Preparing your street presence
Setting a good first impression is important, as well as ensuring that your business is not detrimental to your neighbourhood and is a safe space for your customers.
Once you have confirmed whether you need a planning permit, you may like to consider what your business will look like to your customers.
This page discusses signage and construction requirements
Outdoor trading
This could include tables and chairs or signage on the footpath.
To trade from a City of Ballarat managed land, you will need to apply for a permit.
If you have recently purchased a business with an existing outdoor trading permit, you will need to apply again.
Outdoor trading activates public spaces and creates vibrancy to our streetscapes, however we need to balance community use of the footpath and precinct too.
Outdoor trading covers three broad categories:
- Outdoor dining: such as tables, chairs, heaters, pot plants, umbrellas, barrier screens
- Advertising signage: such as temporary A-frame signs or tear banners
- Displaying goods: such as products being placed on the footpath for sale or hire
If your vision goes beyond the above-listed points, impacts existing City of Ballarat assets and contributes to activation of a streetscape please make contact with the Economic Development team, to discuss your concept in more detail.
For more information, refer to the resources on this page
Outdoor trading - Fees and charges
- $200 for outdoor dining*
- $100 for display of goods for sale or hire*
- $100 for A-frame signage*
Any permit issued will expire 31 July 2026.
*The Council's adopted budget can lead to changes in these fees.
Outdoor trading - Apply for a permit
You will need:
- A site plan of the outdoor area detailing where you wish to trade
- Photographs of the proposed footpath area
- Public Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency with $20 million coverage
Apply for your permit:
- Read the Outdoor Trading Guidelines
- Have your site plan, photos and insurance documentation ready to attached to your application
- Online: Complete the online Outdoor Dining or Trading Application
The City of Ballarat will notify you of the outcome of your application as soon as possible
Signage
Like most businesses, you may want an exterior sign to help customers find you.
The City of Ballarat need to make sure that signs don’t unduly detract from the environment, so a planning permit is sometimes required before signs can be installed.
When you talk about your business concept with the Economic Development Team, they will take your signage vision into account. They can assist you in determining whether you need to apply for a Planning Permit.
Signage on the Footpath
If you would like to place signage such as an A-Frame or flag on a City of Ballarat managed space, for example the footpath, you will need to apply for an Outdoor Trading permit.
Complete the online Outdoor Dining or Trading Application
For more information view or download the Footpath Trading fact sheet
Home based businesses
If you live within a residential area and you are operating a business from home be mindful that you can only display signage at your house that is smaller than 0.2sqm (approx. 40cm x 50cm)
Please speak with the Economic Development Team if you would like to enquire about signage for your home based business.
Modifying a building
Modifying your building can help give your business character and brand, however it is important to ensure the structural integrity of your build, together with the impact that your construction will have on the precinct.
Planning and Building assessments will look at different aspects to the application.
Building Permit
A Building Permit will cover things like the structural integrity of the build, fire safety features within a building and accessibility to and within a building.
Every building is classified and designed according to what it can be used for, ultimately to ensure the safety of the building occupiers and other property.
If you plan to change a building’s layout, configuration, occupant numbers or use, these works will require a building permit to be obtained.
A building surveyor is responsible for issuing a building permit at the start of a building project and an occupancy permit or final certificate on completion of the building works.
The surveyor should be included at the start of the process. Your appointed building surveyor will liaise with the City of Ballarat, so that City of Ballarat’s Building Service Department are aware that the correct building permits have been obtained to occupy the building.
After the building permit is issued, the building surveyor will carry out inspections at different stages during the project to make sure the building work meets minimum Building Code of Australia requirements.
View or download these commonly used fact sheets may help you in understanding the permits required for your business:
Planning Permit
A planning permit will consider the impact of your business to the precinct you are operating within.
Not all businesses require a planning permit, but it is important to investigate whether you need a permit before you proceed.
Resources
Industry Guidelines
The guidelines are designed to help you understand the permits required for your particular business sector:
Business Fact Sheets
The fact sheets are designed to help you understand the types of permits required from the City of Ballarat
Food and Liquor
Planning
Contact us
The City of Ballarat’s Economic Development Team is dedicated to supporting businesses, small, large, or just starting. By providing us with the information about your business at the start, we can direct you to the right people in the City of Ballarat to progress your vision.
The team is available to assist you to:
- Conduct initial research to identify commercial or industrial sites
- Guide you through council's regulatory processes
- Connect you with regional markets, key influencers, and business associations
- Connect you with other council services
Phone: 5320 5500
Email: economicdevelopment@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Online application form: Small Business Application
The team will then be in contact with you to discuss your business over the phone or to arrange an in person meeting.
Stay up-to-date with business news
Subscribe to our Economic Development e-newsletter to receive information about:
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City of Ballarat business development and networking events
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Other opportunities for businesses supported by City of Ballarat