Liquor Licence Redline Plan Victoria — Requirements & Cost

If you're applying for a Victorian liquor licence, or varying an existing one, Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) will ask for a red-line plan. It's a floor plan of the premises with a continuous red line around the licensed area: where alcohol is sold, served or consumed, and anywhere patrons may go with a drink (including toilets).

This is different from an architectural "redline" used for council RFIs or builder markups. Same word, different job. This guide is about the liquor / LCV meaning, and how Melbourne hospitality venues get a plan that lodges cleanly.

What LCV expects on a red-line plan

LCV publishes the requirements on vic.gov.au (see Red line plans for licensed areas). In plain terms, the plan should:

• Be at least A4, neat and easy to read
• Show a continuous red line around the licensed area
• Include a north arrow or compass
• Show the premises address and surrounding street names
• Include measurements of the licensed areas
• State the total licensed floor area in square metres
• Label key fixtures — bar, point of sale / register, dining, kitchen, toilets, dance floor, and similar
• Describe how non-permanent boundaries are marked (barriers, ropes, fencing, café screens) where the red line doesn't follow a wall

If outdoor or authorised areas form part of what you're licensing or varying, they need to be shown clearly with the same discipline.

Hand-drawn plans are legally possible if they meet the rules. Most venues prefer a clean CAD plan they can lodge, keep on site, and update when the floor plate changes.

When you need a new red-line plan

You'll typically need one when you:

• Apply for a new liquor licence or BYO permit
• Vary the licence to change the size or perimeter of the licensed area
• Redesign a bar, dining room or outdoor area so the old red line no longer matches reality
• Are asked by an LCV inspector or Victoria Police to produce the current plan

Keeping an outdated red line on the wall is a compliance risk. If the fitout moved, the plan should move with it.

What it costs in Melbourne

At Arya Designs, redline plans Melbourne cover a standard liquor licence redline for $499 flat when we can work from accurate existing plans of the venue, with a typical 48-hour turnaround. You receive DWG and PDF. Architectural and council revision redlines are quoted, not included in that flat fee.

If the venue has no reliable plans (common in older pubs, strip-shop fitouts and multi-level venues), we need an on-site measure first. That measure is quoted separately once we see the address and scope. For complex floor plates we can also capture with a laser scan, again quoted on the job, not a published package price. A recent example is the red line plan for Coltivare's grocery store in Camberwell.

We don't publish a laser rate on the website. You'll get a fixed quote before we book.

DIY vs professional — which is sensible?

LCV will accept a compliant hand-drawn plan. DIY works when:

• The layout is simple and recent plans already exist
• You're confident with scale, m² totals and fixture labels
• You're not racing a lodgement deadline

Professional drafting is usually worth it when:

• You're varying outdoor dining, mezzanines or multi-room licensed areas
• Consultants, lawyers or licensing advisors need a clean CAD file
• You want DWG + PDF ready for the next variation in six months
• A rejected plan would delay opening night

The commercial question is: who drafts a lodge-ready Melbourne plan quickly, at a fixed fee? That's the gap we fill.

How the process works with Arya Designs

1. Send what you have — Existing floor plans, lease plan, fitout PDF, or photos. Tell us licence type (on-premises, general, and similar) and whether outdoor areas are in scope.
2. We confirm the track — Redline-only at $499, or measure/laser first if the base drawing isn't trustworthy.
3. We draft — Continuous red licensed-area boundary, north, streets, dimensions, m², fixtures, outdoor notes as required.
4. You lodge and keep a copy — PDF for the portal and the venue; DWG for the next change.

Hospitality clients we've worked with across Melbourne include venues such as Il Sogno (Surrey Hills redline plan), Miranda Bar, and Parkview Hotel.

Related reading and services

• Redline Plans service — liquor licence redlines $499 flat when existing plans are usable (48 hours, DWG + PDF); architectural revisions quoted
• Site Measurements — as-builts when you don't have plans
• Commercial & Hospitality Drawings — kitchens, fitouts, venue compliance
• Existing education posts on architectural redlines: What Is a Redline Plan? and Redline vs Full Permit Drawings — useful if you're comparing meanings
• Before you lodge, run the checklist of what to show on the plan

Ready to get your LCV redline drafted?

Send the venue address, licence type, and any existing plans. We'll confirm whether you're a straight $499 / 48-hour redline or need a measure first, then give you a fixed quote.