Applying for an On-licence

Application for an on-licence

You can apply for an on licence in Waitakere City for cafes, fully licensed and BYO restaurants and entertainment venues. You cannot apply for an on licence for a bar (i.e. casual drinking). This is because Waitakere City is a Trust area.

If the proposed premises or site is not in Waitakere City you should contact the local council. 

Are you setting up a new business? 

If yes the following steps should be followed: 

First ensure that the activity proposed is allowed in the chosen area. You will need to talk with a planner about the location and type of business proposed (to check parking requirements, hours of activity etc). 

You will need to apply for a certificate of compliance under the Resource Management Act.  This application base fee (minimum deposit) costs are:

• For a new activity $542

Secondly check with Council the requirements of the Building Code (such as disabled toilets, fire egress and any intended renovations that require building consent etc) and food hygiene regulations (kitchen requirements etc).

You should have a plan of the premises available for the Council staff to check.

You must apply for a fire egress inspection and have this approved. This is required under the Building Act and costs $100 (including GST). The final step is to apply for a liquor licence - if all steps have been completed - the certificate of compliance is issued and the building inspection has taken place & approval has been. Contact us for a copy of the Certificate of Compliance Application form.

Does the premises have an existing liquor licence? 

If the premises has an existing liquor licence then you will need a Temporary Authority to operate while you apply for your on-licence. This application costs $132. Contact us for a copy of the Temporary Licence Application form.

Information required with an on-licence application 

• The District Licensing Agency requires three copies of the application 
• Details of applicant, including Certificate of Incorporation if applicant is a company
• Names, birth dates and addresses of partners if the applicant is a partnership 
• Details of premises - Lot and DP numbers
• Owner of premises name, address and any lease agreement or other formal right to use
• Hours and days proposed for the sale of liquor
• Whether the applicant requires a BYO licence or full licence
• Provision of food and non-alcoholic refreshments and copy of full menu 
• How the applicant proposes to ensure requirements of the Sale of Liquor Act are observed - i.e. host responsibility, prohibited persons 
• Photograph of exterior (if existing building) or artist's impression if yet to be built 
• Map showing location of premises 
• Scale plan showing principal entrances, areas of sale of liquor and designations 
• Written statement from the owner (if not the applicant) stating they have no objection to the grant of a liquor licence 
• Certificate of compliance (town planning approval)
• Fire/egress inspection (building approval) 
• Copy of manager's certificate/s 

Advertising

When the application has been filed with the District Licensing Agency:

The applicant has 20 working days to give public notice of the application. The notice must be published twice in a newspaper circulating in the district where the premises is situated, with not less than 5 days and not more than 10 days between the two dates of application.

The applicant is required to give photocopies showing the newspaper title, date of publishing and the public notices to the Sale of Liquor Inspector.

The public has the right to object (on limited grounds) to the application.

What happens to the application after it has been filed? 

Once the District Licensing Agency receives the application and all necessary supporting documents from the applicant, a copy is sent to the Police who make a recommendation on the application. If food is involved (which is the case in all club and on licence applications) then a copy is also sent to the Medical Officer of Health who makes a recommendation on the application.

The District Licensing Agency collates the reports received from the Police and the Medical Officer of Health, and any objections that may have been received from the public regarding the application.

The Sale of Liquor Inspector will make a report and recommendation on the application, and sends the complete file to the District Licensing Agency. 

In most cases the District Licensing Agency will decide the application as presented, and issue the licence for one year.

If no objection is received or reported, the Secretary may issue the licence. If there are public objections or objection within any of the reports the matter is forwarded to the Liquor Licensing Authority in Wellington. The Authority schedules a hearing and hears the application.

Costs

The following fees must be paid:

The following fees may have to be paid:

Processing time

The processing time of applications for on-licences can vary and depends on a range of things (e.g. how long the applicant takes to advertise, the information provided, response of the Police). If there are objections the length of time will depend on when the Liquor Licensing Authority can hear the matter.

Length of validity

An on licence is usually issued for one year. It may then be renewed for a further three years.