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Who it's for
A red line plan for a liquor licence is the plan of your venue showing the boundary of the licensed area, where liquor can be sold and served, as approved by Liquor Control Victoria (LCV). Every licence has one. We draw them in-house, and every new liquor licence application we prepare includes one.
- You're applying for a new licence.
- You're adding a beer garden, rooftop or room.
- You've renovated and the plan no longer matches the venue.
- LCV has asked you for a corrected or clearer plan.
Not you? Need drawings for council rather than LCV? See planning drawings.
What a red line plan must show
The plan has one job: to show clearly where liquor is allowed. At its centre is an accurate plan of the premises with the licensed area outlined in red. LCV also asks for the address and nearby street names, a north arrow, measurements, the total licensed floor space in square metres, and labels for key areas such as bars, dining areas, kitchens and toilets. If the plan is unclear or doesn't match the venue, LCV can ask for it again. That's a further information request, and it adds time.
Why an accurate plan matters later
Your red line plan is what your venue is held to. Serving outside the line means serving outside your licence, which is an LCV compliance problem. It matters when you sell, too: a plan that no longer matches the venue is something a buyer's due diligence will pick up. Fixing it before you list is simpler than fixing it mid-sale.
Red line plans and planning drawings
A red line plan is for your liquor licence. Planning drawings are for council and show the building, the site and any works. They often start from the same measurements, which is why we prepare both, but one doesn't replace the other. If you're moving the boundary, see bigger or outdoor licensed area.
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How it works
Most red line plan drawings start from plans you already have.
- Send what you have Upload floor plans, your current red line plan, photos and measurements through our online form.
- We draw it Our draftsman draws the plan to LCV's requirements.
- You check it You confirm it matches the venue and how you trade. Nothing is lodged until you approve it.
- It goes in with your application We lodge it with your new licence or variation and answer any questions LCV raises about it.
Fees and timing
Included with every licence application we prepare. Also available on its own.
- With a new licence
- Included; new licences from $1,199 + GST (restaurant or café) or $1,599 + GST (other licences)
- With a licence variation
- Drawn in-house as part of the job
- Red line plan only
- Fixed fee, quoted before we start
- Timing
- Confirmed when we quote; quicker if you have usable drawings
Included, not extra. Every licence application we prepare comes with a red line plan, drawn in-house.
What we need from you
You upload these through your client portal, from any device.
- Existing floor plans or architect drawings (PDF or CAD)
- Your current red line plan, if you have one
- Photos of each room and outdoor area
- The areas where you want to serve liquor
Questions
What is a red line plan?
A red line plan is the plan of your venue showing the boundary of the licensed area, where liquor can be sold and served, as approved by LCV. It forms part of your liquor licence and is what your venue is checked against. Every new licence application needs one, and any change to the licensed area needs a new plan with a licence variation.
Who can draw a red line plan?
LCV doesn't say it has to be an architect. It accepts plans drawn by hand or on a computer, as long as they're neat, easy to read and meet its requirements. We draw ours in-house with our own draftsman and include one with every licence application we prepare. If you have an architect's floor plan, we work from it. If not, photos and measurements are often enough to start.
What does a red line plan need to show?
It needs to show, clearly and accurately, where liquor can be served: the licensed area boundary marked in red on a plan of the premises. LCV sets out what else must appear, and we draw to its current requirements. An unclear or inaccurate plan can lead to a further information request from LCV, which adds time to your application. Drawing to LCV's requirements from the start helps avoid that.
Do I need a new red line plan if I renovate?
If the renovation changes the licensed area, yes: any change to the licensed area needs a new red line plan and a licence variation. That includes adding a room, courtyard or rooftop, or moving the boundary. If the size and boundary stay the same but the layout inside changes, such as moving a bar or adding a stage, you don't need a variation. But if the change affects your patron capacity or other licence conditions, you must apply to change those. Talk to us before the builders start.