We encourage you to talk with us early about your plans. We are happy to have preliminary enquiry discussions with you at any time. All new licence premises applications require a formal lodgement meeting to file your application.

Preliminary enquiry discussions

We encourage you to have preliminary enquiry discussions with us, as these are an opportunity for you to discuss your proposed new premises with alcohol licensing inspectors. If you are planning to locate to a new building or making substantial changes to an existing building that may need consents or permits, we recommend you also seek advice from the planning and consents teams at Council.

Why you may need to have preliminary discussions with us

Preliminary discussions with us are encouraged as early as possible before you start completing your lodgement documentation. This is a good idea for all:

  • new premises, whether a new licence or you are taking over an existing business
  • where you are planning changes to your business and the way you operate, e.g. extending existing hours of trade, extending licence areas, adding outside areas under your licence, changing from a restaurant to tavern style of operation.

Discussions with us early in your planning process, well before you lodge your application, will help you prepare a comprehensive application and avoid unnecessary processing delays.

Information for developers and building owners

Information developers, building owners and prospective tenants need to know early in the process about alcohol and food licensing and compliance requirements for hospitality developments.

Is your development or building intended for hospitality use? [PDF, 1.5 MB] 

Make a preliminary enquiry with us

  1. Phone the Alcohol Licensing team on 03 941 8999 or email alcohollicensing@ccc.govt.nz and ask to talk with an inspector by phone or to make an appointment with an inspector for a preliminary enquiry discussion.
  2. Please advise at the time of making your phone call or appointment the following:
    • your name and contact details
    • name of your trading company and proposed trading name of the business (if known)
    • location and address of the proposed premises
    • type of licence you wish to apply for (On, Off, Club)
    • nature of the proposed business, e.g. café, restaurant, tavern, bottlestore, remotes sales.

Cost

There is no cost for preliminary enquiry discussions or meetings with inspectors.

At a preliminary enquiry meeting

The meeting (held at the Council’s Offices at 53 Hereford Street, Ground floor) will be with an alcohol licensing inspector. In some instances a representative from other reporting agencies of alcohol licences (Police and Medical Officer of Health) may also attend.

At the meeting discussions we'll discuss:

  • initial concepts and plans for the proposed business/changes to your business
  • business plans and required documentation
  • Certificate of Compliance (Alcohol requirements) as your building and operation of business will need to comply with City Plan (Resource Management) and Building Act requirements
  • your background and experience in the industry
  • any other requirements you need to complete before applying for a premises licence, such as applying for a Manager's Certificate.

Please note: Inspectors will give their professional opinion on the proposal and provide guidance where possible. However, the meeting is not intended to pre-empt the outcome of the alcohol licensing decision-making process.

Lodgement meeting – for premise licence new applications and variations

A formal lodgement meeting is required with an alcohol licensing inspector in order to file your application for a new premises licence or variation application.

The purpose of the meeting is for the Inspector to confirm:

  • your application is complete
  • all requested documents have been provided
  • the nature of your business operations and the outline of the area you are requesting to be licensed.

This information will enable the inspector to calculate the fees payable on your application and to issue you with an invoice for your application and annual fees, which must accompany your application. Applications will not be accepted unless they are complete and the correct fees have been paid.

Making an appointment for a formal lodgement meeting

Phone the Alcohol Licensing team on 03 941 8999 or email alcohollicensing@ccc.govt.nz and ask to make an appointment with an inspector for a lodgement meeting. When making your appointment we need to know:

  • your name and contact details
  • name of your trading company and proposed trading name of the business (if known)
  • location and address of the proposed premises
  • type of licence you wish to apply for (On, Off, Club)
  • the nature of the proposed business, e.g. café, restaurant, tavern, bottlestore, remotes sales.

Cost

There is no cost for lodgement meetings with inspectors.