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Fees

The Heritage Regulations 2017 and Heritage (Underwater Cultural Heritage) Regulations 2017 prescribe the fees to be paid for:

  • Heritage certificates
  • Underwater cultural heritage permit applications
  • Heritage permit applications
  • Archaeological consent applications
  • Reviews of decisions

The regulations also empower the Heritage Council of Victoria to waive application fees in some circumstances.

Fee units

The Heritage Regulations 2017 and Heritage (Underwater Cultural Heritage) Regulations set fees in fee units. A fee unit value is adjusted each year by the Treasurer’s amount and is published in the Government Gazette. In 2024-25 one fee unit is $16.33.

In the tables below, the fee units have been converted to a dollar value on the basis of the value of a fee unit as it is set for the 2023-24 financial year.

Fee waivers and fee exemptions

You may be exempt from paying fees or you may be able to have all or part of your fees waived.

During the application process, you will be asked if you are eligible for an exemption or want to apply for your fees to be waived. Once you submit the form, your request for an exemption or waiver will be considered. You will be advised whether you have an exemption or waiver before your application is processed.

You may be exempt from fees if you have a concession card and your application relates to a property you own and live in.  

All or part of your fees may be waived if your application is for:

  • conservation or research
  • public education
  • public safety
  • works or activities that are the same, or primarily the same, as those in a previous application
  • an archaeological site that the Executive Director has confirmed is of low archaeological value
  • a community group.

List of fees

Penalties and infringement notices

If a person or organization fails to comply with the Heritage Act 2017, or conditions of an approval, they may be liable for penalties.

Types of penalties

There are different types of penalties that can be applied depending on the breach that has occurred. For example:

  • An authorised officer can issue an infringement notice
  • An enforcement order can be sought from the Minister
  • Prosecution may be pursued in the Magistrates’ Court
  • Prosecution may be pursued in the High Court
  • The Governor in Council may apply a 10 year stay on development of the place.

As well as monetary penalties, some Heritage Act offences are indictable offences. These are serious offences where the accused may be sentenced to a period of imprisonment.

Penalty units

The Heritage Regulations 2017 and Heritage (Underwater Cultural Heritage) Regulations set penalties in penalty units. A penalty unit value is adjusted each year by the Treasurer’s amount and is published in the Government Gazette. In 2022-23 one penalty unit is $197.59.

In the tables below, the penalty units have been converted to a dollar value on the basis of the value of a penalty unit as it is set for the 2022-23 financial year.

List of penalties

Page last updated: 10/07/24