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Who it's for
An event liquor licence, called a temporary limited licence in Victoria, covers liquor at a one-off event: a festival, market, launch, fundraiser or function at an unlicensed site. Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) asks for applications at least eight weeks before the event, with an event management plan. We prepare both, lodge early and deal with LCV until the licence is decided.
- Festival and concert organisers
- Market organisers planning a liquor offer
- Businesses hosting a launch, open day or pop-up
- Community groups running a fundraiser or fair
Not you? If you make the drinks you're selling, check your producer's licence first. If you run events again and again, ask us whether a renewable limited licence suits better.
Call before you sell tickets. Ticketing, sponsors and suppliers all lean on the licence.
Council land or a street? Check with council too. It may need its own permits or registrations, separate from the liquor licence.
Why eight weeks matters for a temporary limited licence
Eight weeks is LCV's minimum guidance, not a target. It has to cover LCV's assessment and any questions it sends back. Large events, or events where police or council raise concerns, can take longer, so we start as soon as you have a date and a site.
What goes in an event management plan
The plan shows LCV how you'll run the event: how many people, your hours, staff training and security, free drinking water, and how you'll manage the crowd, entry and exits, noise, waste and complaints. We write it from your run sheet and site map, and our draftsman draws the red line plan, showing exactly where liquor can be sold and consumed.
Security and noise conditions
Crowd controllers are typically tied to music above background level and late trading. For outdoor events near neighbours, a noise limiter is often a better answer to amenity concerns than more crowd controllers. We put forward conditions that fit your event. If police raise concerns, we deal with them directly; see police objections.
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
The earlier you call, the more room there is for LCV's questions.
- Call with your date and site We confirm the licence, check your timeline and fix our fee.
- Send your event details Upload the site map, run sheet, expected numbers and bar plans through our online form.
- We prepare the plan and application We write the event management plan, draw the red line plan and prepare the application for your approval.
- Lodge and follow through We lodge with LCV, answer its questions promptly and keep you updated until the licence is decided.
Fees and timing
Our fee is fixed and quoted before we start. LCV's fee is separate.
- Our fee
- Fixed fee, quoted before we start, red line plan included
- LCV fee
- Set in fee units, updated each 1 July; depends on licence type and risk factors
- Apply by
- At least eight weeks before the event (LCV guidance)
- Decision
- Varies with event size and LCV's workload; we don't promise a date
What we need from you
Bring what you have; we'll fill the gaps with you.
- Event name, date, times and address
- A site map, even a hand sketch
- Expected crowd size and ticketing details
- Who's running the bar and how drinks will be sold
Questions
Do I need a liquor licence for an event?
Usually yes: if you're selling liquor at a one-off event on a site that isn't already licensed for it, you need a temporary limited licence from LCV. If liquor is included in a ticket price, you still need a licence, because guests are paying for the drinks indirectly. Makers selling their own product may already be covered by a producer's licence.
Do I need a liquor licence for a private party?
Usually not, if the drinks are free and guests don't pay anything to attend: no ticket, entry fee or donation. Once liquor is sold, including through a ticket price, a donation on entry or a cash bar, you need a licence, usually a temporary limited licence.
How far ahead should I apply for an event licence?
Apply at least eight weeks before the event, which is LCV's own guidance. Treat that as a minimum. Larger events, or events where LCV, police or council have questions, need more time, and a good event management plan takes a while to put together. Call us as soon as you have a confirmed date and site, before you commit to tickets and suppliers.
Can I sell alcohol at a market stall?
Yes, with a licence. If you make the product, your producer's licence may already cover selling at markets and events. If you're selling someone else's product, you'll need to be covered by a licence. At markets and festivals, that can be the organiser's licence, your own, or both, so check the arrangement with the organiser first. Check well before the first market day, as LCV asks for at least eight weeks. If you sell at several markets through the year, tell us, as that may change which licence makes sense.
What does an event liquor licence cost?
There are two parts: LCV's application fee and our fee. LCV sets its fees in fee units that change every 1 July, and the amount depends on the licence type and risk factors such as hours and capacity. Our fee is fixed and quoted before we start, based on the size of the event and what the plan needs to cover. You'll know our fee before any work begins.