Check if your business needs to be registered
You need to register with Council if your business is a:
- hotel or motel
- rooming house
- hostel
- student accommodation
- holiday camp
- residential accommodation.
You don't need to register with Council if your business is a:
- house under the exclusive occupation of the occupier
- self-contained flat under the exclusive occupation of the occupier
- house, building or structure to which part 4 (Caravan Parks and Movable Dwellings Residency Rights and Duties) of the Residential Tenancies act 1997 applies.
- vessel, vehicle, tent or caravan
- premises where five persons or fewer are staying excluding the family of the owner (except rooming houses)
- public hospital or registered health services establishment
- retirement village.
Know your business address
You must know the address of your premises before you apply because we can't process your application or provide accurate advice without it.
Request a report on the property you are buying (optional)
If you're buying an existing accommodation business, we can provide a Property Enquiry Report that contains important details including:
- any non-compliant cleanliness or maintenance items we've identified
- information about the current registration (e.g. annual cost and expiry date).
Apply for other permits (if required)
You can save time by applying for a Building Permit and Planning Permit before registering your accommodation business. We recommend applying for these permits at the same time.
For building or alteration work on most commercial and industrial developments, you will need a Building Permit.
Regardless of the overall cost of the work, this can include:
- new buildings
- shop fit-outs
- alterations and additions to current buildings
- pergolas (roofed), verandahs and shade sails
- decks and balconies
- changes to the use of a building
- minor structures, including garages and sheds
- demolition of existing buildings
- swimming pools, spas or safety barriers.
You may need to apply for a Planning Permit if you plan to:
- carry out building works
- have live music, DJs or a focus on entertainment and liquor
- display advertising signage
- increase operating hours
- reduce the number of parking spaces
- change the use of the building.
If you plan to trade on the footpath, you may need a Footpath Trading Permit.
You will need a Footpath Trading Permit if you want to use a public footpath or Council land to:
- display goods
- display goods on your neighbour's footpath (Extended Goods Permit)
- display an advertising board
- set up a waiting area
- display a real estate pointer board.
Use our Permit Finder if you’re not sure what permits you need.
Prepare your documents
You need to provide a copy of your proposed floor plans showing the use for each room. Plans must be:
- drawn to scale
- at a scale of at least 1:100
- accompanied by specifications for materials and finishes for all surfaces including floors, walls and bench tops.
The plans must also clearly show:
- all bedrooms and beds
- kitchens, lounge rooms and other shared facilities
- the number and location of all toilets, showers, baths and hand basins
- waste disposal and storage areas.
For more information, read our construction guidelines(PDF, 430KB).
Rooming house operators only
Rooming house operators will require a license from Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Submit your application
Have payment for the Fit-out Assessment fee ready.
Our online service is temporarily unavailable.
To apply, please email us for a PDF or paper form.
Receive approval for your fit-out
An Environmental Health Officer will assess your floor plans and make recommendations to ensure that the plans meets the legal requirements.
Once approved, we'll send you a stamped copy of the approved floor plan.
Have your premises inspected
Before you begin operating, an Environmental Health Officer will contact you to organise a time to visit your premises.
We'll then send you a report letting you know if your business is compliant or if there are any issues you need to address before you begin operating.
Pay the registration fee
Once we've inspected your premises and approve your registration, we'll email you an invoice for the business registration fee. You can pay this online.
Start trading
We will send your Certificate of Registration via email.
You’re now ready to trade in the City of Stonnington!