Liquor Licence Renewals


This page explains how to renew an On-Licence, Off-Licence and Club Licence under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989.

Liquor licences must be renewed by set dates

Liquor licences are required to be renewed by the dates specified on your licence or renewal notice where your licence has previously been renewed.

This applies to the following licences:

  • On-Licence – for premises and conveyances
  • BYO On-Licence
  • Off-Licence
  • Catering Off-Licence
  • Club Licence

When it is first issued a licence is valid for twelve months and thereafter is renewable for periods of three years.

The licence holder is responsible for ensuring their licence is renewed in due time. Renewal notices are not issued.

Temporary Authority and Special Licences are not renewable.

You must apply to Council to renew your liquor licence

You must file your liquor licence renewal application with Council’s District Licensing Agency no later than twenty working days prior to the licence expiry date.

If you fail to do this, your licence will lapse. If that occurs the licence cannot be legally renewed and you will then have to apply for a new licence. In that event you cannot sell or supply liquor on your premises until a new licence is issued as neither a Temporary Authority nor a Special Licence can be issued in these cases.

Provided you have correctly filed your renewal application your licence will continue in force until the District Licensing Agency or Liquor Licensing Authority as the case may be finally determines your application.

Licence renewal applications must be in the correct form

Licence renewal applications must be submitted in the correct form.

Print off and use the renewal application form specified for your licence from our Liquor Licensing Forms page. You use:

  • Renewal of Premises On-Licence for all building based licensed premises.
  • Renewal of Conveyance On-Licence for ship, train or aircraft premises.
  • Renewal of Off-Licence for all premises including Catering Off-Licence.
  • Renewal of Club Licence for all licensed club premises.

The application must be in triplicate i.e., the original and two copies of the application form and all accompanying documents. You must personally complete and sign the original application form.

Your completed application is to include:

  • Certification that you have fire evacuation plan compliance by completing the certification section of the application form.
  • Certification that your premises have Food Hygiene Registration by supplying a copy of the current Food Hygiene Certificate.
  • Copies of your licence and current renewal notice (for second or subsequence renewal) have been supplied.
  • The application fee.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted and you will still have to meet the 20-day application rule.

Renewal applications must meet statutory criteria

In deciding your licence renewal application the District licensing Agency (or Liquor Licensing Authority) will pay due regard to the following matters:

  • Your suitability to be a licensee.
  • Your licence conditions.
  • The manner in which you have conducted your premises under the licence.
  • Any matters raised in a Licensing Inspector, Police or Regional Public Health Officer report.

Renewal applications are processed in the same way as new applications

Licence renewal applications are processed in the same manner as new licence applications.

They must be publicly notified and be reported on by a Council Licensing Inspector, the Police and Regional Public Health Office.

Unopposed liquor licence renewals will be granted

If there is no objection to your application, the District licensing Agency will issue a licence renewal notice and mail it to you with copies of the Licensing Inspector, Police and Regional Public Health Office reports.

A copy of the renewal notice with the original licence must be displayed in a prominent position on your premises.

Opposed renewal applications are sent to the Liquor Licensing Authority

If an objection to the renewal of your licence is received, the District Licensing Agency will send the complete application and all documentation to the Liquor Licensing Authority for determination.

The District Licensing Agency will notify you in writing of the action taken, and provide you with a copy of the Licensing Inspector, Police and Regional Public Health Officer reports and objection/s received.

The Liquor Licensing Authority will notify you of any hearing date and time and their decision in due course.

Links to more liquor licensing information

Legislation:

Porirua City Council links