Business Permit Guidance

Deciding to start or grow your business is an exciting step. Whether you’re a new or established business, you may need one or more permits to operate. To help you get moving quickly we have listed some of the different situations in which you might need a permit. If you have any questions or need some guidance please contact our Manager Community Strengthening and Engagement at (03) 5398 0100 or email info@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au.

Planning

Are you proposing to do any of the following?

  • Open a new business
  • Change the service your business provides
  • Change the trading hours of the business
  • Apply for or alter a liquor license
  • Add or change signage
  • Provide parking or increase or reduce car parking
  • Construct a building or construct or carry out external works
  • Home-based businesses

If you are proposing to do any of the above you are likely to require a Planning permit. You can find more information about the planning process on our Applying for a Planning Permit page.

Building

Are you planning to do any of the following?

  • Change the service your business provides
  • Make any internal or external or structural alterations to the premise
  • Operate a hospitality business which caters for more than 20 patrons

If you are planning to do any of the above you are likely to require a Building permit. You can find more information about the building process on our Applying for a Building Permit page.

Environmental health

Are you planning to do any of the following?

  • Operate a food business
  • Sell food from a temporary or mobile premise
  • Operate a hairdressing business
  • Operate a beauty therapy business
  • Operate a tattooing or piercing business
  • Operate an accommodation business
  • Operate a domestic animal business
  • Add or alter an onsite waste water system

If you are planning to do any of the above you are likely to require a Health permit. For more information about food businesses see our Food Businesses page and for health business see our Health Businesses page.

Footpath trading

Are you planning to do any of the following?

  • Place tables and/or chairs on the footpath
  • Have an A-frame sign on the footpath
  • Display goods on the footpath
  • Place any other object on the footpath e.g. plant pot

If you are planning to do any of the above you are likely to require a footpath trading permit. For more information­ see our Footpath Trading Permit page.