Skip to main content

                    Street kiosks and cylinders

                    Woman making crepes in shop
                    The City of Melbourne offers small businesses and startups opportunities to lease and run their businesses from small purpose-built kiosks and cylinders.

                    Kiosks and cylinders add vibrancy and diversity to the area they’re in and enable new and innovative businesses access to trade.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Kiosks

                    We have a number of kiosks across the municipality that are currently leased until 31 March 2025.

                    Future applications for kiosks will be handled via an expression of interest (EOI) process. An EOI will open in the near future to fill any unoccupied kiosks. 

                    Please contact street.trading@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ if you have any questions.

                    Cylinders

                    We have a number of cylinders across the municipality that are currently leased until 31 March 2025.

                    Cylinders are smaller than kiosks, and only certain locations have access to power or water. 

                    Future applications for cylinders will be handled via an expression of interest (EOI) process. An EOI will open in the near future to fill any unoccupied cylinders. 

                    Please contact street.trading@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ if you have any questions.

                    How to apply

                    Long-term cylinder and kiosk EOI process

                    Submissions for kiosks and cylinder licences for periods greater than one year are currently not accepted. It is anticipated the next tender process will commence in late 2023.

                    City of Melbourne also permits Pedicabs through the EOI process.

                    For more information on the EOI process, including how to create a registration to our system, please visit the Tenders page. 

                    Short-term (casual street trading) cylinder application process

                    Applications for short-term cylinders can be made by submitting the application form below, along with supporting documentation to street.trading@melbourne.vic.gov.au. Incomplete applications will not be considered and further information would be required. The outcome will depend on the number of applications received and available dates.

                    Applicants must complete and submit an application form in detail, at least 30 days prior to the intended commencement date of the desired permit period. Processing time may vary depending on the level of detail provided in the application and cylinder availability.

                    Application form:​

                    Refer to the application requirements​ below.

                    Locations

                    ​Kiosk locations

                    • Adjacent to 447 Collins Street
                    • Adjacent to 120 Swanston Street
                    • South-east corner of Collins and Elizabeth streets
                    • North-west corner of Collins and Swanston streets
                    • Harbour Esplanade, Docklands
                    • North-east corner of Elizabeth and Bourke street​s

                    Long term cylinder locations – one year to three years

                    • South-west corner of Swanston and Little Collins streets
                    • North-east corner of Swanston and Lonsdale streets
                    • South-west corner of Swanston and Bourke streets
                    • South-east corner of Swanston and Bourke streets

                    Short-term cylinder locations – three months to one year

                    • Adjacent to 236 Swanston Street
                    • Adjacent to 461 Bourke Street
                    • Adjacent to 156 Elizabeth Street
                    • Adjacent to 60 Elizabeth Street
                    • 171 Spencer Street, west of Bourke Stree​t
                    Locations are also shown on the map below.

                    Fees

                    Licence fees for cylinders are calculated at a monthly rate of $332 per month.

                    Licence fees for kiosks vary depending on location. These are calculated by means of an independent market valuation and can range from $884 up to $2000 per month.

                    Licence fees are invoiced monthly in advance, and the first three months must be paid in full along with the application fee prior to the issuing of the licence, permit and keys to the kiosk/cylinder.

                    Weather

                    ​Our cylinders and kiosks are located on footpaths within the CBD and are exposed to Melbourne’s weather conditions including wind, rain, heat and cold. This needs to be considered when submitting your application, and how you plan to display your goods and services.

                    We don’t provide alternative arrangements or compensation for loss of business due to weather conditions.

                    Skip Map
                    Street kiosk and cylinder locations
                    Open map in new window

                    Application requirements – cylinders

                    You’ll need to provide all necessary information and supporting documentation when submitting your application​.

                    Casual street trading cylinder permit application form (DOC 143 KB)​​​

                    Applicant details

                    Your application needs to include:

                    • ​Business Name
                    • Contact name (both first name and surname)
                    • Postal address
                    • Email address
                    • ​Phone number (mobile number preferred)​.

                    Proposed locations and intended trading period

                    Location

                    If your application is successful but your nominated location is not available, we will suggest some alternative locations . We will make contact and ask you to list, in order, your top five preferences.

                    ​Duration

                    We’ll issue a licence and permit for a minimum of three months that can be extended in three month increments, up to a maximum of twelve months. If you want a licence for more than 12 months, you’ll need to submit an application through the tender process.

                    Proposed dates

                    If your preferred trading period is not available, we’ll suggest alternative dates depending availability.​

                    Business proposal

                    Your business proposal should have a marketing strategy and business plan that includes the following details.

                    Marketing strategy

                    • How you plan to promote and advertise the business.
                    • Branding and marketing materials that adds to the look and feel of the products you sell.
                    • Links to websites, social media pages or other directories used for promotion.
                    • Any branding you intend to install on or in the cylinder structure, with images or designs included as an attachment.

                    Business plan​

                    • Detail how you plan to operate the business, including staffing numbers, work systems, occupation health and safety requirements and operating procedures.
                    • Outline how you plan to stock and replenish goods to be sold, how you intend to store them outside of trading hours, and to manage payments.

                    No cash should be stored in cylinders at any time.

                    Products / services

                    ​You’ll need to clearly explain your products / services and provide us with:

                    • any advertising of your goods
                    • a full list of the products / services you intend to sell from the cylinder, including pricing for each item
                    • ​photos of the products / services.

                    You must be able to demonstrate the products and services you are planning to sell are of a high quality, unique and distinctive. Applications which include items that are handmade and sustainable (non-disposable items) will be considered more favourably.​

                    Infrastructure and equipment

                    There is no electricity, gas, water or waste water drainage connected to any of our casual street trading cylinders. Please note, generators are not allowed to be used within the CBD.

                    You’ll need to include the details of all infrastructure and equipment you propose to use in the cylinder, including photos, detailed drawings and measurements. You are best to provide a design drawing showing where all infrastructure will be used. Examples of infrastructure include:

                    • displays for goods including shelving
                    • tables and decorations
                    • stools or chairs.

                    Your infrastructure should be of a high-quality, attractive design, and have an engaging street presence. You’ll need to provide photos or detailed drawings of your equipment and show us how you’ll set up and display your products or service.

                    There is a plan (PDF 88 KB) of our cylinder dimensions. 

                    Your infrastructure should only occupy the permissible space in front of the cylinder (refer to diagram below), and should not impact on the flow of pedestrians.​

                    Diagram showing the permissable space (resembling a triangle) in front of the cylinder

                    At the end of the licence period the cylinder must be left in its pre-existing condition, with all fittings and fixtures fully removed, and left in a clean state.​

                    Food Act requirements

                    We’ll only consider low risk and pre-packaged food and drinks (Class 4). You must comply with the Food Act 1984.

                    For further information regarding food legislation, contact the Health and Wellbeing team on 03 9658 8858 or email health@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ before submitting an application.

                    Public liability insurance

                    ​If your application is successful, you’ll need to provide a copy of your public liability insurance certificate, with a minimum of $20 million coverage. Read more about our public liability insurance requirements​.

                    Applicant declaration

                    ​You must sign and date the application before submission. Any unsigned applications will not be considered.​

                    ​​Contact us

                    Need more help? Ask us​ a question.

                    ​For kiosk or cylinder-related questions, use 'Kiosk' or 'Cylinder' as the subject.​​

                    Live chat embed code file
                      Was this page helpful?

                      If you'd like to give more feedback or ask a question, please contact us.