How to plan your event
There are many things to think about when you're planning an event. This page will guide you through what's required.
If you are planning a public or private event in a public space in the City of Darebin, you may need an event permit. Permits are in place to ensure that event organisers run their events in a safe and compliant manner, and that the event doesn’t unduly impact the public use of these spaces or negatively impact residents or businesses in the area. They are also in place to ensure event organisers leave the public spaces as they found them, ready for the public to enjoy.
Not every event will require a permit, although most will. Some events will also require other permits to be obtained as part of the application process.
Events between mid-December and mid-January
If your event will be between 16 December 2024 and 12 January 2025, you need to apply for a permit before 2 December 2024 to have your application reviewed.
The Events Team will have reduced staff from 16 December 2024 to 12 January 2024, so events submitted after 2 December will need additional time for processing.
On this page:
Step by step guide for planning your event
To assist you in streamlining this, we have outlined the step-by-step process of applying for an event permit below.
Step 1: Book your event site
Before you apply for an event permit, you need to have permission to hold your event in the event site of your choosing. These are most commonly Darebin’s many parks and open spaces, but can also be a road, footpath, carpark or other public space.
Not all spaces are suitable for events, and even the spaces that are suitable are not available year around. To ensure you have reserved the space you want, and have permission to hold your event there, you need to book the event site.
Where is your event going to be?
If your event is using more than one of these spaces, you will need approval from each team.
Once you have approval for the site of your event, you can then apply for an event permit.
Step 2: What type of event is it?
The first step to applying for a permit is to know what type of event you are holding. This will determine:
- what documentation you will be required to submit
- how much lead time you need to allow when submitting your application
- how much your permit fees will be.
Your event may also require a Place of Public Entertainment occupancy permit (POPE) as well, if it is a building or substantially enclosed public area of more than 500 square metres that used for public assembly.
You will also need an occupancy permit and siting permit for a prescribed temporary structure.
Find out about event and temporary structure permits.
Event type guide
The table below will help you
- figure out the type of event you are holding and what its overall risk is
- determine how much documentation you will need to submit
- give you an idea of how long the application process may take
A low or medium impact event won’t need as much detail as a high-risk event, for example.
| Event type |
Event limits |
Application deadline |
Private / low impact
These events include family gatherings, small weddings, work parties, birthday parties etc. |
Events can have:
- up to 200 people
- no marquees
- no food or alcohol sales
- no stages, live music PAs or sound systems (small portable speakers for background music within EPA requirements are acceptable)
- no portable toilets
- no amusement rides or inflatables
- no advertising signs or banners
- no enclosed areas, fencing or ticketed / reserved entry requirement
- no vehicle access or parking reservation
- no road closures
|
No event permit is required for events that meet these conditions.
Site booking is always required for any organised event, even if it doesn’t require an event permit.
See step 1 above for details about booking sites within Darebin |
Low risk
These include community festivals and fun days, charity events, cross country or sporting events etc. |
Events can have:
- 200 to 1000 people
- No more than 5 different infrastructure suppliers
- Food, drink or alcohol sales
- Small stages, live music PAs or sound systems
- Enclosed areas, fencing or ticketed/reserved entry requirement
- Small road closure (Road closure permit required)
|
6 weeks minimum |
Medium risk
Includes larger festivals and commercial events etc. |
Events can have:
- 1000 to 2000 people
- no more than 10 different infrastructure suppliers
- food, drink or alcohol sales
- medium stages, live music PAs or sound systems
- enclosed areas, fencing or ticketed / reserved entry requirement
- road closure (road closure permit required)
- minor public transport disruption
|
3 months minimum |
High risk
These include major events |
Events can have:
- over 2000 people
- complex infrastructure and public impact
- multiple days and locations
- enclosed areas, fencing or ticketed / reserved entry requirement
- major road closures (road closure permit required)
- major public transport disruption / impact
|
6 months minimum |
Step 3: Plan your event
Now that you know how much time you need to allow for your permit application deadline, you can begin planning your event.
To avoid any delays, make sure you have all the documents ready before you submit your application. Documents will be uploaded as attachments during the application process.
Templates are available to download below if required, but you may use your own forms provided they address the required information.
| Document to submit |
Details |
| Event management plan |
This is the core document of you event and should outline all the relevant information about your event.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Event organiser contact names and numbers
- Warden structure
Who are the chief and deputy wardens, and how is an emergency managed?
- Event schedule
Including bump-in and out
- Supplier and infrastructure list
Who are the suppliers, and exactly what are they providing? Marquees, toilets, food trucks, fencing, etc.
- Environmental and waste management plans
- Power, water and toilets
Where are they being provided from? Is it enough to meet the requirements of the event?
|
| Risk management plan |
This should be your main document to ensure your event is safe for yourselves and the patrons attending.
This should outline:
- all the risks that you have identified as being associated with your event
- all the steps you are taking to minimise or remove the risks altogether.
|
| Emergency management plan |
Outlines how your staff will respond to an emergency, in the unlikely event that it does.
While you will almost always call 000 in an emergency, how you respond in the minutes before they arrive will minimise damage or loss of life.
You will be responsible for the safety of everyone at your event, until emergency services arrive and take over. It is essential that you have a clear plan of how you will do this. |
| Site map |
This needs to be an aerial view of your event site and can be taken as a screenshot from Google Maps if needed.
It needs to show all your:
- infrastructure, including marquees, water, toilets, stages, stalls, vehicles
- first aid, fire extinguishers, and emergency evacuation locations.
- all fencing, signage, and entry and exit points.
It should be as close to scale as possible and show a legend. |
Depending on the elements your event has, you may need to provide additional supporting documents and permits to show that these elements are compliant.
Template documents
You can use templates below to help you with planning your event. You can use these as your documents, or as a reference to create your own versions to suit your event.
You will still need to provide all the relevant information if you create your own.
It is recommended that you read the Event Planning Guide(PDF, 213KB) to make sure you are considering all the information relevant to your event.
Once you have your completed documents, you are now ready to apply for your event permit.
Apply for an event permit
Once your application has been received, you will receive a confirmation email. Later on, you will be sent an invoice for the permit fee. Please note the permit cannot be issued until the invoice is paid.
Step 4: Permit assessment
The permit assessment process can take a long time and will vary based on the size and complexity of your event.
You can help with processing your application quickly by:
- ensuring you are as thorough as possible with your application
- upload the correct documents.
This will reduce the number of times we need to ask you for more information.
Our review process
The permit assessment process:
- reviews your submitted documentation
- consulting with other councils or external parties to ensure compliance is being met
- ensuring the event will be run in a safe and coordinated way
We may ask for supporting documents.
Once the permit has been approved, it will be issued to you via email and will contain a list of conditions that must be followed for the permit to remain valid.
It is always your responsibility as the event organiser for the safety and security of everyone working on, attending or passing by your event. This is what we need to see has been considered in the application.
If you have any questions, or are unsure about any part of your application, you can reach out to the Festivals and Events team on 03 8470 8080 or email us on eventpermission@darebin.vic.gov.au for advice or read the Event Planning Guide(PDF, 213KB) for more information.
Restrictions at your event
We like to encourage events of all shapes and sizes within the City of Darebin, however there are some things that are not permitted at events.
- Inflatable structures of any kind are currently prohibited in the City of Darebin. This includes jumping castles, inflatable slides, mazes or any other inflatable structure.
- Fireworks are prohibited in City of Darebin.
- Bins must be provided by the event and cannot be supplied by us. It is the organisers responsibility to ensure all waste is disposed of correctly, and that the event site is left as it was before you arrived.
Accessibility at your event
Accessibility is crucial to an inclusive and safe event for all. Our Access Enabled Event Guide(PDF, 301KB) can help you to ensure your event is accessible.
Free bin cap loans
It is important for all events to consider the impact their event will have on the environment. Bin caps are an effective way of ensuring that waste is disposed of in the correct manner.
To assist community groups with this, we have a small number of bin caps available for loan. There are:
- Red – general waste
- Yellow – recycled waste
- Green – food and organic waste
These can be borrowed from our Preston Customer Service Centre.
Collection and returns can be arranged by contacting us on eventpermission@darebin.vic.gov.au or contacting customer service.
Temporary signs
If you plan to erect temporary signs on Council land to publicise a non-commercial, community event you can apply below. The form will ask you about type of signage, locations, artwork and some other requirements:
Apply for temporary signage for community events
More information
Festival and Event Officer
Phone: 03 8470 8080
Email eventpermission@darebin.vic.gov.au