Who it's for
You need a new liquor licence in Victoria if you're opening a venue that will sell liquor, or adding liquor to a business without one. That might be a café adding wine at lunch or a brewery opening a cellar door.
- You're opening a restaurant, café, bar, pub, bottle shop or club
- You run a business without liquor and want to add it
- You're about to sign a lease on a new site
Not you? Buying a licensed venue: transfer the licence. Already licensed: change your licence.
Check the permit before you sign the lease. The planning permit can cap your hours and patrons before LCV ever sees the application.
Your options
Choosing the right licence type comes first. Changing type later means applying for a variation.
- Restaurant & caféLiquor with meals.→
- On-premisesBars; drinks on site only.→
- GeneralPubs and hotels; on site and takeaway.→
- Late nightTrading after 1am.→
- Packaged liquorBottle shops.→
- Producer'sMakers selling their own product.→
- ClubFull and restricted club licences.→
- Renewable limitedLiquor is a secondary part of the business.→
- Temporary limitedOne-off events.→
- BYO permitGuests bring their own.→
How to get a liquor licence in Victoria
It comes down to three things: the right licence type, a red line plan (the plan showing exactly where liquor can be sold and served), and a site that's allowed to trade the way you want.
Since 1 July 2025 you no longer need a planning permit to sell liquor, but the venue's use may still need one, and many older permits carry conditions on hours, patrons and music. Most operators find this out after signing a lease. We check the permit first, and can handle planning permits for a new venue too.
Most new licences are then advertised with a notice at the site for 28 days, when police, council and the public can object. A signed Statement of Display (confirming the notice was up) then goes to LCV.
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 from first call to decision.
- Book a 15-minute call We confirm which licence you need, look at the site and fix the fee. The call is free.
- Fill in our online form You answer questions and upload documents through your client portal.
- Review and sign off We prepare the application and draw your red line plan in-house. Nothing is lodged until you approve it.
- We lodge and manage it Lodged within 10 business days of receiving your documents, then managed with LCV through to a decision.
Fees and timing
One fixed fee for our work, agreed on the first call. LCV's fees are separate.
- Our fee
- From $1,199 + GST for a restaurant or café licence; from $1,599 + GST for other licence types. Red line plan included.
- LCV fee
- Set by LCV by licence type and risk factors. Changes every 1 July.
- Lodgement
- Within 10 business days of receiving your documents.
- Decision
- Around 12 weeks from lodgement if there are no objections.
- Objections
- Quoted separately if they come up.
What we need from you
You'll upload these through our online form.
- Who is applying, plus directors and anyone else involved
- Any floor plans you have, and your lease
- The site's planning permit, if there is one
- The hours and patron numbers you want
- New entrant training and RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) certificates, or booking dates
Questions
Do I need a planning permit for a liquor licence?
You don't need a planning permit to sell or consume liquor, since Amendment VC286 took effect on 1 July 2025. You may still need one for the venue's use, depending on the zone, or for building works. Older permits often carry conditions on liquor hours, patrons or music, and some may no longer bind. More in planning permits and liquor licences.
How much does a new liquor licence cost?
Our fee starts at $1,199 + GST for a restaurant or café licence, or $1,599 + GST for other licence types, with the red line plan included, and LCV charges a separate application fee. LCV's fee is set in fee units and changes every 1 July. It depends on the licence type and risk factors such as trading hours, capacity and compliance history. If objections come in, our response is quoted separately. You'll know our full fee before we start.
How long does a new liquor licence take?
Allow around 12 weeks from lodgement for a straightforward application with no objections and complete documents. We lodge within 10 business days of receiving your documents, so getting them to us early is the part you control. Objections, further information requests and LCV's workload can add weeks, so treat any date as a guide. We'll give you a realistic range for your venue.
What if police or residents object?
An objection is answered with a written response and, often, agreed conditions. Victoria Police and the council can object, and members of the public can object on amenity grounds such as noise. We prepare the response and negotiate directly with police licensing units or council. Objection work is quoted separately. The sooner we see an objection, the more options there are. More on police objections.
Can I trade while my licence is being processed?
You can open, but you can't sell liquor until LCV grants the licence. Plan your opening date around a realistic timeframe and get your documents to us early. If you have a one-off event before the licence comes through, ask us about a temporary limited licence, and apply at least eight weeks before the event. We'll tell you on the first call whether your timing is realistic.