Most people do not need a permit. But if you get it wrong you can cop a fine from council, so it is worth two minutes of reading before you book.
On your own property, no permit needed
If the bin sits on your driveway, in your yard, or anywhere on private property, no permit is required anywhere in Victoria. That covers the large majority of household jobs.
On the nature strip or road, you need one
The moment a bin sits on council land — the nature strip, the footpath, or the road itself — you need a permit from your local council. Councils across Melbourne each run their own process, their own fees and their own processing times.
Some councils turn a permit around in a day. Others want a week. In the inner suburbs where parking is tight, expect more paperwork and a longer wait than in the outer east or south east.
What councils generally want to know
- The address the bin is going to
- How long it will be there
- The size of the bin and how much road space it takes
- Whether it affects parking or a bus route
Owners corporations and shared driveways
Units and townhouses add a wrinkle. A shared driveway is usually common property, which means the owners corporation has a say even though it is not council land. Worth a phone call before the truck turns up and finds nowhere to put the bin.
We can sort it for you
If your bin needs to go on council land, tell us when you book and we will organise the permit. Give us a few days notice, more if it is an inner-city council. Ring 0432 118 814 and we will tell you what your particular council requires.