How to Change an Existing Red Line Plan in Victoria: Variations Explained

Your red line plan was approved when your liquor licence was granted. Venues don't stand still, though. You renovate, add a courtyard, take over the tenancy next door or close off a room, and at some point the plan on the wall no longer matches the building.

Whether you need to tell Liquor Control Victoria (LCV), and how, depends on what's changing. This guide explains when a change needs a formal licence variation, when it doesn't, what to lodge, and how to plan the timing so the change doesn't hold up your reopening.

The key question: is the size or perimeter changing?

LCV's rule is straightforward. You must apply to vary your licence or permit if you want to change your red line plan's:

• Size, measured in square metres
• Perimeter, the boundary of the licensed area

If only the internal layout changes, for example you add a stage or move the bar, but the size and perimeter stay the same, you don't need a variation.

There's one important exception. If an internal change affects your maximum patron capacity or another licence condition, you must apply to change those conditions. See Red Line Plan vs Patron Capacity for why the two are linked.

LCV also notes that when the internal area changes, the licensee should submit an updated plan, and an inspector or Victoria Police can ask to see your current plan at any time. So even when no variation is needed, it's good practice to keep the plan current.

Common changes, and what they usually mean

Change	Size or perimeter changes?	Usually needs
Moving the bar or adding a stage inside the same footprint	No	Updated plan for your records; check patron capacity isn't affected
Adding a rear courtyard, deck or rooftop	Yes	Licence variation with a new red line plan
Expanding into the tenancy next door	Yes	Licence variation with a new red line plan
Closing off a room or reducing the licensed area	Yes	Variation (LCV doesn't charge to reduce the licensed area)
New or changed council-approved footpath dining	Depends on licence type	Check with LCV; see our café and restaurant guide
Renovation that changes seating or standing space	Maybe not	Check whether patron capacity changes

If you're not sure, LCV invites you to email contact@liquor.vic.gov.au with your licence number, a description of what's changing and a copy of your new red line plan. They'll tell you whether a variation is needed. Either way, you need the new plan drawn first.

How the variation process works

LCV's current process for varying the licensed area is:

1. Download the variation information kit from LCV's Make changes to your liquor licence page. It includes the application form.
2. Complete and sign the form.
3. Get evidence that the change meets your council's planning scheme. This can be a copy of your most recent planning permit, a copy of a planning permit application, or written confirmation from council that you don't need a planning permit.
4. Email the form and the planning document to LCV, with your new red line plan.
5. Pay the application fee. There's a non-refundable fee to increase your licensed area. Check the current amount on vic.gov.au. There's no fee to reduce your licensed area, trading hours or patron capacity.

The change doesn't take effect until LCV approves it. Trading in a new area before approval is trading outside your licence, and significant penalties apply.

Plan the timing

LCV asks you to apply at least 9 to 11 weeks before you need the change to take effect. If you're building a courtyard or fitting out an extension, work backwards from your reopening date:

• Get the new red line plan drawn as soon as the layout is settled, not when the builders finish
• Talk to council early about planning evidence
• Lodge the variation while construction is under way

A common trap is assuming that because the planning rules changed in 2025, councils no longer matter. From 1 July 2025, Victoria removed the planning permit requirement specifically for the sale and consumption of liquor. But LCV still asks for planning evidence with variation applications, and the underlying use or building works may still need council approval. Talk to your council about your specific change.

What the new red line plan must show

A variation plan follows the same rules as a new one. See our Liquor Licence Redline Plan Victoria guide for the full checklist. In summary: at least A4, a continuous red line, north arrow, address and surrounding streets, measurements, the total licensed area in square metres, labelled key areas, and how any non-wall boundaries are marked.

For a variation, two extra things help:

• Make the new area obvious. The plan should clearly show the full proposed licensed area, including the new courtyard or tenancy, with dimensions and an updated square metre total.
• Match the plan to the building as built. If the fitout changed since your last plan, a quick measure before redrawing saves a resubmission later.

Selling or buying a venue?

LCV's guidance on red line plans says a new plan must accompany a transfer of a licence if the current floor layout differs from the plan LCV holds. If you're buying a venue that has been renovated since the licence was granted, check the approved plan against the building before settlement.

Old plans, old names

If your existing plan or licence paperwork mentions the VCGLR, that's simply the former regulator. Liquor Control Victoria took over liquor regulation on 1 July 2022. The plan's content matters more than the letterhead, but if it was hand-drawn or scanned years ago, the variation is a good moment to bring it into CAD.

Why DWG matters for variations

A variation is the moment when a PDF-only red line plan becomes a problem. If all you have is a flattened PDF or a photo of the plan on the wall, the next drafter has to redraw it from scratch before they can extend it.

Every red line plan we draft comes as DWG + PDF. The PDF is for lodging and the venue. The DWG means the next variation, whether that's a courtyard, an extra room or a reduced area, starts from the existing file, not from zero.

How we handle red line plan changes

1. Send your current plan and what's changing. The approved red line plan (from the Liquor Portal), fitout or builder's drawings for the new works, and photos.
2. We confirm the track. If the existing drawings are reliable, the updated liquor redline is $499 flat with a typical 48-hour turnaround. If the venue or the new area needs measuring, that's quoted per project, with a call-out fee for the site visit.
3. We redraw to LCV's checklist, with the new area, updated dimensions and square metre total.
4. You lodge the variation with LCV and keep the DWG + PDF for next time.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a variation to move my bar?

Not if the size and perimeter of the licensed area stay the same. If the change affects your maximum patron capacity or another licence condition, you need to apply to change that condition. If you're unsure, email LCV your licence number, a description of the change and the new plan.

How long does a red line variation take?

LCV asks you to apply at least 9 to 11 weeks before you need the change to take effect. The change doesn't apply until it's approved. Our drafting is typically 48 hours for a standard redline from usable plans.

Does it cost anything to reduce my licensed area?

LCV doesn't charge an application fee to reduce your licensed area, trading hours or patron capacity. Increasing the licensed area attracts a non-refundable application fee; check the current amount on vic.gov.au.

Can you update a plan someone else drew?

Yes. Send us the approved plan. If it's a clean, accurate drawing we can work from it; if it's a scan or doesn't match the venue, we'll recommend a measure first.

Related services and reading

• Redline Plans: liquor licence redlines and red line variations, $499 flat when existing plans are usable, DWG + PDF
• Red Line Plans for Cafés and Restaurants: courtyards, footpath dining and AA areas
• Red Line Plan vs Patron Capacity: why a bigger area doesn't automatically mean more patrons
• Site Measurements: when the venue or new area needs measuring first
• If redline means a builder markup or a council RFI, not a licensed area, read what is a redline plan

Changing your licensed area?

Send us your current red line plan, what's changing and when you need to reopen. We'll confirm whether it's a straight $499 / 48-hour redline or needs a measure first, so you can lodge with time to spare.