To sell or supply alcohol in Dunedin you must hold a current alcohol licence.
Applying for an alcohol licence
We suggest that you meet with staff of the Alcohol Licensing team before submitting an application for an alcohol licence. They can discuss your application and any issues that may be relevant. It saves time and money to work through any issues before lodging your application.
Once your application is complete, submit the whole package to the District Licensing Committee (DLC). A public notice in the Otago Daily Times or on our website is required within 20 working days of lodging your application (we advertise on both – this is done by the Alcohol Licensing team. The full details of applications are also made available on our website.
You also need to display the notice in a conspicuous place on or adjacent to the site the application refers to where it is visible to the public. Staff can help with advice about what is required for the notice.
A copy of your application will be sent to the licensing inspector, the Police, and Medical Officer of Health. Copies of their reports and any objections lodged by the public will be sent to you. Any person (with some exceptions for trade competitors) can object to your application within 25 working days of the publication of the first public notice.
If no objections are lodged against your application, the DLC will consider and determine your application.
If there are objections lodged or the licensing inspector, the Police, or Medical Officer of Health raise matters in opposition to your application, it will be referred to the DLC for determination at a public hearing.
Completed applications and supporting documents can be submitted:
| dla@dcc.govt.nz | |
| Post | Alcohol Licensing, Dunedin City Council, PO Box 5045, Dunedin, 9054 |
| In person | Customer Services on the Ground Floor, Civic Centre, 50 The Octagon, Dunedin |
Different types of alcohol licences
Dunedin has a wide range of entertainment venues, from cocktail bars to movie theatres, from clubrooms to private parties. Many of these venues supply alcohol to their patrons.
If you are planning a party, opening a bar or anything in between, find out first if you need a licence.
There are four types of alcohol licence. Each has different application criteria. Find out which applies to you and how to apply.
On-licence
On-licences allow for the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol on the premises. This includes hotels, taverns, bars, cafes, restaurants and other entertainment venues.
Off-licence
Off-licences allow for the sale and supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises. This includes bottle stores and supermarkets.
Club licence
Club licences allow for the sale and supply of alcohol for consumption on the club premises to members of the club, their guests and other ‘authorised visitors’.
Special licence
On-site special licences allow for the sale and supply of alcohol to anyone attending an event. This can include a private function, street party or sporting event. A special licence can also be issued to an on or club licensee for an event not covered by their premises licence.
Off-site special licences allow for the sale and supply of alcohol for consumption away from the event at which it was bought.
Temporary authority (taking over a licensed premises)
When a premises changes ownership the new owner can apply for a temporary authority. These allow a new owner/operator of a premises which already holds a current alcohol licence to continue trading as a licensed premises while they apply for their own. The temporary authority will be subject to existing conditions and is only valid for three months.
Building and Planning certificates
To ensure the proposed use of a licensed premises meets the requirements of the Building Code and the Resource Management Act 1991 a building certificate of compliance and a planning certificate are issued with all new alcohol licences. This is a requirement of section 100(f) (link to external website, new window) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (link to external website, new window) (the 'Act).
Renewing an alcohol licence
All on, off and club licences must be renewed after an initial 12-month period and then every three years thereafter.
We will send out a renewal application form as a reminder that your licence is due for renewal. This will happen about one month before the licence is due to expire. If necessary someone will contact you if time is running out to remind you again but ultimately it is still your responsibility to ensure that your licence renewal application is lodged on time.
If the application is not received before the expiry date the licence will automatically expire. This would mean an application for a new licence (if you want to continue) and there would be no possibility to be able to sell, supply or allow the consumption of alcohol on your premises until the new licence is in place.
What is the process for a renewal?
A renewal application for an on, off or club licence will be publicly notified and a notice must be attached in a conspicuous place on or adjacent to the premises site.
You must also sign a statement that an approved fire evacuation scheme exists for the premises or that the premises is exempt from having to have an approved scheme.
The renewal application will be referred to the Police, licensing inspector and Medical Officer of Health. If there are any objections or matters raised in opposition by the Police, licensing inspector or Medical Officer of Health, the renewal application is referred to DLC for determination at a public hearing. Unopposed renewal applications will be considered by the DLC ‘on the papers’, that is, by considering the complete application.