Business permits, licences and registrations
How many business permits you need will depend on the type of business you're running.
Understand the permits you'll need
If you're planning a new business or buying an existing business, there are important steps to follow to comply with government laws and regulations before you open.
A great place to start is the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) website. This offers information about licences, regulations, permits and compliance requirements.
If you're making changes to your property, you may need:
- A planning permit
- A building permit
- A construction management permit
These may all be required in addition to business permits linked below.
Our permits, licences and registrations for businesses
Register a food premises
Learn how to register your food premises or lodge a notification with us.
Food and health registration renewals
How to register, renew your registration, pay and update your details.
Mobile food vehicles
How to apply for a permit to operate a food truck in Yarra.
Filming permits
Council land and property can be used for a range of creative purposes but will require a filming permit.
Parklet program and applications
Information for hospitality businesses to offer outdoor dining in on-street parking bays.
Business parking permits
Businesses operating from a commercial property in Yarra with no off-street parking may be eligible for a business parking permit.
Personal care and body art premise registration
Register your personal care or body art business in Yarra
Busking in Yarra
Busking and street entertainment are welcome in Yarra! To busk here, you’ll need to apply for a permit, which is issued on a monthly basis.
Tradesperson parking permits
Find out about eligibility and how to apply for a tradesperson parking permit.
Register an accommodation business
Find out how to register your accommodation business, including fees and permit requirements.
Real estate permits
Real estate agents operating in Yarra must obtain a license to display real estate signs on Council land.
Apply for a car share bay
We aim to increase car sharing and ensure a transparent expansion of our car share network.
Fundraising, promotional and other public space activation permits
How to apply for a permit for activities on our footpaths, roads, parks and reserves.
Footpath trading
You need a footpath trading permit (also called a public space licence) to place items on the footpath outside your business.
Personal trainer permits
How to apply for a licence if you operate commercial personal training or fitness activities on public land.
Complying with tobacco legislation
Retailers have a responsibility to prevent people under 18 years of age from purchasing tobacco or e-cigarette products.
Storage of commercial bins
Everything you need to know about permit requirements, applications, and renewals for commercial bins on public land.
You may need a planning permit if you are:
- opening a new business
- changing the service or scale of an existing business
- changing the trading hours of an existing business
- changing the use of the site
- applying for a new liquor licence
- altering an existing liquor licence
- altering or reducing the on-site car parking
- altering or adding to the building (including external painting and demolition).
You may need a building permit if you are:
- making any internal or external structural changes to the premises
- starting a hospitality business which caters for more than 20 patrons
- changing the current use of a business.
You may need a construction management permit if you are:
- conducting works that impede on a road or footpath
- placing a skip bin on Council land
- restricting access to a laneway, road or footpath
- conducting building works outside normal permitted times (Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm).