How to register
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.
The following types of accommodation don't need to be registered:
- A house under the exclusive occupation of the occupier.
- A self-contained flat under the exclusive occupation of the occupier.
- Any house, building or structure to which part 4 (Caravan Parks and Movable Dwellings Residency Rights and Duties) of the Residential Tenancies act 1997 applies.
- Any vessel, vehicle, tent or caravan.
- Premises (except rooming houses) where five persons or fewer are staying excluding the family of the owner.
- Public Hospitals or registered health services establishments.
- Retirement villages.
Confirm your business address
You must confirm 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 report that contains important details including:
- the current registered owner
- information about the current registration, including the annual cost and expiry date
- any non-compliant cleanliness or maintenance items we identified.
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 both at the same time.
Use our Permit Finder if you’re not sure what permits you need.
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
- display advertising signage
- increase operating hours
- reduce the number of parking spaces
- change the use of the building.
Prepare your documents
You must upload a copy of your plans for the proposed premises 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.
Submit your application
For a Fit-out Assessment, have payment for the $78 fee ready
Apply now
If you prefer a paper or PDF form, please contact us.
Receive approval for your fit-out
If you applied to have your fit-out plans assessed, we will review the plans and let you know if there are any non-compliant items.
When there are no issues, we'll send you a stamped and approved copy of your plans.
Have your property inspected
We will contact you to organise a time to inspect the property listed on your application.
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 a follow-up inspection.
Pay the registration fee
Once your last inspection is successful, you will receive an invoice via email. You can pay this online.
Receive your Accommodation Business Registration
We will send your Certificate of Registration via email.
You’re now ready to trade in the City of Stonnington!