Starting or growing your business

Echuca businesses

1. Overview

Starting or growing your business is exciting. Council will support and guide you through this process to ensure you get all the information you need while helping you to submit the correct permits.

The Economic Development team will support you and your business and help you grow your community contacts. You are welcome to get in touch with them at any stage though the process by calling 1300 666 535 or 5481 2200 or emailing [email protected] - attention Economic Development.

You will likely need a permit to operate - some businesses may need more than one permit. While this can be overwhelming, the list below is designed to help you determine what you may need. It's a good idea to read through each section to see if it applies to you. Please apply if you have all the information ready. You may want to consider hiring a consultant to assist you with the application process.

2. Starting a new business or changing an existing business

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you'll likely need a Planning Permit:

  • Are you changing the business type from its current form?
  • Are you applying for or altering a liquor licence?
  • Are you adding or changing signage?
  • Are you looking to alter or paint a heritage listed building?
  • Will your patrons park on the street?
  • Are you providing accommodation?
  • Do you plan on hosting events on private property?
  • Are you planning to start an animal boarding or breeding business?

If you answered no to all questions, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

To make the application process easier, before applying, please contact the Economic Development team by calling 1300 666 535 or 5481 2200. For the application, you may need the following:

  • An outline of the type of business you are looking to open
  • Title information for the land
  • Plan of existing conditions
  • Plans showing layout and external changes
  • Consider any impacts on your immediate surrounds

Contact the Economic Development team for a full list or requirements for your application.

When you are ready, lodge a planning application through e-services.

Further information and how to apply can be found on our Planning Permits webpage.

3. Transferring a business

If you answer yes to the following question, you'll likely need a Transfer of Business Permit:

  • Are you buying an existing food, accommodation or health business?

If you answered no, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

To make the application process easier, before applying, please ensure that you have:

  • Current landowner consent

When you are ready, lodge your application by contacting the Environmental Health team on [email protected] or call 5481 2200.

4. Building or renovating a property

If you answer yes to any of the following questions you'll likely need a Building Permit:

  • Are you planning to carry out any internal fit outs or alterations to the property?
  • Are you planning to carry out any structural alterations to the exterior of the building (including increasing window and door sizes)?
  • Do you want to increase the number of people that can occupy the building at any one time?
  • Are you changing the use of the property (ie converting an office to a restaurant/bar)?
  • Are you altering any essential safety measures? (ie fire hydrants, fire hose reels, exit signs, emergency lighting or paths of travel to an exit)?

If you answered no to all questions, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

When you are ready, application information is available on our Building Permits webpage.

5. Food & drinks business

If you answer yes to the following question, you'll likely need a Food Premises Registration Permit:

  • Do you intend to prepare food or handle food for sale or sell food or drink from your business?

If you answered no, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

To make the application process easier, before applying, please ensure that you have:

  • Details of the types of food and/or drinks you are planning to prepare, handle or sell from the premises.
  • Full kitchen floor plans

When you are ready, refer to our Food Business webpage.

6. Beauty, hair & tattoo, etc 

If you answer yes to the following question, you'll likely need a Public Health and Wellbeing Permit:

  • Are you opening a beauty therapy, skin penetration, hairdressing, colonic irrigation or tattooing business?

*Please note that mobile skin penetration businesses are not permitted.

If you answered no, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

To make the application process easier, before applying, please ensure that you have:

  • Building floor plan drawn to scale

When you are ready, refer to our Health business webpage.

7. Onsite wastewater systems for business

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you'll likely need an Onsite Wastewater System Permit:

  • Are you planning to install a new onsite wastewater system?
  • Are you planning to alter an existing wastewater system?

If you answered no to all questions, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

To make the application process easier, before applying, please ensure that you have:

  • Land title
  • Site and floor plan of the property
  • Plan for the proposed onsite wastewater system

When you are ready, lodge your application through e-services or contact the Environmental Health team on 1300 666 535 or 5481 2200.  

8. Accommodation business

If you answer yes to any of the following questions you'll likely need a Prescribed Accommodation Registration Permit:

  • Are you opening an accommodation business such as a hotel, motel, hostel, student dorms, holiday camp, rooming house or residential accommodation such as a bed and breakfast?
  • Will you be able to accommodate more than five persons in the accommodation premises?

If you answered no to all questions, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

When you are ready, refer to our Accommodation business webpage.

9. Footpath trading and advertising

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you'll likely need a Footpath Trading Permit:

  • Do you plan on having street furniture (umbrellas, pots and planter boxes)?
  • Do you plan on displaying goods (clothing racks, household goods, camping goods, books, DVDs, sporting goods, fruit and vegetables or flowers)?
  • Do you plan on advertising (A frame)?
  • Do you plan on having outdoor dining?

If you answered no to all questions, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

To make the application process easier, before applying, please ensure that you have:

  • A copy of your Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance (minimum $10,000,000 cover) with Campaspe Shire Council noted as an “Interested Party”
  • Site plan or photos of the proposed layout of footpath trading
  • Current Liquor Licence (if service of alcohol permit is required)
  • Liquor Licence Red Line Plan (if service of alcohol permit is required)

Please ensure you read and understand our Public Spaces Trading Guidelines(PDF, 8MB) before applying.

When you are ready, complete your Street trading application(PDF, 757KB) here.

When you are ready, refer to our street furniture webpage for more information.

10. Domestic animal business 

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you'll likely need a Domestic Animal Business Permit:

  • Do you intend to open a pet shop?
  • Do you intend to open an animal shelter or pound?
  • Do you intend to conduct boarding (kennel, cattery or home boarding)?
  • Do you intend on breeding dogs / cats?
  • Do you intend to open a dog training establishment?
  • Do you intend on breeding, boarding or training Greyhounds?

If you answered no to all questions, it is still a good idea to get in touch to discuss your needs.

What's next?

To make the application process easier, before applying, please ensure that you have:

  • A copy of the type of records that will be kept in relation to each animal association with the Domestic Animal Business permit.
  • Click here to see what your legal obligations are for your new business.

To apply for a Domestic Animal Business permit, please contact Local Laws on 1300 666 535 or 5481 2200 or lodge an enquiry here.

Contact Council if you need help assistance with your application or to arrange a meeting by calling 1300 666 535 or 5481 2200 or email [email protected]. If emailing, please include your name, outline of proposal and property address.