A hospitality business’s first brush with the local council. A planning permit is a legal document that gives permission for a certain use or development on a particular piece of land. It’s not always needed – the zoning might permit a restaurant anyway.
The first person to call should be the planning department of your local council.
Whites Legal specialises in planning law issues for hospitality businesses, including:
- Planning permit applications
- Existing use rights
- Advertising signs
- Cancellation of permits
- Enforcement orders
- Heritage overlay matters
- VCAT appeals
What’s in a planning permit?
For hospitality businesses, a planning permit will usually address:
- That the land can be used for a ‘food and drink premises’, restaurant, bar, cafe, etc
- Trading hours or hours of operation
- Delivery times
- Maximum number of people
- Maximum and minimum seating
- Car parking
- Amenity of the area
- Noise, including music
- Garbage storage and disposal
- Advertising signs
It will not address building, renovation and refits. Depending on the kind of work, you’ll need a building permit. Speak to your local council.
Hints
- “Use” versus “development”
- Development is a change of what sits on the land
- Use is how the property gets used
- People working for the local council are there to help. Honestly.
- When using Planning Maps Online, just enter the street number, street name and suburb. It’ll find you.
- Considering footpath dining or kerbside trading? You often need a kerbside trading permit. Contact the local laws department of your local council, rather than the planning department.
- Need to get planning permission or a variation? Go on a charm offensive and speak to local residents.