Tonoa he Raihana Waipiro (ki rō, ki waho, karapu rānei)
To apply for an Alcohol Licence (on, off or club) follow steps 1-8 below.
1. Check What Type of Licence You Need (on, off or club)
Before you can sell or supply alcohol, you need to make sure you have the right alcohol licence.
- On-licence for sale or supply of alcohol to be consumed on your premises (e.g., bar, restaurant).
- Off-licence for sale or supply of alcohol to be consumed away from the place of purchase (e.g., bottle store, grocery store).
- Club licence for sale or supply of alcohol at your club for consumption on site by club members and their guests (e.g., sports club, RSA).
2. Check If You Can Sell Alcohol In Your Area
This can be a complicated process to research yourself. It’s best to call us on 06 370 6300 and ask for the planning team to check if you can open an alcohol business in your area
3. Get Your Alcohol Licence, Building, and Planning Certificates
Before you apply for a new alcohol licence, make sure the building complies with all the building and planning requirements. Your proposed business location must comply with the district plan. If it doesn’t, you will need a resource consent and you need to get this before you build or operate your business. If you think your business does comply with the district plan, you can get confirmation of this from Council.
Your premises also must comply with the Building Act 2004. You might need a building consent before you start any construction, renovation or a ‘change of use’.
4. Gather Information Needed for Your Application
The application form will have a checklist of everything that you will need to include. We’re happy to check your application before you submit it to us - just get in touch with our team to make an appointment.
5. Calculate Your Fee
You will pay a non-refundable fee with your application. There is information on the application form to help you calculate your fee.
6. Apply and Submit Your Application - In Person or by Post
Complete the application form and return it to the Customer Service Centre at 161 Queen Street, Masterton.
- You can pay the fee by cash, eftpos, or credit card.
- It takes a minimum of 6–8 weeks to process an application.
- We will process your application and contact you with the decision. If there are any issues, we’ll let you know. If an application is incomplete, we will return it with a request for more information.
7. Publish a Public Notice
After you lodge your application, you’ll need to notify the public. You’ll be given more information when you make your application. Public notices must be displayed on the premises, and in a local newspaper.
8. Accessing and Processing Your Application
Your application will be reviewed by:
- NZ Police
- Regional Public Health
- One of our alcohol licensing inspectors
We will also visit your premises and review your host responsibility arrangements. The District Licensing Committee will then review your application and make a final decision.
