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Who it's for
To extend your liquor licence trading hours in Victoria, you apply to Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) to vary your licence. That covers opening earlier, closing later, or changing hours on particular days. We prepare the application and deal with LCV until there's a decision. First, we read your planning permit, because an old condition there can stop you trading the hours your licence allows.
- You close earlier than your customers want to leave.
- You want to start serving earlier, for brunch, sport or daytime events.
- You want later hours on some nights, not every night.
- Someone has told you your permit limits your hours, and you want to know if that's still true.
Not you? Trading after 1am needs a late night liquor licence. For other changes, see change your liquor licence.
The permit can cap you first. An old permit condition can set hours earlier than your licence. We check both.
What LCV looks at when you ask for later trading hours
LCV assesses the change, not your whole licence again. It asks what the extra hours mean for neighbours, for the street at closing time and for the risk of harm. A quiet trading history helps. The application shows how the extra hours will run: who's working, how noise is kept down, how people leave. Where it helps, we back it with a venue management plan. Your application may also be advertised at the venue for 28 days, when police, council and neighbours can object.
Why your planning permit can cap your hours
Since Amendment VC286 took effect on 1 July 2025, you don't need a planning permit to sell liquor. But many permits still carry old conditions like "liquor may only be served until 11pm". Our view, as consultants and not legal advice: conditions that related only to the old liquor permission no longer have effect, while conditions tied to something the scheme still controls, such as the use or buildings and works, still bind. A binding condition holds you to the earlier hours whatever your licence says. We tell you which conditions we think apply and, if needed, ask council to change them. Read more about old liquor conditions on your permit and amending a planning permit.
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
Nothing goes to LCV until you've signed off.
- 15-minute call Tell us the hours you want. We confirm what's needed and fix the fee.
- Online form and permit check You upload your licence and planning permit. We check both for anything that caps your hours.
- We prepare, you approve We draft the application. You review it and sign off.
- We lodge and manage it We lodge with LCV and handle further information requests, advertising and objections through to a decision.
Fees and timing
Our fee is fixed before we start. LCV's fees are separate.
- Our fee
- Fixed fee, quoted before we start
- LCV fees
- Set by LCV in fee units; change every 1 July
- Annual renewal fee
- Depends partly on trading hours, so it can change
- Timeframe
- LCV's guidance for some variations is 9–11 weeks; real times vary and can be much longer
- What adds time
- Objections, further information requests, advertising
What we need from you
You upload these through your client portal, from any device.
- Your current liquor licence, including the red line plan
- Your planning permit and endorsed plans
- The hours you want, day by day
- How you'll run the extra hours: staff, security, music
- Any recent complaints or notices from council, police or LCV
Questions
Can I extend my liquor licence trading hours?
Yes, you can apply to Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) to vary your licence and extend your trading hours. LCV assesses the extra hours, not your whole licence again. You'll need to show how you'll manage noise, patrons and closing time. Before applying, check your planning permit: an old condition there can still cap your hours below what the licence allows.
Do I need a late night licence to trade after 1am?
Yes, trading after 1am needs a late night licence. That's a bigger step than moving your closing time from 11pm to midnight, which is usually an ordinary hours variation. Some inner-Melbourne council areas have had restrictions on new late night licences, so check whether your address is affected before you plan around after-1am trade. We can check on a free 15-minute call.
Will council need to approve later hours?
Usually not for the liquor itself, because since 1 July 2025 a planning permit is no longer needed to sell or serve liquor in Victoria. But if your permit has an hours condition that still binds, such as one tied to the use of the land, you may need council to amend it with a section 72 amendment. Council can also object to your licence application while it's advertised.
How long does an hours variation take?
LCV's own guidance for some variations is 9–11 weeks, but real times vary and can be much longer. Objections from police, council or neighbours add time, as do further information requests and a 28-day advertising period if one applies. If your permit needs amending too, council's process runs separately. We give you a realistic range at the start, based on your venue and its history.