Shopfitters in Victoria (VIC) — Licensing, Approvals & Costs

Who regulates shopfitting in Victoria?

The licensing body for Victoria is Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC).

Building work needs a registered building practitioner; plumbing work needs a licensed plumber. Domestic building insurance applies to residential work only — fit-outs are commercial, but the practitioner registration requirement is the same.

Check before you sign: ask for the contractor’s licence or registration number, verify it on the Building and Plumbing Commission register, and have it written into the contract.

The approval pathway in Victoria

Permit pathway — the order matters, because a permit issued before the use is approved is wasted money.

Building permit from a Registered Building Surveyor (RBS) is the core approval for fit-out works — required where work affects structure, fire safety, egress, services or a change of use.
Planning permit from council if the use changes, or if signage/façade changes are not exempt.
Occupation permit / Certificate of Final Inspection before you open.

Access & compliance

Access compliance (AS 1428.1 / NCC) is assessed as part of the building permit; accessible sanitary facilities are the most frequent fit-out failure point.

Food, liquor, signage and fire

Food premises

Register your food business with your local council under the Food Act 1984 (Class 2 typically). Temporary and mobile operators use Streatrader.

Liquor

Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) — liquor licensing moved to the VGCCC; a planning permit for the use is usually needed first.

Signage

Major and illuminated signage needs a planning permit; small business signage has exemption categories under the planning scheme — check the schedule for your zone.

Fire safety

Essential Safety Measures (ESM) regime: the RBS issues an occupancy permit listing the ESM schedule, and you must keep an annual ESM report for the life of the building.

Plumbing & trade waste

Plumbing permits are issued to the licensed plumber; trade waste (including grease traps) needs Yarra Valley Water / South East Water / City West Water trade waste consent — separate to council.

Asbestos

Buildings constructed before 2004 require an asbestos register and management plan for workplaces; removal is licensed (Class A/B) and must be notified to WorkSafe.

What a fit-out costs in Victoria

Project tier	Indicative range	What it buys
Refresh	$1,300 – $1,600/m²	Paint, flooring, lighting swap, minor joinery
Standard fit-out	Mid-range of $1,300 – $3,400 /m²	New shopfront, counters, joinery, services adjustments
Premium / flagship	Top of $1,300 – $3,400 /m²	Custom joinery, feature ceilings, full services upgrade

Benchmarks include fit-out works only — not base building works, rent, stock or professional fees. Run the calculator for a range on your size and tier.

Areas covered

Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo.

Local gotchas worth knowing

Victoria changed regulators on 1 July 2025 — the BPC absorbed the VBA, DBDRV and domestic insurance functions. Old VBA references are now BPC.
Trade waste consent for a café can take longer than the building permit — start it first.
Melbourne CBD heritage and design-and-development overlays add months to façade changes.

FAQs — Victoria

Is a planning permit needed for every shop fit-out in Victoria?

No. If the use stays the same and the works are internal, a building permit is usually the only approval. Planning kicks in for change of use, façade/signage changes or overlays.

Who issues the building permit?

A private Registered Building Surveyor, or your council’s municipal building surveyor. Most commercial fit-outs use a private RBS.

What is an ESM report?

Essential Safety Measures are the fire, egress, mechanical and electrical systems the building must maintain. The occupancy permit lists them and you must keep annual reports.

Guidance only. Approval requirements change. Confirm your specific project with a licensed building surveyor or certifier, your local council, and the relevant state regulator before committing to a lease or a build programme.

Shopfitting in Victoria