Business Permits

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Whether you’re a new or established business, you’ll likely need one or more permits to operate. Council has a dedicated team to help guide your business through the application process. We know that there’s a lot to consider when starting or changing a business, so we’ve developed the Better Approvals Program (BAP).

To determine which permits you require to get your business started, please contact the BAP Team for a quick chat about your plans. They’ll discuss your individual needs and provide a questionnaire in order to compile a complete overview of your business.

The Better Approvals Process:

  1. Before applying for permits, contact our Better Approvals Team who will help you to compile an overview of your business idea.
  2. The BAP officer will arrange for each relevant department to provide you with permit advice.  They may also arrange a pre-application meeting if necessary. 
  3. From there, you can use our single Business Application Form to apply for one or multiple permits. This includes Planning, Building, Food, Health and Footpath Trading applications.
  4. Once you receive all your permits, we’ll help you celebrate by posting your business profile to our social media channels and offering other council services to help you grow and succeed.

Our Better Approvals Team is here to support you through the application process.
Contact them to get started:

Better Approvals Program
Ph: 8470 8344
Email: business@darebin.vic.gov.au

After you have spoken to our support team and received your personalised advice, you can use our online form to start your applications:  

APPLY ONLINE

Please note that during the COVID-19 period, our regulatory processes may be delayed and the processing of your application may take a little longer than normal. We apologise for this inconvenience.

Will you need to change the business use type, install new signage, or change parking provisions for your business? Will you be selling alcohol or increasing your hours of serving alcohol? Do you plan to increase the number of patrons served alcohol?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it is likely that you will need to apply for a Planning Permit:

  • Are you changing the business use from its current form?
  • Are you doing external works to the building?
  • Are you proposing new signage or illuminated signage to the exterior of the building?
  • Are you changing the area in your building that you sell alcohol or increasing the hours of serving or number of patrons?
  • Do you understand the car parking requirements for your property and its intended use?

To make the application process is as simple as possible, please ensure you have:

  • A full, current copy of title information for individual parcels of land, forming the subject site which is less than 3 months old
  • A plan of the existing conditions
  • Plans showing the proposed layout and details of the building
  • Any information required by the planning scheme, requested by Council or outlined in a Council planning permit checklist
  • If required, a description of the likely effect of the proposal (eg. Traffic, noise, environmental impacts)
  • Completed the relevant council planning permit checklist
  • Paid or included application fee.

Do you need any internal alterations or structural changes to your business premises? Do you want to change the use of the premises, increase the occupancy size of your building, or alter any essential safety measures?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it is likely that you will need to apply for a Building Permit:

  • Are you changing the use/class of the premise?
  • Are you planning on carrying out any internal fit outs or alterations on your premise? Including plumbing.
  • Are you planning to carry out any structural alteration to the exterior of the building (including increasing window and door sizes)?
  • Do you want to increase the number of people that can occupy your building at any one time?
  • Are you altering any essential safety measures? (e.g. Fire hydrants, firehose reels, exit signs, emergency lighting or paths of travel to an exit)

Will you sell or manufacture food or drinks from your premises, or do you intend to provide catering?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it is likely that you will need to apply for a Food Permit:

  • Do you intend to sell food or drink (including wholesale) from your premises?
  • Do you intend to manufacture food or drink from your premises?
  • Do you intend to cater for groups of people?

To make the application process is as simple as possible, please ensure you have:

  • Food Safety Supervisor certificate
  • Floor plans
  • Proposed copy of full menu

Do you intend to sell health related services? Or open an accommodation business?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it is likely that you will need to apply for a Health Permit:

  • Do you intend to sell health related services (e.g. hairdressing, beauty treatments, tattooing or skin piercing) on your premises?
  • Are you opening an accommodation business such as a hotel, motel, hostel, student dorms, holiday camps, rooming houses or residential accommodation? 

To make the application process is as simple as possible, please ensure you have:

  • Floor Plans

You will need a permit if you want to display goods or trade on the footpaths in Darebin.

If you answer yes to the following question, it is likely that you will need to apply for a Footpath Trading Permit:

  • Are you planning on placing chairs and tables, an A-frame sign or display of goods (e.g. fruit stand) on the footpath?

To make the application process is as simple as possible, please ensure you have:

  • An overhead site plan of the footpath with measurements of the footpath including the Kerbside Zone, Trading Zone and Pedestrian Zone
  • Colour photographs and detailed design drawings with measurements of all items being placed on the footpath.
  • A copy of your current public liability insurance with a minimum of $10 million dollars including the City of Darebin as an interested party.