Apply for a 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 applying for your liquor licence you should contact the relevant local council about their planning requirements for your proposed business.

Your council will be able to guide you in what they need and the suitability of your business for the local area and location.

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

• a planning permit
• copy of an application for a planning permit
• evidence that a planning permit is not required to supply liquor. This can be a letter from the local council (or responsible planning authority) or a copy of the relevant planning scheme.

Trading hours

Standard 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.

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

• Melbourne
• Port Phillip
• Stonnington
• Yarra.

Training

As a licensee you need to complete and hold various training certificates. Please see the Responsible Service of Alcohol training page for more information.

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.

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

To show your venue’s maximum patron capacity, include a copy of your planning permit which has a patron capacity on it.

In some cases, your planning permit may not have a capacity on it or you may be applying for a planning permit. Instead, you can tell us the number of patrons that will fit in your licensed area based on the measurements in your red line plan. You must use 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.