Heritage Victoria
Heritage Victoria administers the Heritage Act 2017 and the Victorian Heritage Register. Issues heritage permits for works on state-listed places.
Ask Chalkline about this →Heritage Victoria is the Victorian state authority that administers the Heritage Act 2017 (Vic) and the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). It sits within the Department of Transport and Planning (current name as of 2026-05-16; the department has been renamed multiple times in recent years). Heritage Victoria issues heritage permits for works on state-listed places, runs the Heritage Council Victoria as the appeal/governance body, and maintains the public register of state-significant heritage places and archaeological sites.
The state vs local heritage split in Victoria:
| Heritage system | Administered by | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| State (Victorian Heritage Register, VHR) | Heritage Victoria | Works on VHR-listed place requires heritage permit from Heritage Victoria |
| Local (council heritage overlay) | Local council under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 | Works require planning permit from council |
A place can be on both registers simultaneously. If on the VHR, the state heritage permit is the primary approval; the council planning permit may also be needed but the state permit usually leads.
Heritage permit application process:
- Pre-application meeting: free, recommended. Heritage Victoria officers indicate whether the works are likely to be permitted and what evidence will be required.
- Application lodged online with statement of heritage impact (mandatory), drawings, photos, fabric assessment, and proposed methodology.
- Public notice: applications are publicly advertised for 14 days unless an exemption applies (minor works, works behind the principal facade, etc.). Notice goes online and on the site.
- Submissions period: any person can lodge a submission. Submissions are considered by Heritage Victoria.
- Decision: Heritage Victoria issues the permit (with or without conditions), refuses, or requests further information. Statutory timeframe is 60 days from application acceptance for routine permits; complex applications often run 4-6 months.
- Appeals: refused or conditioned permits can be appealed to the Heritage Council Victoria. The Heritage Council is a separate body that conducts merits review.
Permit exemption certificates:
Heritage Victoria can issue permit exemption certificates for routine maintenance, repair, and like-for-like replacement that does not adversely affect cultural heritage significance. Common exemption-certificate scopes:
- Like-for-like roofing repair (matching slate, tile, or metal profile).
- Gutter and downpipe renewal.
- Internal painting and floor coverings (most internal works).
- Re-pointing using lime mortar.
- Limited gardening, fence repair.
The exemption is faster (often 4-6 weeks) than a full permit application.
Common builder pitfalls:
- Starting works without the permit: Heritage Victoria has stop-work powers and can prosecute. Penalties to $400,000-plus for serious unauthorised demolition of state-listed places under the 2017 Act.
- Assuming a permit from council is enough: it’s not. If the place is on the VHR, council can’t approve works that need a Heritage Victoria permit. The two run in parallel.
- Late lodgement of the heritage impact statement: lodging without an HIS triggers a refusal-to-accept and resets the timeline.
- Methodology missing: heritage permits commonly require not just the “what” but the “how” (lime mortar mix specs, replacement-tile salvage source, glazier methodology). Builder input is essential at the application stage.
Also known as: Vic Heritage Victoria; VicHeritage; VHR (referring to the register).
Category: Regulators.
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Last updated: 2026-05-16. Verified: 2026-05-16. Quarterly review for currency.