Commercial Permits in Victoria
Data from 2000–2026
Commercial development permits cover retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use development projects.
Total Applications
4,092
Approved
2,823
69% of all
Refused
11
0% of all
Withdrawn / Other
1,258
Application Outcomes
Of 2,834 decided applications, 100% were approved.
Processing Time
25th percentile
42 days
Median
83 days
75th percentile
139 days
90th percentile
222 days
75% of commercial permits are decided within 139 days. Based on 441 applications with complete date records.
Commercial Permits by Council
| Council | Applications | Approved | Refused | Withdrawn | Median Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobsons_Bay | 1,181 | 1,129 | 0 | 39 | — |
| Murrindindi | 409 | 376 | 0 | 23 | — |
| Yarra | 176 | 75 | 0 | 3 | — |
| Kingston | 171 | 35 | 2 | 16 | — |
| Moorabool | 167 | 0 | 0 | 8 | — |
| Casey | 157 | 98 | 3 | 16 | 85 |
| Strathbogie | 146 | 135 | 1 | 10 | — |
| Benalla | 130 | 124 | 1 | 3 | — |
| Whittlesea | 121 | 57 | 0 | 6 | 63 |
| Greater_Geelong | 115 | 88 | 0 | 10 | — |
| Whitehorse | 102 | 72 | 1 | 16 | — |
| Monash | 100 | 60 | 1 | 12 | — |
| Bayside | 90 | 72 | 0 | 12 | 63 |
| Latrobe | 87 | 74 | 0 | 5 | — |
| Glen_Eira | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Greater_Dandenong | 60 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 137 |
| Wyndham | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Mornington_Peninsula | 59 | 33 | 0 | 7 | 83 |
| Pyrenees | 51 | 50 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hume | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Darebin | 47 | 27 | 1 | 5 | — |
| Moonee_Valley | 46 | 46 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Frankston | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Maribyrnong | 44 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 59 |
| Melbourne | 39 | 9 | 0 | 6 | — |
| Bass_Coast | 33 | 24 | 0 | 5 | — |
| Yarra_Ranges | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| East_Gippsland | 32 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 195 |
| Surf_Coast | 29 | 17 | 0 | 5 | — |
| Wellington | 22 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 70 |
| Merri-Bek | 21 | 18 | 0 | 3 | — |
| Maroondah | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Horsham | 17 | 16 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Northern_Grampians | 14 | 10 | 0 | 2 | — |
| Mitchell | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Swan_Hill | 13 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Nillumbik | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Golden_Plains | 13 | 6 | 1 | 4 | — |
| South_Gippsland | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Southern_Grampians | 12 | 5 | 0 | 3 | — |
| Alpine | 11 | 5 | 0 | 4 | — |
| Stonnington | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Indigo | 10 | 6 | 0 | 3 | — |
| Boroondara | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ararat | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Buloke | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Brimbank | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Most Common Zones
Zones where commercial permits are most frequently lodged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the outcomes for commercial permit applications in Victoria?
Of 4,092 commercial applications tracked across 47 Victorian councils, 2,823 were approved and 11 were refused. An additional 246 applications were withdrawn. Among decided applications, 100% were approved.
How long does a commercial permit take to process?
The median processing time for commercial permits across Victoria is 83 days from lodgement to decision. 75% of applications are decided within 139 days. Processing times vary significantly between councils.
Which council processes the most commercial permits?
Hobsons_Bay has the highest volume with 1,181 commercial applications.
Check commercial permit history for your property
Enter any Victorian address to see planning permit history, zoning controls, overlays, and development potential.
Search your propertyBased on 4,092 commercial applications from 47 councils (2000–2026). Outcome rates are calculated from decided applications only (excludes pending and withdrawn). Data sourced from council planning registers.