Who it's for
A footpath trading permit in Melbourne, or anywhere in Victoria, comes from council under its local laws. It's separate from your planning permit. This page is for venues that want to trade outside.
- You want tables and chairs on the footpath
- You want to serve liquor at those tables
- You're interested in a parklet
- You have a courtyard, rear yard or rooftop to use
Not you? To make your indoor licensed area bigger, see bigger or outdoor licensed area.
The approvals behind an outdoor dining permit in Victoria
Council's footpath trading permit. Tables on the footpath need council's footpath trading permit, sometimes called a kerbside permit. It's a local-law permit, separate from planning, and the rules vary by council.
Your liquor licence. To serve liquor at those tables, the area must also be on your licence as an "authorised area". That means a variation with Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) and a new red line plan, the plan showing where liquor can be served.
Your planning permit. Fixed outdoor structures can be buildings and works that need a permit. Your existing permit may also limit layout, hours or patrons, so we check it first.
Courtyard dining approval
A courtyard or rooftop is on your own land, so council's footpath permit doesn't apply. The licence still does: the space must be added to your licensed area. LCV generally works out capacity from floor area, as a guide about one person per 0.75 m², so a courtyard can also lift your patron numbers. On the planning side, check the courtyard is on your approved plans and whether any works need a permit. If you're opening a new site, start with a planning permit for a new venue.
Parklets
A parklet is a small outdoor dining area built into the parking spaces outside a venue. Whether you can have one, and on what terms, is up to council. To serve liquor there, it must be on your licence too.
Two permits, one area. Council's footpath permit lets the tables be there. Your licence decides whether liquor can be served at them. You need both.
How it works
Most outdoor dining jobs follow four steps.
- 15-minute call Tell us where you want to trade outside. We tell you which approvals you need and fix the fee.
- Online form You upload photos, rough measurements, your licence and your permit.
- We prepare the applications Footpath permit, licence variation with a new red line plan, and any planning application. You sign off first.
- We lodge them together So the approvals move at the same time, through to a decision.
Lodge them together. Wait for the footpath permit before starting the licence change and you can lose a summer.
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.
Fees and timing
Our fee is fixed and quoted before we start. Council's footpath permit times vary by council; the licence change runs to LCV's timeframe.
- Our fee
- Fixed fee, quoted before we start
- Red line plan
- Drawn in-house
- Footpath permit
- Times and fees vary by council
- Licence variation
- LCV's guidance for some variations is 9–11 weeks. Actual times vary and can be much longer.
What we need from you
To get started, we'll ask for:
- Photos of the frontage, footpath or courtyard
- Rough measurements of the outdoor area
- Tables, chairs and hours you want outside
- Your liquor licence, red line plan and planning permit
Questions
Do I need a permit for tables on the footpath?
Yes. Tables and chairs on the footpath need council's footpath trading permit, sometimes called a kerbside permit. It's issued under council's local laws, separate from your planning permit, and each council sets its own rules about where tables can go. If you also want to serve liquor at those tables, your licence needs to change too. We prepare both applications and lodge them together.
Can I serve alcohol on the footpath?
Yes, if you have both approvals. You need council's footpath trading permit, and the area must be included on your liquor licence as an "authorised area". That means a licence variation with LCV and an updated red line plan. Without both, you can have tables outside but can't serve liquor at them. We draw the plan in-house and manage the variation through to a decision.
How long does a footpath trading permit take?
It depends on the council, as each runs its own process, forms and fees. The licence change to serve liquor outside runs separately with LCV; its guidance for some variations is 9–11 weeks, though actual times vary. We lodge both together so you're not waiting on one to start the other, and give you a realistic range for your council at the first call.
What is a parklet and can my venue have one?
A parklet is a small outdoor dining area built into the parking spaces outside a venue. Whether your venue can have one depends on your council, which sets the rules on where parklets go and how they're built. Rules vary between councils. To serve liquor in a parklet, it must also be on your licence, with an updated red line plan.