General liquor licence

Pubs, hotels and taverns are generally the type of businesses that apply for a general licence.

A general licence allows you to supply liquor for consumption both on and off your licensed premises.

Information needed in your application

As you prepare your application you need to gather the following information:

• local council planning permission
• confirmation of trading hours
• compliance with required training
• red-line plan
• patron capacity declaration
• declaration of right to occupy premises.

Local council planning permission

Before starting your business activities, you should contact your relevant local council about their planning requirements. Your local council will be able to guide you in what they need and the suitability of your business for the local area and location.

Applications for a new liquor licence do not require a planning permit for the sale and consumption of liquor. But you may still need planning approval for other reasons.

In your liquor licence application to us, you need to provide one of the following:

• written confirmation from your local council as to whether you require a planning permit for the use and development of the land. This may be either a planning permit (if you have one) or letter
• LCV branded planning document

If you do not submit one of these documents, it may cause delays in your application.

Trading hours

The ordinary trading hours for a general licence are:

• 7 am to 1 am the following morning Monday to Saturday (excluding ANZAC Day and Good Friday)
• 10 am to 1 am the following morning Sunday
• 12 noon to 1 am on ANZAC Day and Good Friday.

More information on public holiday trading restrictions is available.

Extended trading hours

It is possible to trade after 1 am. If you wish to trade after 1 am you will need to apply for a late night general licence.

Apply for a late night general licence

The following council areas have additional requirements to trade after 1am:

• Melbourne
• Port Phillip
• Stonnington
• Yarra.

Training

Applicants for a general licence (including late night general licences) must complete:

• Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training
• New entrant training.

Right to use the premises

For a licence to be issued, you need to show you have the right to occupy and are able to operate out of your intended business location.

This is called a right to occupy the premises and it can be demonstrated by:

• your lease agreement
• proof that you own the property
• another legal arrangement.

You must include your declaration of the right to occupy your premises as a part of your application.

Red line plan

Your red line plan defines the area where alcohol can be supplied. This plan needs to be included in your application. The Red line plan page has information on how to create and change your plan.

Maximum patron capacity

You must tell us the maximum number of patrons you want to have in your venue.

You are required to provide one of the below supporting documents with your application:

• a planning permit (if you have one) that has a patron capacity as a condition on it.
• a red line plan with the total square meters listed for the proposed licensed premises included.

The square meters will support your proposed patron capacity based on our standard limit of 1 person per 0.75 square metres.

See our Advice for completing a liquor licence application for more information.

Application fees

There are costs associated with applying for your liquor licence. Please see the Liquor licence application fees page for information.

When you have your licence

If your application is successful you are obligated to abide by the terms of your liquor licence.

Information on how to be compliant with the terms of your liquor licence is in Licensee obligations section.

You can also change, transfer or give up your licence.