Commercial Use of Footpaths

Knox City Council supports the conduct of footpath activity associated with established businesses throughout strip shopping centres and other business activity areas. These activities are regulated by a permit process and include outdoor dining areas, displaying goods for sale, or signs placed out on Council Land.

A range of activities are permitted, including:

An Outdoor Dining Permit allows for the placement of street furniture on Council Land. These items can include tables and chairs, cafe barriers, umbrellas, heaters and planter boxes. To ensure pedestrian access, and that community safety and amenity is not compromised, the placement of any items against the property line/shop front is prohibited.

Council is working on expanding outdoor dining opportunities in Knox to help hospitality businesses cater for more customers and operate within Victorian Government COVID health restrictions.

There is currently a $0 permit fee until 31 August 2021 for an outdoor dining permit. For more information and how to apply, please visit our Outdoor Dining page

Pedestrian safety in these areas is a priority and Council recognises that adequate controls need to be established and enforced to ensure that public safety is not compromised and that pedestrians have ‘a continuous and uninterrupted path of travel’ along footpaths/walkways. This area is located against the proprty line/shop front and is known as the ‘Pedestrian Zone’. The Pedestrian Zone must be at least 1.5 metres wide (dependent of footpath width) and kept free from any items, including signs, goods, tables or chairs.

Permit application forms can be downloaded below.

Your application must include the following: