About One off or Short Term Functions (Limited Licence)
LIMITED LICENCE FEES
An
application fee is payable for each day of the event to which the licence applies. However, no fee is payable for an application for a limited licence if the licence is granted for a function or functions that, in the opinion of the licensing authority, are to be held for charitable or other community purposes.
A
licence fee (in addition to the
application fee) is payable on the grant of the licence for large commercial or high risk events which meet the following criteria—
- authorises the sale or supply of liquor past 1am, the licensed premises are outdoors and the licence states the maximum capacity of the licensed premises is more than 300 people; or
- contemplates boxing, wrestling or other entertainment that, in the opinion of the licensing authority, should be regarded as adult entertainment being provided on the licensed premises during the whole or part of the hours that the licence authorises the sale or supply of liquor; or
- authorises the sale or supply of liquor past 1am and the maximum capacity of the licensed premises multiplied by the number of days for the event is more than 1 000 people; or
- the maximum capacity of the licensed premises multiplied by the number of days for the event is more than 5 000 people; or
- as determined by the Commissioner based on the nature of the event or the resources required for the administration or enforcement of the
Liquor Licensing Act 1997.
An invoice will be issued to the licensee after the grant of the licence advising the amount due, date payable and the available payment methods (including the
online facility).
The licence fee must be paid before the commencement of the event, or the licence will be cancelled.—
A licence fee is not required if —
- no fee was payable for the application of the licence; or
- the licence was granted to the holder of an existing liquor licence.
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance.
For further information, select one of the links below
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If a person is intending to host a party or organising an event (or
series of events) where alcohol is to be sold, supplied or consumed then
they may be required to obtain a liquor licence under the Liquor
Licensing Act 1997. This type of short term licence is known as a
limited licence.
If a person intends to hold a function where alcohol will be consumed in a declared
dry area then they will need to obtain approval for a limited licence under the
Liquor Licensing Act 1997. Consent of the local council will also be required in these circumstances.
A limited licence may only be granted for a special occasion, or a series of special occasions.
Limited licences are issued under three main categories—
- sale of liquor;
- consumption/supply of liquor; and
- to extend on a temporary basis the trading rights under the current liquor licence if the applicant is the holder of a licence under the
Liquor Licensing Act 1997 and wishes to vary that licence on a temporary basis.
Holding a private function at home or on private property
If a person wants to hold a function where liquor will be
consumed by guests attending a private function at their
home or private property, in most cases a limited licence would not be required.
However, there are circumstances when a person would be required to obtain a limited licence, these include —
-
When liquor is being provided by a
licensed caterer/ catering business
-
Where there is a cover charge for the liquor being
provided
The consumption/ supply of liquor at a function being
held on
regulated
premises
If a person is holding a function where liquor will be consumed by guests attending a function on
regulated
premises , but where liquor will not actually be sold, then a limited licence would be required for the consumption/supply of liquor.
Examples of consumption/supply of liquor include -
-
a bus tour where liquor is provided for
consumption during the trip
-
where there is a cover charge but liquor is BYO
-
where the consumption of liquor is included in the
cover charge, eg food, drinks and entry are included
in the one ticket price. This applies even when the
function is being held at a private home
-
where entry is by donation
-
where liquor is supplied as part of a pooled money
arrangement
-
hosting a private party or function in a
restaurant, café or shop; or
-
consuming liquor in a limousine (if the limousine does not already hold a liquor licence).
The sale of liquor at a function
If a person is holding a function where liquor will be sold
to guests to consume during the function or sold to
guests to take home (i.e. fundraiser, auction nights,
wine tastings), then a limited licence would be required for the
sale of liquor
Examples of the sale of liquor includes -
-
a function held at a hall where liquor is sold to
guests i.e. over a bar, for consumption during that
event
-
where liquor is offered as a ‘gift’
when an item is purchased
-
where the consumption of liquor is included in the
cover charge, eg food, drinks and entry is included
in the one ticket price but where the function
includes any activities listed below:
- fundraising activities
- auction nights
- wine sold in bottles to take home for consumption
-
any major event or festival
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance.
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On licensed premises liquor is only permitted to be sold and consumed in approved areas and during approved trading hours, as prescribed in the Liquor Licensing Act 1997 and subject to any conditions of the individual licence. Any changes need to be approved by the licensing authority.
Where a licensed premises does not have entertainment consent the licensee can seek consent for the provision of one-off entertainment by applying for a limited licence.
Therefore, if a licensee wants to—
- extend the approved trading hours;
- extend the trading areas; or
- provide entertainment
on a one-off occasion, a limited licence must be obtained authorising the licensee
‘to extend on a temporary basis the trading rights under the current liquor licence’.
Furthermore, if a licensee intends to hold a function on different premises for another organisation which does not have a licence, the licensee would need a limited licence.
The licensee must comply with the conditions on the licence, the provision of the
Liquor Licensing Act 1997, including the Liquor Licensing General Code of Practice.
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance.
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If the holder of a limited club licence wishes to hire out the club’s
premises then the club can do so under a limited licence for—
- members who wish to hold a function and invite more non-member guests to the function than the club licence allows; or
- non-members who are looking for a venue to hold a function.
The supply of liquor during the function can be provided for by the club itself or by the person holding the function. In either case there are certain requirements to be met as outlined below.
If the club is involved in the function—
If the holder of a limited club licence wishes to hire out the club’s
premises where the club is responsible for the sale and/or supply of liquor during the function then the club itself must apply for the limited licence. The type of limited licence required would be for—
- sale of liquor (this authorisation will enable a club to sell liquor to a person during the function); or
- consumption of liquor (this authorisation will enable a club to supply liquor for consumption only during the function).
If the club is not involved in the function—
If the holder of a limited club licence wishes to hire out the club’s premises and the club will not be involved in the supply of liquor during the function then the club must —
- suspend the club’s licence for the duration of that function;
- remove the club's liquor (the club's liquor cannot to be used for the duration of the function); and
- advise the person holding the function that it is their responsibility to provide the liquor (and obtain a limited licence if required)
A limited licence would be required for the sale of liquor.
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance.
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Applications for a limited licence can be lodged
online. Applicants will be advised during the lodgement process of any additional information required.
Applications must be lodged at least 14 days prior to the event. For large commercial or high risk events (ie festivals, multi-day events, etc), applications must be lodged 60 days prior to the commencement of the event.
An
application fee is payable for each day of the event to which the licence applies. However, no fee is payable for an application for a limited licence if the licence is granted for a function or functions that, in the opinion of the licensing authority, are to be held for charitable or other community purposes.
A
licence fee (in addition to the
application fee) is payable on the grant of the licence for large commercial or high risk events which meet the following criteria—
- authorises the sale or supply of liquor past 1am, the licensed premises are outdoors and the licence states the maximum capacity of the licensed premises is more than 300 people; or
- contemplates boxing, wrestling or other entertainment that, in the opinion of the licensing authority, should be regarded as adult entertainment being provided on the licensed premises during the whole or part of the hours that the licence authorises the sale or supply of liquor; or
- authorises the sale or supply of liquor past 1am and the maximum capacity of the licensed premises multiplied by the number of days for the event is more than 1 000 people; or
- the maximum capacity of the licensed premises multiplied by the number of days for the event is more than 5 000 people; or
- as determined by the Commissioner based on the nature of the event or the resources required for the administration or enforcement of the
Liquor Licensing Act 1997.
An invoice will be issued to the licensee after the grant of the licence advising the amount due, date payable and the available payment methods (including the
online facility).
The licence fee must be paid before the commencement
of the event, or the licence will be cancelled.
A licence fee is not required if —
- no fee was payable for the application of the licence; or
- the licence was granted to the holder of an existing liquor licence.
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance.
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Liquor licensing regulations clearly specify the time frame requirements for lodging an application for a limited licence.
Applications must be lodged at least 14 days prior to the event. For large commercial or high risk events (ie festivals, multi-day events, etc), applications must be lodged 60 days prior to the commencement of the event.
These timelines have been set to allow CBS to properly enquire into the merits of each application.
The shorter the time between the lodging of a licence application and the commencement of an event, the more difficult it becomes to appropriately consider matters.
The Liquor Licensing Act 1997 specifically provides for procedures that allow the parties, including objectors and interveners, to be heard in exercise of their rights under the Act. Accepting a late application could deprive the parties of their rights under the Act.
Under certain circumstances the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner may accept an
application within the 60/14 day time limitation. However, late applications
will not be
accepted in cases where —
- acceptance would result in more than a minor prejudice to anyone who has an interest in an application (including the Commissioner of Police, local council or landlord); or
- there would be insufficient time to properly enquire into the merits of the application.
Applications accepted within the 60/14 day time limitation will be assessed on their own merits. If your application is accepted, this does not mean the application is automatically granted.
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance.
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Additional information may be required for outdoor or large events (ie festivals, multi-day events, etc), including —
- council consent and landlord's approval in writing
- views of the local police;
- a sketch plan outlining the area where the licence is required;
- public liability insurance details;
- risk and emergency procedures
- details of any licensed security or approved crowd controllers to be employed for the function;
- number of toilets to be provided;
-
type of entertainment proposed;
- details of any marquee to be erected;
-
details of safety equipment to be provided;
-
any details of medical/first aid, ambulance services, etc; and
- provision of free drinking water.
Please note that liquor cannot be sold or supplied in glass containers for outdoor functions unless specific approval has been given by the licensing authority.
Small Outdoor Functions - Further Requirements
Additional information may be required for small outdoor events (ie small birthday parties, family and friends get-togethers, exhibitions, etc), including—
- council consent and landlord's approval in writing;
- views of the local police;
- a sketch plan outlining the area where the licence is required;
- number of toilets to be provided;
-
type of entertainment proposed;
-
details of public liability insurance; and
-
details of any licensed security to be employed.
Please note that liquor cannot be sold or supplied in glass containers for outdoor functions unless specific approval has been given by the licensing authority.
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance
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A limited licence allows the holder of the licence to
sell liquor, or permit the consumption of liquor to
guests during the approved hours of a function in the area specified. The
licence is granted on the information provided by
the applicant about the function.Â
The licensee must comply with the conditions on the licence, the provision of the
Liquor Licensing Act 1997, including the Liquor Licensing General Code of Practice. It is the responsibility of the applicant or a nominated person(s) in charge of the function to ensure that all conditions, including any reasonable direction from a member of the police force or a CBS inspector, are adhered to. Failure to comply is an offence under the
Liquor Licensing Act 1997 and may result in disciplinary action being taken against the applicant and person(s) in charge.
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance
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The licensee must comply with the conditions on the licence, the provision of the
Liquor Licensing Act 1997, including the Liquor Licensing General Code of Practice.
It is a condition of a limited licence that alcohol will not be sold or supplied to intoxicated persons or persons under the age of 18 years.
The limited licence must be displayed in a prominent position during the whole of the function.
The nominated person(s) taking responsibility for the sale, consumption or supply of liquor during the function (ie the applicant or nominated person organising or taking control of the function) must be present at the function at all times when liquor is being sold, consumed or supplied.
Please contact CBS on 131 882 for further assistance.
