Outdoor weddings and celebrations permits

Street parties need a permit.

A street party requires:

• a traffic management plan
• a public notice advising of the street closure
• public liability insurance
• proof of support – 80% resident consent required from a closed street (name, address and signature required)
• temporary safety barriers around the road closure.

We do not organise the event, arrange the road closure or supply any equipment. 

There are already 600 events in the municipality per year. We understand neighbours’ desire to gather together and celebrate with a street party, but mindfulness is also needed for the impact of the road closures often needed for these events.

If you'd like to hold a party or gathering for your neighbours – and this can’t be accommodated in somebody’s garden - please consider choosing one of our many parks and open spaces.

The Community Event Planning Checklist on the event permit resources page will also be helpful in planning your event.

A permit does not give exclusive rights to the area, it just allows the event organiser to hold an event in the open space as shown on the permit.

Members of the public have the right to use the parks, gardens or foreshore while the event is in progress.

Events being held on the sand at the beach are allowed to rope off a small area for the duration of the event. Council does not rope off the permitted area or provide signage.

Applications can be made up to 12 months in advance. Please note that permits may not be available on public holidays or other high-demand days.

A list of all open spaces within the municipality can be found on the Parks and Playground locations page.
From 1 November to 31 March each year, the St Kilda Foreshore has an increase in visitor numbers and is extremely busy with events and activities. During the peak event season, minor event bookings may not be accepted in high use areas of the St Kilda foreshore. However, there are other locations available for minor event bookings along the foreshore, including:

• Point Ormond Reserve
• Elwood Beach
• Port Melbourne Beach
• Middle Park Beach

We cannot guarantee that equipment, marquees or road closures will not be present in the surrounding area on the event day.

Road closures occur on Beaconsfield Parade during the peak months from October to March.

 All major events and road closures are listed on our Major Events Calendar.

As part of the event permit, event organisers are allowed to set up the following:

• a maximum of 10 trestle tables
• a maximum of 100 chairs
• temporary structures 3x3 meters or smaller, can be used without additional charge. Marquees can not be pegged into the ground.

Structures that are larger than 3mx3m must be approved in advance by Council and may need to be installed by a professional hirer. Additional permit fees may apply for structures larger 3x3 meters.

Jumping castles are not permitted for minor events.

The City of Port Phillip does not supply any equipment or staff. Your permit duration includes any time required to set-up and pack-down equipment.

At Port Phillip we have alcohol bans on beaches and in foreshore reserves in St Kilda.

These laws include:

• Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in all open spaces and foreshore reserves between the times of 8 pm to 12 midday every day throughout the year.
• Additional restrictions apply over the Christmas and New Year period.
• Consumption of BYO alcohol is only permitted in a limited capacity during other times.
• No glassware is permitted in any City of Port Phillip open spaces or foreshore reserves. Drinks must only be served in recyclable cups.

If you are planning on having alcohol at an event/wedding where an alcohol ban is not in place, then a liquor licence may be required. This can be obtained from Liquor Control Victoria. Please note 8 weeks may be required for the processing of a liquor licence, but these time frames are subject to change by Liquor Control Victoria.

If your caterer is supplying the alcohol they will need to provide their liquor licence to Council.

No liquor licence is required if you are providing your own alcohol to guests free of charge.

A list of facilities available within our open spaces can be found on parks and playgrounds. All barbeques in the city are free to use however they cannot be reserved.

You are welcome to use your own barbeque if you follow Council guidelines for their safe use in open spaces. This can can be found on BBQs and total fire ban days.

The floral displays in the Alastair Clark Rose Garden are optimal in the spring (September-November).

However, the City of Port Phillip cannot guarantee continual or constant flower displays in any parks or gardens, and in particular the Rose Garden due to seasonal variables and the management of annual displays.

The below indicates the usual planting schedule:

• March to September
  Annual displays may be starting to fade
• April and October
  Annual displays are removed
• May and November
  Annual seedlings with small flowers are pruned to promote foliage growth
• June and July
  Roses undergo winter pruning

Yes. A permit fee applies.

If you are applying for wedding photography or videography only, in the booking portal select "wedding photography only" (once you select your location).

If you are applying for a permit to hold your wedding ceremony in our City, you do not need an additional permit for photography or videography.

All events must have public liability insurance with a minimum of $20,000,000 coverage.

Event organisers can:

• provide a copy of their own insurance policy along with the application form
• purchase cover through City of Port Phillip by completing the required form and paying the premium.

If equipment is hired for the event, a copy of the hire company’s Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance needs to be sent to us.

Permits are issued for a minimum of two (2) hours.

Set up and pack down time will count towards your total permitted event hours and your total cost.