Depending on the type of business you’re starting you may need one or more permits from Council. The following permits and registrations may need consideration.
Planning permits
A planning permit is a legal document that gives permission for a particular type of use and/or development of a property.
Building permits
A building permit is necessary for construction works undertaken on land or on a property.
Food Act - Food registration
All Victorian food and drinks businesses that handle prepare package store serve supply or convey food/drinks must be registered or notify under the Food Act - learn more about starting a new food business.
The Food Registration assessment will designate the appropriate food/drinks classification for your business for more information find out more about food classifications.
If your business is not a fixed premises you will need to follow the permit processes for a temporary or mobile food business.
Health and beauty business
All health and beauty businesses need to be registered with the local Council even if you run a home based business. These include:
- hairdressers including mobile and low-risk beauty services (such as eyelash extensions)
- tattooists body piercing and other skin penetration (such as myotherapy and acupuncture
- beauty therapy (such as waxing threading manicuring intense pulsed light and laser)
- electrolysis
- colonic irrigation.
Accommodation registration - Public Health and Wellbeing Act
Several types of businesses providing accommodation services need to be registered annually under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act to ensure basic hygiene standards are met. Learn more about registering an accommodation premises. We register and monitor businesses such as:
- residential accommodation
- hotels
- motels
- hostels
- student dormitories
- holiday camps
- rooming houses
- some bed and breakfast operations.
Footpath trading applicable permits
Footpath trading includes any commercial activity on the footpath.
Footpath trading permits include:
- Al fresco outdoor dining permit
- A-frame permit
- Real estate agent portable sign permits
- Footpath trading permits
Filming Permit
Any filming or commercial photography in the Geelong region will require a filming permit.
Busking Permit
All buskers performers spruikers and pavement artists need to have a busking permit.
Events Permit
Events held on Council controlled or managed open space may require an event permit.
Domestic Animal Business Permits
Under current legislation all domestic animal businesses must be registered with the City of Greater Geelong and comply with the appropriate mandatory Code of Practice.
Domestic animal businesses include:
- animal pounds either run by Council or a Council contractor
- breeding businesses (cats and/or dogs)
- training facilities for dogs and cats
- pet shops
- animal (welfare) shelters
- dog/cat rearing premises.
Responsibilities of a domestic animal business as defined under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 can be found on the Animal Welfare Victoria website.
To find out more visit the Domestic Animal Businesses section of our website.
State and Federal licences and registrations
To understand what information you need to register a business to comply with the law visit Business Victoria.
These include:
- The Australian Government Business Registration Service combines several business and tax registrations in one place making it even easier to start a business. You can apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN) and register your business name online.
- Register a business name information and additional Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) business resources is available on the ASIC website.
- Goods and services tax (GST) information.
- Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding tax information.
- Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) information.
- Fair trading laws (Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012) information
- Check if your business requires licensing or registration from Consumer Affairs Victoria.
- Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) issues all Liquor Licences.
- Check if your business requires a registration from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria to allow you to legally operate anindustrial or waste activity that has low to moderate risk.
- If your business is involved in manufacturing food preparation or other commercial processes that generate wastewater you need to apply to Barwon Water for consent to discharge your trade waste into Barwon Waters sewerage system.