person at messy desk

Starting, Expanding or Buying a Business

Whether you want to start a new business, expand an existing one, or buy an established business, Council is here to help.

You may need one or more permits or registrations, depending on:

  • The type of business you plan to operate
  • Where your business will be located
  • Whether you plan to carry out any building works or changes.

Important: You must have the right permits and registrations before you start operating your business or begin any works.

Common permits and registrations

Planning Permit

If you plan to:

  • Change how the land is used
  • Change the use of a building for a business
  • Run a business from your home
  • Put up signs
  • Do building works.

If you need several different permits, a Planning Permit usually comes first, before you can obtain a Building permit or Health registration.

Building Permit

If you plan to:

  • Construct and/or demolish a building
  • Make structural changes or internal modifications to an existing building
  • Change the type of business, such as turning an office into a shop.

A Building permit is different from a Planning permit - you might need both.

Public Health registration

If you want to operate a:

  • Food business, including handling or selling food
  • Temporary and mobile food business, such as a mobile food van or market stall (also known as Itinerant Trading)
  • Personal services business, such as hairdressing, beauty, or tattooing
  • Accommodation business

Wastewater and septic systems may also require registration.

Local Laws Permit

For activities such as:

  • Footpath trading, such as A-frame signs, outdoor tables and chairs, display or sale of goods
  • Temporary and mobile food businesses, such as a mobile food van or stall (also known as Itinerant Trading)
  • Domestic animal businesses

Civil Works Permit

For works in public areas such as:

  • Footpaths
  • Nature strips
  • Roadways

Business Permit Application Process

The steps below outline what happens at each stage of the business permit application process and what you need to do along the way.

  1. Step 1 – Prepare 
    Research your business idea, check which permits or registrations may be required, and understand the costs involved.
  2. Step 2 – Apply
    Apply for the permits and registrations needed to operate your business.
  3. Step 3 – Assessment
    Your application is assessed by the relevant Council teams. We may contact you if more information is required.
  4. Step 4 – Application outcome
    Once all required permits and registrations are approved, you can start operating your business.
  5. Step 5 – Ongoing support
    Stay connected with Council for ongoing business support, advice and growth opportunities.
     

Step 1 – Prepare

Do your research

Before you get started, take some time to understand the key things that will set your business up for success.

This includes:

  • Researching your business idea and preparing a business plan
  • Checking whether your business is allowed to operate from your chosen location before you sign a lease or make a financial commitment
  • Identifying the permits and registrations you may need
  • Planning your finances and budget, including start up and ongoing costs
  • Thinking about how you will market and promote your business to build your customer base

Do your homework before you sign

Before you sign a lease, commercial agreement, property purchase, or make any financial commitment, it’s important to check what permits and registrations may be required for:

  • The property you are considering, and
  • The type of business you plan to operate.

Not every business can operate from every location. Doing this research early can help you avoid unexpected costs, delays, or finding out too late that your business cannot legally operate from that property.

Why does this matter?

Planning controls, building requirements, and other regulations can affect:

  • How a property can be used
  • Whether renovations or a change of use are allowed
  • What approvals are required before you can open or expand your business

Requirements vary depending on both the property and the business activity. What applies to one business or location may not apply to another, even within the same street.

What can affect whether you can operate from a property?

Factors may include:

  • Zoning and planning controls
  • The current approved use of the building
  • Whether a change of use is required
  • Building and fire safety standards
  • Health and safety requirements
  • Parking, access, noise, waste, and operating hours
  • Signage and outdoor trading

Permits and registrations you may need

Depending on your business, you may need:

  • A planning permit
  • A building permit
  • Health or food-related registrations
  • A local laws permit

You must have the right permits and registrations before you start trading or begin works.

Costs and timeframes

There are fees to apply for permits and registrations. Costs vary depending on the type of approval and your business activity, so it’s important to factor them into your business planning.

Approval timeframes can also vary. How long it takes depends on the type of permit or registration.

Resources to help with your research

You may find the following resources helpful:

Need help with permits and registrations?

Navigating permits and registrations can be challenging, especially if you’re starting a business for the first time.

By sharing some information about your proposed business, Council’s Business Permit Support Service can help you understand what permits and registrations may be required, saving you time and helping you avoid unnecessary costs or delays.

Find out how the Business Permit Support Service can support you.

Someone on the computer

Step 2 – Apply

Depending on the type of business you want to operate, including a home-based business, you may need to apply for one or more permits or registrations before you start trading.

Fees apply to all permits and registrations. Costs vary depending on your business type and activities, so it’s important to check fees early and factor them into your business planning.

If a Planning permit is required, you must apply for and receive this approval before applying for other permits or registrations.

How to apply

Use the links below to find out how to apply for the relevant permits and registrations.

Planning: 

Building: 

Public Health: 

Local Laws:

Civil Works: 

Important information

You must have the required permits and registrations approved before you:

  • Start trading
  • Begin building works or fit outs
  • Operate from a temporary or mobile location
A pen and paper

Step 3 – Assessment

Once you’ve submitted your application, it will be reviewed by the relevant Council teams.

If we need more information to assess your application, we’ll contact you. Providing any requested information as soon as possible can help avoid delays.

Timeframes

Assessment timeframes can vary depending on:

  • The type of permits or registrations required
  • The nature of your business activities
  • Whether additional information or approvals are needed

Some applications may take longer than others, particularly if they are more complex.

A laptop with a tickbox on the screen

Step 4 – Application Outcome

Once all relevant Council teams have completed their assessment, you’ll receive formal notification of the outcome for your records.

If your application is approved:

If your application is approved, we’ll provide you with your permit or registration.

Once you have received all required permits and registrations, you can start operating your business.

Make sure you:

  • Read and understand any permit conditions
  • Keep copies of your permits and registrations for your records
  • Display permits where required
  • Renew permits or registrations before they expire

Permit conditions are legally binding and must be followed while you operate your business.

If your application is not approved:

If your application is refused, we’ll explain the reasons and outline any next steps or options available to you, where applicable.

Changes to your business

If your business changes in the future, such as a change in activity, location, layout or operating hours, you may need to apply for new or updated permits or registrations.

If you’re planning changes to your business or need help with renewals, contact Council for advice and support.

Dandenong Civic Building

Step 5 – Ongoing Support

Council’s Business Development and Investment team can connect you with services and opportunities to help your business grow and succeed.

Staying connected can help you access practical support, build networks, and keep up to date with opportunities as your business develops.

Stay connected

Thank you for choosing Greater Dandenong as a place to start or grow your business.

Step 1 – Prepare

Research your business idea, check which permits or registrations may be required, and understand the costs involved.

Read about how to prepare

Have you done your research?

Before you get started, take some time to understand the key things that will set your business up for success.

This includes:

  • Researching your business idea and preparing a business plan
  • Checking whether your business is allowed to operate from your chosen location before you sign a lease or make a financial commitment
  • Identifying the permits and registrations you may need
  • Planning your finances and budget, including start up and ongoing costs
  • Thinking about how you will market and promote your business to build your customer base

You will need to do your homework before you sign

Before you sign a lease, commercial agreement, property purchase, or make any financial commitment, it’s important to check what permits and registrations may be required for:

  • The property you are considering, and
  • The type of business you plan to operate.

Not every business can operate from every location. Doing this research early can help you avoid unexpected costs, delays, or finding out too late that your business cannot legally operate from that property.

Why does this matter?

Planning controls, building requirements, and other regulations can affect:

  • How a property can be used
  • Whether renovations or a change of use are allowed
  • What approvals are required before you can open or expand your business

Requirements vary depending on both the property and the business activity. What applies to one business or location may not apply to another, even within the same street.

What can affect whether you can operate from a property?

Factors may include:

  • Zoning and planning controls
  • The current approved use of the building
  • Whether a change of use is required
  • Building and fire safety standards
  • Health and safety requirements
  • Parking, access, noise, waste, and operating hours
  • Signage and outdoor trading

Permits and registrations you may need

Depending on your business, you may need:

  • A planning permit
  • A building permit
  • Health or food-related registrations
  • A local laws permit

You must have the right permits and registrations before you start trading or begin works.

Costs and timeframes

There are fees to apply for permits and registrations. Costs vary depending on the type of approval and your business activity, so it’s important to factor them into your business planning.

Approval timeframes can also vary. How long it takes depends on the type of permit or registration.

Resources to help with your research

You may find the following resources helpful:

Need help with permits and registrations?

Navigating permits and registrations can be challenging, especially if you’re starting a business for the first time.

By sharing some information about your proposed business, Council’s Business Permit Support Service can help you understand what permits and registrations may be required, saving you time and helping you avoid unnecessary costs or delays.

Find out how the Business Permit Support Service can support you.

On

City of Greater Dandenong

Dandenong Civic Centre

225 Lonsdale Street

Dandenong

Victoria Australia 3175

Haven't found what you need?

Contact us on 8571 1000 or council@cgd.vic.gov.au

Keen to keep up with what's happening in Greater Dandenong?

Subscribe

 

Greater Dandenong City Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Bunurong People, and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their continuing connections to climate, Culture, Country and waters.