You’ll need to provide documents in support of your application, including the below.
Business proposal
Your business proposal should include a marketing strategy and business plan.
Marketing strategy:
- How do you plan to promote and advertise the business?
- Have you created a branding and collateral for the business that adds to the look and feel of the products you sell?
- Provide links to websites, social media pages or other directories used to promote your business.
- Provide images or designs as an attachment.
Business plan:
- Detail how you plan to operate the business, including staffing numbers, work systems, OH&S 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 how to manage payments.
- Provide information on branding or signage you are planning to have on site.
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, including pricing for each item
- photos of the products / services.
You must be able to demonstrate the products and services you are selling are high quality, unique and distinctive. Applications which include items that are handmade and sustainable (non-disposable items) will be considered more favourably.
Proposed locations
You’ll need to:
We don’t issue permits in these locations:
- Bourke Street Mall between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street
- Swanston Street between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane both east and west sides
- Directly in front of the Melbourne Town Hall on the eastern side of Swanston Street, between Collins Street and Little Collins Street
- The promenade at the Crown Entertainment Complex between Spencer Street and Queensbridge Street
- Privately managed locations including Queen Victoria Market and Federation Square (privately managed locations must be contacted directly)
- Narrow streets and footpaths with inadequate pedestrian capacity and against the building line
- Directly in front of entrances or steps at train stations
- In any location that prevents easy access to and from trams at designated tram stops.
Applicants must also include a site plan and at least one photo of the area they intend to occupy.
Infrastructure and equipment
You’ll need to include the details of all infrastructure and equipment you intend to use including photos, detailed drawings and measurements. 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. Provide photos or detailed drawings of your equipment and show how you will set up and display your products or service.
Any infrastructure approved under the permit must be fully removed from site outside of the permitted times of operation. Failure to do so may mean items are confiscated and disposed of by council’s contractors.
Food Act requirements
You must comply with the Food Act 1984 if you are selling food and drink.
For further information regarding food legislation, contact the Health and Wellbeing Branch 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.