A permit is required to conduct horse-drawn carriage rides and tours from a public place. This activity is regulated under the Activities Local Law 2009, the City of Melbourne’s Street Activity Policy 2011 and Code of Practice for the Operation of Horse-Drawn Carriages, 2011.
The City of Melbourne’s Street Activity Policy 2011 aims to ensure high standards of safety, welfare of horses and general city amenity.
For more information please download the following fact sheets:
Horse-drawn Carriage Fact Sheet (PDF, 92kb) 
Horse-drawn Carriage Fact Sheet (text, 11kb)
City of Melbourne’s Code of Practice for the Operation of Horse-Drawn Carriages, 2011
The Code of Practice for the Operation of Horse-Drawn Carriages within the City of Melbourne aims to promote and maintain excellence of commercial horse-drawn carriages in the City of Melbourne.
Horse-drawn carriage permit holders, and any operator or driver of a horse-drawn vehicle within the municipality of the City of Melbourne, must comply with this code of practice as a condition of the horse-drawn vehicle permit issued and pursuant to the Melbourne City Council Activities Local Law 2009.
Download/view the Code of Practice for the Operation of Horse-Drawn Carriages:
Horse-drawn Carriage Code of Practice (PDF, 138kb)
Horse-drawn Carriage Code of Practice (text, 37kb)
How do I apply to operate a horse-drawn carriage business in the City of Melbourne?
Applications for Horse-Drawn Carriages are sought through an expression of interest process. Invitations calling for expressions of interest were advertised in The Age newspaper on Saturday 8 October 2011.
Application have now closed. The next expression of interest process is due to be advertised in October 2016.
For more information contact the City of Melbourne on 9658 9658 or email street.trading@melbourne.vic.gov.au