If you're unsure of the type of permission you need, we highly recommend that you use our free permission pathway process before you apply for a permission. Application requirements are generally complex and activity specific.
You must get a permission from us to conduct activities that have risk of harm to human health and the environment. These are called prescribed activities and are defined in Schedule 1 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021(opens in a new window).
Our permissions include licences, permits and registrations. We also issue temporary authorisations for waste discharge or disposal, permission exemptions, and designations.
Our permissions focus on areas where there may be a significant impact on human health and the environment. For example:
- If you discharge wastewater to a nearby creek, your permission limits the amount of waste you can discharge.
- If your business has the potential to be noisy, your permission includes a condition around managing noise.
- If your premises accepts waste for treatment or disposal, your permission includes a list of the types of wastes that you can accept and how they can be treated.
To apply for permission, you have to submit an application through our portal and pay a fee. The information you need to provide in your application depends on your prescribed activity and which permission type you're applying for.
We must approve your application before you can conduct the activity. There are penalties for conducting an activity without the required permission.
A permission is only valid if you comply with its conditions.
To see the permissions we've issued, visit our public register. This includes their start and end dates, status, location and conditions.
Licences
Licences are for high-risk prescribed activities – for example, coal processing, power generation or developing or operating a large landfill.
Licences have the highest level of regulatory control. This is because these activities have a significant risk of harm to human health and the environment.
All licences include a preamble, conditions and a set of plans, including an activity site plan. Some operating licences also include waste acceptance and treatment tables and discharge limit tables.
Licence applications involve detailed assessment. Licences have general, standard and specific conditions and ongoing monitoring.
There are 3 types of licence:
Development licence
A development licence gives you permission to design, construct or modify plant, equipment, processes or systems for prescribed development activities.
The application process involves:
- making a science-based and evidence-based assessment of the design
- consulting with the community and interested stakeholders
- driving innovation and better practice.
Development licences play an important role in preventing harm. They give us an opportunity to influence the design of works or a facility before building starts. This includes operating and management capability.
Development licence applications can take up to 4 months to assess. Development licences are valid for a specified period.
You can comment on development licence applications during the submission period. We publish applications on the Engage Victoria(opens in a new window) website.
Operating licence
An operating licence gives you permission to conduct ongoing, generally complex, high-risk industrial and waste activities – for example, operating a large landfill or conducting mining activity.
You must get a development licence or development licence exemption before applying for an operating licence.
Operating licences have general and specific conditions that depend on the activity's site-specific risks.
Operating licence applications can take up to 42 business days to assess. Most operating licences are valid for up to 20 years.
Pilot project licence
You can apply for a pilot project licence for a research, development or demonstration activity. This excludes activities that involve technologies, systems or processes that are proven or operating at a commercial scale.
If your pilot project trial is successful, you can use our free permission pathway process to find out which permission you need for commercial development of your project.
Pilot project licence applications can take up to 22 business days to assess. Pilot project licences are valid for up to 5 years.
Permits
A permit is for engaging in medium-risk to high-risk prescribed activities. For example, you need a permit to operate a medium-scale waste resource recovery centre – such as recycling construction and demolition waste – or to run an outdoor event or concert.
Permit conditions generally provide direction and clarity on risk management. Permits have less regulatory responsibility than licences.
For some prescribed activities, you must get a development licence before you can apply for a permit.
Permit applications can take up to 42 business days to assess. Permits are valid for up to 5 years.
Registrations
A registration is for low-risk to moderate-risk prescribed activities – for example, dry cleaning, some waste transport or temporary asbestos storage.
Registrations include general conditions for the activity.
Registration applications are granted immediately. Registrations are valid for up to 5 years.
Authorisation of discharges or disposals
We also authorise temporary discharges or disposals of waste:
- in an emergency
- for public hardship
- to commission, repair, decommission or dismantle an industrial plant or equipment that's linked to a prescribed activity.
This includes waste emissions, storage, treatment, disposal and handling that would usually need a permission from us.
We only issue authorisations in specific circumstances and only on a temporary basis. Visit apply for temporary authorisation to discharge or disposal of waste.
Exemptions
Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Environment Protection Regulations 2021, we can issue an exemption from a development licence, operating licence or permit under certain circumstances.
For example, we may issue an exemption:
- in an emergency
- where an activity has low risk to human health and the environment
- when it's in the public interest to do so.
You can apply for an exemption, or we can initiate one.
Determinations
We can also determine circumstances where you may not need a permission or where you can apply for a lower-level permission with less regulatory responsibility. These are called determinations.
Designations
We issue designations for waste that cannot be classified using the waste codes in the Environment Protection Regulations. Learn more about designations and when to apply for one.
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