Please visit Liquor Control Victoria’s website for liquor licensing, compliance, and regulatory information.
Temporary limited licences are often required by individuals or organisations holding a one-off event such as a ball, a presentation night or an event requiring an extension of trading hours or temporary increase in size of the licensed premises.
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have introduced a special temporary limited licence to allow eligible licensees or permittees to supply liquor in an outdoor area. We are fast-tracking applications for these and will endeavour to determine them within three business days. Please note that in some circumstances, such as where applications are incomplete, this may take longer. For more information, see: Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for licensees For all other applications, applicants should apply at least 6 weeks prior to the event to ensure sufficient time for the application to be processed. |
Before planning an event, applicants and event organisers are advised to read the things to consider before applying page. Alternatively, contact the VGCCC for advice and more information on the application process, timelines and requirements.
A temporary limited licence authorises the licensee to supply liquor subject to the conditions and during the times specified in the licence.
For example, a temporary limited licence may be granted:
A temporary limited licence is generally not required for private events where liquor will be supplied free of charge. A licence will always be required if the supply of liquor is contingent on the sale or purchase of some good or service. If liquor is being supplied through a catering company, the catering company will require a liquor licence. This is because the liquor is being purchased through the catering company.
If the premises hired for the private event is licensed (for example a licensed restaurant), then a temporary limited licence is not required. The licensee of that premises is responsible for ensuring that liquor is supplied in accordance with the conditions of its licence.
However, if the premises hired for the private event is unlicensed and falls within one of the below categories, then a temporary limited licence will be required:
Examples of premises in the above categories include an unlicensed restaurant, unlicensed boats selling refreshments or an unlicensed football club. A function hall with a commercial kitchen would not fall within this category as the premises are not used “ordinarily” to serve food to the public.
A Major Event Liquor Licence is required if you plan to sell alcohol at an event where a large crowd (over 5000 patrons) is expected, or your event is likely to have a significant impact such as:
If you fit one or more of the above criteria you will need to apply for a major event licence (Event with more than 5000)
Applicants seeking to vary licence conditions for a live music venue and applicants subject to the late-night liquor licence freeze in the municipalities of Melbourne (including the district known as Docklands), Stonnington, Yarra and Port Phillip, must provide a venue management plan.
This allows licensees or licence applicants to demonstrate they have a strategy for the management of their venue and its risks.
Applicants should include the following in their venue management plan where relevant:
Individuals or organisations may apply for temporary licences to cover a maximum of six events over a calendar year per venue and/or applicant.
A maximum of three events will be accepted per application.
Where an application is made for a series of events over a limited season, the season must extend for no longer than three months.
Applicants must have the right to occupy the premises during the event or season nominated.
Holders of a producer’s licence may apply for a temporary limited licence to attend and sell liquor at up to 6 farmer's or craft markets in any one calendar year. A holder of a producer’s licence may be eligible to vary their licence to include promotional event authority. Please refer to the 'Liquor licence fees' fact sheet for current details on the application fee. To view the application form please see variation of conditions for an existing producers licence kit.
Events such as fetes, markets and festivals can often include the supply of liquor by more than one party. This may include licensees seeking to supply liquor that they have produced themselves or where several businesses have been engaged to supply liquor to attendees. The most common licensing arrangements for multiple suppliers at an event are outlined in the scenarios below.
Scenario 1: Both the event organiser and individual suppliers are licensed
In this scenario the event organiser can apply for a temporary limited licence, or if the event involves more than 5000 patrons, a major event licence.
Individual suppliers at the event would also apply for a temporary limited licence, or a major event licence, allowing the licensee to supply liquor at the point of sale (such as from a booth or similar) for consumption in the area licenced by the event organiser.
The event organiser is responsible for maintaining an environment that encourages and ensures liquor is consumed responsibly within the event. The event organiser is also responsible for submitting a red line plan as part of their application. The event organiser’s responsibilities might include engaging crowd controllers, providing barriers to licensed areas, and ensuring that persons aged under 18 either do not enter the premises or are clearly identifiable as being underage if they do.
Individual suppliers who attend the event are not required to submit a red-line plan with their application, but they are responsible for ensuring that they supply liquor in a responsible manner.
Importantly, in this scenario both the event organiser and the individual suppliers can be held liable for any breaches of their responsibilities as licensees.
Scenario 2: Only the event organiser is licensed
In scenario 2 the event organiser can obtain a temporary limited licence or major event licence that covers all liquor supplied at the event. This means that the event organiser is responsible for maintaining an environment that encourages the responsible supply and consumption of liquor.
As in scenario 1, the event organiser is required to submit a red line plan with their application.
At events licensed in this way suppliers can display their products however, they must not supply any liquor directly to patrons. As the event organiser is the only licensee, they are the only business or person which can supply liquor to patrons.
In this scenario, if individual suppliers supply liquor to the event organiser who in turn supplies liquor to patrons, the supplier must ensure that they already have a permanent licence which allows them to do this.
Scenario 3: Only suppliers (not event organiser) are licensed
For some events, like a small daytime market or school fete, it may be possible for only the individual suppliers to be licensed.
In this scenario individual suppliers should apply for a temporary limited licence that allows for point of sale supply, which means there is no need for the event organiser to have a liquor licence. Individual suppliers will be responsible for ensuring that liquor is supplied in a responsible manner and a red line plan is not required.
It should be noted that this scenario can only apply if the event occurs in a space where the consumption of liquor is not banned. e.g local laws do not prevent consumption of liquor.
If you are unsure which licence you need for your event, phone 1300 182 457 or email [email protected]
To apply for a temporary limited licence to run an event (such as a fete or fundraising event) at a school, the right organisation/entity must apply. Applications should be made under the organisation/entity that will be responsible for the purchase, supply and sale of liquor and who will be receiving the funds raised.
For example, if the “ABC Kindergarten Association Inc.“or the “Friends of Animals Charity Inc.” is applying to run an event at ABC Primary School, the licence should be applied for by (in the name of) “ABC Kindergarten Association Inc.” or the “Friends of Animals Charity Inc.”. On the other hand, if ABC Primary School is running the event on its own behalf, it should apply under the name “ABC Primary School”.
Where a raffle is conducted in such a way that each participant has a chance of winning a prize and one or more of those prizes are liquor, a liquor licence is not required. This is the common method of conducting a raffle. However, if a raffle is conducted on the basis that each participant wins a prize, and each prize is liquor, then a liquor licence is required.
For more information phone 1300 182 457 or email [email protected]
Description of event or activity
To grant a temporary limited licence, we must be satisfied that the scale and scope of supply of liquor is limited in nature.
You must provide a description of the event or the activities you wish to have licensed in the application form. The description must include an explanation of how the supply of liquor proposed in the application is limited in nature. You may also attach this information to the application as a separate document.
Various way in which the scale and scope of supply may be limited include the:
This list is not exhaustive; you may include details of other ways in which supply of liquor is limited
Trading hours
Application forms should specify the operating hours of the temporary limited licence.
Applications seeking to trade past 1am in the Cities of Yarra, Port Phillip, Melbourne (including Docklands), or Stonnington are also required to satisfy the VGCCC that:
Plans for temporary limited licences
When a liquor licence is granted, it is for a defined area indicating where liquor can be supplied and consumed. This is shown by a red line drawn on a plan of the premises (a red line plan).
A plan is required to be submitted to the VGCCC as part of the application process and may also be required upon request at any time.
What form should a plan take?
The plan must:
Application fees for a Temporary or Major Event licence are to cover our administrative costs to assess an application.
Should the event that you are applying for be cancelled in response to COVID-19, a refund of this fee may not be possible. In these circumstances, if your application has been assessed and a licence granted, the application fee will not be refunded.
If we have received your application but not assessed it, the application fee will be refunded. If you wish to just change the date of your event, this may be possible and it will be of no cost to you. If this is the case please contact us on 1300 182 457 to discuss.
Applications can be made securely online via the temporary limited licence online form. Payment is made by a credit or debit card.
If you require further information or help with your application form, please contact Client Services on 1300 182 457 or email [email protected]
For information about the application fees associated with temporary limited licences, see: Liquor licence fee fact sheet.