Red Line Plan vs Patron Capacity in Victoria

A Victorian liquor licence for a bar, restaurant, café or pub usually carries two numbers that sound related but do different jobs:

The licensed area: the space inside your red line, stated in square metres on your red line plan
The maximum patron capacity: how many customers can be in that licensed area at one time

They're connected, but they aren't the same thing, and they aren't set by only one rule. This guide explains how they fit together, the ratio Liquor Control Victoria (LCV) uses, and why other limits on your building can matter just as much.

What the red line plan does

Your red line plan defines where you can sell, serve and allow customers to drink. It shows a continuous red line around the licensed area and must state its total floor space in square metres. LCV approves the plan, makes it publicly available, and you keep a copy on site for inspectors and Victoria Police.

For the full plan checklist, see Liquor Licence Redline Plan Victoria: Requirements & Cost.

What maximum patron capacity does

Maximum patron capacity is the total number of customers allowed in your licensed area at one time. LCV asks for it if you're applying for a:

General licence (including late night)
On-premises licence (including late night)
Restaurant and cafe licence
Club licence (full or restricted)

LCV says it uses this number to assess the risk of your application, calculate your annual licence renewal fee, and include as a condition on your licence. Allowing in more people than your licence permits is an offence.

How LCV links the two: the 0.75 m² ratio

When you apply, LCV needs a supporting document for your patron capacity. Its current guidance lists:

A planning permit, if it states a maximum patron capacity (not all permits do), or
A red line plan showing the total square metres of your licensed area

If you're using the red line plan, LCV's guidance says to calculate capacity using a ratio of 1 person for every 0.75 square metres:

Total floor space (m²) ÷ 0.75 = maximum patrons

LCV's own example: 60 m² ÷ 0.75 = 80 people.

That's why the square metre total on your red line plan matters so much. If it's wrong, the patron number that flows from it is wrong too.

LCV's older patron capacity factsheet also describes asking for a report from a registered building surveyor that calculates capacity on the same 0.75 m² basis, using the area available to the public and excluding toilets, passageways and the like. LCV may request that kind of report if it considers the capacity in a permit inaccurate or inappropriate. If your venue has lots of back-of-house space inside the red line, ask LCV or your licensing adviser which area should be counted.

Why a bigger red line doesn't automatically mean more patrons

It's tempting to think that extending the red line lets you fit more people. Not necessarily. The capacity on your licence is only one of several limits that can apply to the same venue:

Your planning permit may cap patron numbers.
Your building's occupancy permit may state a maximum number of people.
Building regulations cover exits, paths of travel, toilet numbers and fire safety. A building surveyor assesses these, and they can limit how many people a space can safely hold.
Your lease may have its own restrictions.

In practice, the lowest applicable limit is the one you operate to. A courtyard that adds 40 m² to your red line won't help if the exits or toilets can't support more people. LCV's own factsheet notes that it's the building owner's responsibility to make sure building occupants comply with all other regulatory requirements.

The red line plan isn't an assessment of egress, toilets or fire safety. We draw what's there and where the licensed area sits. Building compliance questions belong with a registered building surveyor.

Restaurant and cafe licences: the seating condition

If you hold a restaurant and cafe licence, there's an extra link between your layout and your numbers. Tables and chairs must be set up for at least 75% of your customers at any one time. LCV's guidance gives the example that with seating for 50, you can legally have at most 66 patrons.

So a restaurant's practical capacity can be set by its seating as much as its floor area. See Red Line Plans for Cafés and Restaurants for more on food venues.

When changes affect patron capacity

Patron capacity also matters when you change the venue:

Increasing the licensed area needs a licence variation, and you'll usually want to address patron capacity at the same time.
Internal changes that keep the same red line don't need a variation, but if they affect your maximum patron capacity, LCV says you must apply to change that condition.
Reducing patron capacity or licensed area is free, and can reduce renewal fees.
Function rooms used only for functions can be identified separately, which may reduce your renewal fees.

Our guide to changing an existing red line plan covers the variation process step by step.

Why the square metre total needs to be accurate

Because the licensed area can drive your patron number, and your patron number can affect your fees and conditions, the square metre total on your plan isn't a formality:

Too low and you may be applying for fewer patrons than your venue can hold.
Too high and the capacity may not stand up if LCV or a building surveyor checks it.
Out of date and it no longer matches what's on the wall.

That's why we calculate the licensed area from dimensioned CAD, not from a sketch or a satellite image. If the venue has no reliable plans, we measure on site first.

How we help

Send your plans and licence details. Tell us your licence type, any planning permit patron limit, and whether outdoor areas are in scope.
We confirm the track. From usable existing plans, a standard liquor redline is $499 flat with a typical 48-hour turnaround. If we need to measure, that's quoted per project, with a call-out fee for the site visit.
We draft the red line plan with dimensions and an accurate licensed area in square metres, ready for your capacity calculation.
You get DWG + PDF. If your building surveyor or licensing adviser needs to calculate public areas, the DWG gives them measurable geometry, not just a picture.

Frequently asked questions

How does LCV calculate patron capacity from my red line plan?

LCV's guidance uses 1 person per 0.75 square metres: the total floor space in square metres divided by 0.75. A planning permit that states a maximum patron capacity can also be used. LCV may ask for a building surveyor's report in some cases.

Does a red line plan set my building's occupancy limit?

No. The red line plan defines the licensed area for your liquor licence. Occupancy, exits and toilets are building matters assessed by a registered building surveyor, and your planning permit may set its own limit.

Do you calculate patron capacity?

We draw the plan and calculate the licensed area in square metres, which is what LCV's formula uses. We don't certify building occupancy. If you need a building surveyor's report, they can work from our DWG.

Does patron capacity affect my licence fees?

Yes. LCV says it uses maximum patron capacity to calculate your annual licence renewal fee, so it's worth getting the number right.

Need an accurate red line plan?

Send us the venue address, licence type and any existing plans. We'll confirm whether it's a straight $499 / 48-hour redline or needs a measure first, and you'll have a plan with a licensed area you can rely on.

Red Line Plan vs Patron Capacity: How Licensed Area and Patron Numbers Fit Together