors like hours and capacity. More in what a liquor licence costs.

Allow around 12 weeks from lodgement for a straightforward new licence, if no one objects and your documents are complete. We lodge within 10 business days of receiving your documents. Objections, further information requests and LCV's workload can all add time. See how long a liquor licence takes.

It depends on how you sell liquor: with meals, for drinking on site, for takeaway, or as a maker of your own product. A café serving wine with lunch usually needs a restaurant and café licence. A bar usually needs on-premises. A pub selling takeaway needs a general licence. We confirm the right one on the free 15-minute call.

Not for the liquor itself: since 1 July 2025, a planning permit is no longer needed to sell or consume liquor in Victoria. The venue's use, such as a restaurant or hotel, may still need a permit depending on the zone. Older permits often still carry liquor conditions; see liquor conditions on old permits.

Yes, you can apply to LCV directly. The work is in the detail: the right licence type, a red line plan LCV will accept, the public notice, further information requests and any objections. We do all of that for a fixed fee, and you approve everything before it's lodged.