Business Permits

Local government is the third level of government in Australia and implement policies, regulations and programs set by other levels of government.

Councils provide statutory services required under various State laws including:

• the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008
• the Food Act 1984
• the Planning and Environment Act 1987
• the Building Act 1983

Each council also has the powers to set their own regulations and local laws. Permits are required to ensure that businesses operate in a safe manner.

Each department has different turn-around times for issuing permits.

For Food and Health permits, allow 21 days for assessment once your application has been submitted. Registration certificates are then issued once payment is made.

Other permits, such as Footpath Trading Permit, may have a shorter assessment period, depending on internal referrals, and are issued once payment is made.

Planning Permits are governed by 'statutory' time limits, and may take several months to be approved.

There are many situations where you may need a planning permit and/or a building permit. This depends on your planned works, as well as the types of overlays and planning zones on the property.

To see Planning zones and overlays, you can do a Property and Parcel search.

Building permits relate specifically to the carrying out of building construction, whereas planning permits are legal documents that allows a certain use and / or development on land.

You can operate a business from your home without a planning permit as long as you meet the requirements outlined in the Home Based Business clause of the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme.

This is to ensure that the amenity of the neighbourhood is not adversely affected by a business conducted in or from a dwelling.