Road permits and charges

Working within the road reserve

In certain situations, you need consent to work within the road reserve.

You must obtain consent from the relevant coordinating road authority if you're proposing to conduct works within the road reserve unless you are exempt under either the Road Management Act 2004 or the Road Management (Works and Infrastructure) Regulations 2015.

Under the Road Management Act 2004, you must:

  • notify the coordinating road authority before installing non-road infrastructure
  • obtain consent from the coordinating road authority before starting works
  • notify the coordinating road authority once the works are completed.

Some exemptions or variations to these requirements may apply.

This information is for guidance only and doesn't replace the requirements set out in the Road Management Act 2004, associated tegulations, or other applicable laws and government policies.

Under the Road Management Act 2004 (Victoria), Head, Transport for Victoria (HTfV) consent is required for specific works within or near a road reserve managed by the coordinating road authority, including roads under HTfV’s jurisdiction.

Guides, fact sheets and forms

For additional information including frequently asked questions, process chart and examples, download the following documents:


Other helpful info:


Legislation:


Forms:

Situations requiring consent

All works on or within the freeway reserve must obtain consent.
 

Steps to applying for works in the road reserve permit

 

DTP assessment

Each application for a works within the road reserve permit is carefully reviewed, with approval or refusal based on considerations of road safety, network efficiency, and community access. DTP aims to respond within 20 business days. 

For utility works, specific response times apply:

  1. 15 business days for service extension works.
  2. 10 business days for a LAAN application.
  3. 3 business days for urgent utility service provision.

Note: If DTP doesn't respond within these timeframes, written consent is deemed granted. However, applicants must still comply with all conditions of consent, complete the works safely, and ensure the road reserve is restored to the required standards.

Your application is approved

If your application is approved, a works within the road reserve permit with conditions relating to the structure or activity will be issued. 

Your application is refused

Any dispute about consent or the conditions imposed on the consent should be resolved by negotiation between the applicant and the relevant DTP officer.

If the dispute isn't resolved by these negotiations, DTP, upon receipt of written notification of the dispute will apply the following dispute resolution process:

Resolution by:

  • those closest to the workface.
    If not resolved within 10 working days escalation to line managers.
    If not resolved within 10 working days, escalation to;
  • Chief Executive Officers or their nominees.
    If not resolved within 10 working days, escalation to
  • relevant road and utility Ministers or their nominees.

Notification completed of works

The works manager, organisation or applicant, who conducted the works must notify the coordinating road authority within seven business days of completing the works, including any details of reinstatement works.

For utilities or their agents exempt from obtaining consent, the notification period is extended to the 14th day of the month following the completion of the works.

Non-compliance

It's an offence for anyone to interfere with a state-controlled road or its operations without an approval. Penalties may apply for non-compliance.

Continued operation or conducting an activity or installation of structure under an expired permit is an offence. It's the permit holder's responsibility to ensure a current permit is available at all times.

It's also an offence to not comply with any conditions attached to the Works within the Road Reserve Permit. The permit will be cancelled.

Developer funded roadworks

Go to the external works on the road network page.

Supervision of roadworks

Go to the fees, charges and financial securities page.

Traffic management plan and memorandum of authorisation

Find out how to apply for a memorandum of authorisation.

Definitions

Definitions relevant to road and infrastructure works are outlined in the applicable Victorian regulations and acts, available on the Victorian legislation website.

Contacts

If you require further information in relation to working within the road reserve of a freeway or an arterial road, contact the relevant DTP office below:
 

Image of map of Victroria showing the boundaries of the six regions