Key features
An on-premises licence
- Allows the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises when another product or service - including food, entertainment and accommodation - is sold, supplied, or provided to customers.
- Allows under 18s in premises (providing rules on minors are strictly followed).
Doesn't allow
- An on-premises licence is not allowed when the primary purpose of the business or activity is the sale or supply of alcohol.
All restaurants holding an on-premises licence need to meet the primary purpose test. If the primary purpose of the business or activity is the sale or supply of alcohol, you are not eligible for an on-premises licence.
Types of businesses that may be suited to this licence include:
- Restaurants and cafes.
- Live music, arts, and cultural events venues.
- Cinemas, theatres, art galleries.
- Accommodation venues, including motels or B&Bs with more than eight guests.
- Nightclubs.
- Catering services.
- Function centres.
- Hairdressers and beauticians.
- Karaoke venues.
- Airports and vessels.
- Tourist facilities.
- Sporting facilities.
An on-premises liquor licence will no longer have effect if the business or activity carried out on the premises changes or the kind of licensed premises changes without regulatory approval.
- Application fees - Use our Liquor Fee Schedule to calculate your fee that includes an application fee and a non-refundable processing fee. See How to apply below for more about the steps to apply.
- Licence fees
- Pro-rata annual liquor licence fee - An on-premises licence is subject to a pro-rata annual liquor licence fee depending on the time of year your liquor licence is granted. The fee is calculated on a quarterly basis and reflects the amount of time you use the licence before the next billing cycle (on 15 March the following year). Calculate your pro-rata fee.
- Annual liquor licence fee - An on-premises licence is subject to an annual liquor licence fee, due in May each year. Read more about annual liquor licence fees.
What you need to know
Before applying for your licence, and once you're a licence holder, you should always be aware of the requirements, authorisations, conditions and customisation for this licence.
In addition to the following see information below on this page about Requirements by licence type - restaurant, accommodation or catering, as well as the Training requirements and Trading hours sections.
There are also Liquor licence responsibilities pages.
This licence is a relevant licence in a cumulative impact area. If may be subject to further considerations.
Visit the Cumulative Impact Area page to see if current.
The law requires that all types of licensed venues display liquor signs. This includes a number of compulsory signs, depending on which licence and authorisations you have.
The following form(s) contain a list of licence conditions which the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and/or its delegates may impose if the licence is granted. The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and/or its delegates may impose additional or alternative conditions if warranted. However, the party seeking additional or alternative conditions must demonstrate the need for those conditions.
See How to apply (below on this page) for more information and special instructions relating to Conditions.
You can tailor your licence to meet your needs by applying for authorisations and exemptions (fees may apply).
This table will help you.
Also see the section below on licence types - that has additional information on authorisations.
| Flexible licensing options | Relevant form |
|---|---|
| Allows an on-premises licence (other than a vessel) to extend trading hours, or vary extended trading hours already allowed. | Extended trading authorisation (PDF 619.9KB) |
| Allows extended trading for a special occasion on a specified date. | Extended trading authorisation - special occasion (PDF 375.71KB) |
| Allows minors to attend functions in specified areas. | Minors function authorisation (PDF 358.84KB) |
| Allows sale/supply of liquor for consumption on the licensed premises other than with, or ancillary to, another product or service. | Primary service authorisation (PDF 520.43KB) |
| Allows an on-premises licence that operates as a catering service or tour operator to sell liquor by retail on premises other than the licensed premises. | Sale on other premises authorisation (PDF 421.94KB) |
| Allows sale of liquor on a vessel at specified times outside the period commencing one hour before the vessel starts a voyage or passage and ending 30 minutes after the voyage or passage is complete. | Vessel trading authorisation (PDF 842.18KB) |
| Allows minors to attend functions in some or all of the licensed premises, (only applicable to an on-premises with "other public entertainment" class). | Minors function authorisation (PDF 358.84KB) |
To access other forms for an on-premises licence please visit the licence forms page.
On-premises restaurant licence
- This on-premises licence allows you to sell alcohol with meals.
- It can also be tailored to suit a multi-purpose business. For example, if your restaurant is part of a motel complex, it can allow you to sell alcohol to guests in accommodation and conference facilities, provided the venue is open to the general public.
An on-premises licence for a restaurant is subject to several requirements under the liquor laws, including:
- it must operate as a restaurant preparing and serving meals to the public at all times
- it must be open to the public (and not run as a private club)
- free drinking water must be available to patrons whenever alcohol is served
- a sign must be displayed at the front of the premises that shows
- the name of the premises
- the type of liquor licence held
- either the business or activity carried out on the premises or the kind of premises
- the name of the licensee
- an incident register must be maintained if the premises regularly trades past midnight
- conditions can be imposed on the licence.
The main activity of every licensed restaurant must be preparation and service of meals to the public. An on-premises liquor licence will no longer have effect:
- if the business or activity carried out on the premises changes or the kind of licensed premises changes without regulatory approval
- if the primary purpose becomes the sale or supply of alcohol (in other words, it operates primarily as a bar).
You do not require a Primary Service Authorisation (PSA) (PDF 520.43KB) if you wish to operate an on-premises, restaurant class.
However, this authorisation permits you to sell liquor to patrons who do not wish to order food.
- Note that the venue must operate as a restaurant with the kitchen open at all times.
- The PSA can be part of your licence application for a new restaurant, or as an additional trading authorisation for an existing restaurant.
- Use Primary Service Authorisation (PSA) (PDF 520.43KB) for an existing restaurant. Alternatively, if you are applying for a new restaurant, you can apply for the PSA at the end of the online restaurant application.
- An application fee applies to the PSA and a Statement of Risks and Potential Effects (SoRPE) is also required.
If you have been granted an interim restaurant authorisation (IRA), you must notify both NSW police and council, two days before you intend to operate the IRA.
To be eligible, you must:
- Apply online.
- Propose trading hours between 10am to 12:00am Monday to Sunday.
- Have planning approval from the local council to use the premises as a restaurant or café and have informed the community of the intention to serve alcohol as part of the public exhibition process. Note: a complying development certificate (CDC) is not considered planning approval for the purposes of this authorisation.
- Not apply for authorisations including extended trading hours, takeaway authorisation or primary service authorisation (PSA).
Interim restaurant authorisations are not required to notify stakeholders, as public consultation occurs as part of the development approval process with council.
Restaurants are allowed to sell a limited amount of liquor for takeaway purposes provided it is sold with a genuine takeaway meal.
Orders are limited to the following:
- 1 sealed bottle of wine where the volume of the packaged liquor is not more than 750mL, or
- Not more than 6 sealed containers of beer, cider or ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages where the volume of the packaged liquor is not more than 2,250mL.
- Not more than 4 sealed containers of house-made cocktails where the volume of the packaged liquor is not more than 1000mL.
Due to restrictions on take-away sales on restricted trading days, restaurants are not allowed to sell take-away liquor on Christmas Day or Good Friday.
Note: if offering same day delivery under this authorisation, licensed premises must comply with all relevant NSW alcohol delivery laws – for example, this includes:
- meeting same day delivery data reporting requirements; and
- ensuring delivery persons used by the venue are trained in Responsible Supply of Alcohol (RSAT).
From 1 March 2025, it will be unlawful for restaurants to sell takeaway or home delivery liquor without an approved authorisation.
Apply for an authorisation to sell takeaway and home delivery.
If your venue promotes tourism or industry within the local area, you may also apply for a TSA without the requirement to provide a takeaway meal.
The licence must be held by:
- a non-proprietary association (such as a council-managed tourist information centre), or
- a public authority
A venue with a local production promotion class must sell locally produced liquor products to visitors and tourists.
On-premises accommodation licence
- This on-premises licence allows the sale of alcohol, with the primary service being accommodation to residents and their guests. The 6-hour closure period still applies to accommodation venues as during this time, liquor may only be sold to residential patrons within the rooms.
- This type of licence can be approved where temporary accommodation is provided to travellers – including a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast or farm stay establishment. It cannot be approved for a boarding house, lodging house, nursing home, or caravan park.
- It can be tailored to suit a multi-purpose business - for example, where a motel complex includes a public restaurant and/or function centre, the licence can also allow alcohol to be sold in the restaurant and conference facilities.
Requirements applying to an on-premises licence for accommodation-premises include:
- it must operate as an accommodation business providing accommodation
- where the licence also applies to a public restaurant within the premises
- this needs to be specifically endorsed on the licence
- the restaurant must be open to the general public and not run as a private club
- free drinking water must be available to patrons whenever alcohol is served
- a sign must be displayed at the front of the premises that:
- shows the name of the premises
- the type of liquor licence held
- either the business or activity carried out on the premises or the kind of premises
- the name of the licensee
- an incident register must be maintained if the premises trades past 12:00am
- conditions can be imposed on the licence, either under the liquor laws, or by Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW).
An accommodation premises can also operate a private restaurant serving meals to residents and their guests only. A private restaurant does not need to be endorsed on the licence.
A primary service authorisation can be obtained from L&GNSW to allow alcohol to be sold without accommodation or a meal.
This can be obtained as part of a licence application for a new accommodation-premises or as an additional trading entitlement for an existing accommodation-premises.
An application fee applies to this authorisation and a Statement of Risks and Potential Effects (SoRPE) is required.
For further information, visit our applying for a liquor licence page.
On-premises catering licence
A catering service is defined under the Liquor Act 2007 as a ‘service for supplying food or liquor (or both) for consumption at a function, occasion or event.’
A function is also defined within the Act, and can include weddings, parties, balls, dinners, corporate events, arts events, marketing events, public entertainment events and other similar occasions of limited duration.
If you are proposing to sell alcohol as part of a catering service at functions, occasions or events, the most appropriate liquor licence is an on-premises licence that relates to a catering service. The two main types of catering are:
- Food Caterer.
- Function Centre.
Where the licensed premises are an office and where catered functions, occasions or events are held elsewhere, a Sale On Other Premises Authorisation (SOOPA) (PDF 421.94KB) is required.
Requirements applying to an on-premises licence for catering include:
- Free drinking water must be available to patrons wherever alcohol is served.
- All staff hold current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Competency Cards.
- Display of mandatory liquor signage i.e. under 18s not to be served alcohol. A sign must be displayed at the front of the licensee’s premises that shows:
- the name of the premises
- the type of liquor licence held
- either the business or activity carried out on the premises or the kind of premises
- the name of the licensee - this requirement does not apply where the licence is being exercised away from the licensee’s premises.
- Food of a nature and quantity consistent with the responsible service of alcohol must be available whenever liquor is sold or supplied.
- An incident register must be maintained if the premises function, occasion or event trades past 12:00am.
- Advanced written notice of certain functions is to be provided to L&GNSW, the local police, and local council if the event is held away from the licensed premises
- A tiered, risk-based approach is taken for notice requirements, depending on the anticipated number of people that will be catered to:
| | Up to 100 people | 101-1,999 people | 2,000+ people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functions open to the public (incl ticketed and non-ticketed functions) | 14 days | 14 days | 28 days |
| Private functions (weddings, birthdays, office functions, and others not open to the public) | No notice required | 14 days | 14 days |
Notice is not needed for smaller, private functions for 100 or fewer people that may often be held on private residences. However, there may be times where a licensee is unclear whether liquor can be sold or supplied on certain premises under the related development consent - for example on a business premises.
In these instances, the licensee should still notify the local council, or seek clarification from the council about what is permitted.
Written notice to L&GNSW should be made by email to: compliance.info@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au and should include:
- the address of the premises on which the function is to be held
- the name of the occupier of those premises
- the nature of the function
- the number of persons for whom catering services are to be provided at the function
- the date on which, and the hours during which, the function is to be held.
An on-premises catering class licence can also be authorised to allow the licensee to sell liquor for consumption on other premises in circumstances and times approved by ILGA.
This is known as a sale on other premises authorisation (PDF 421.94KB), and certain conditions and requirements apply, including:
- The licensee must provide written notice to L&GNSW, the local police and the local council of proposals to provide catering services at a function to be held off premises unless it is a small, private function for 100 or fewer people.
- The licensee must not sell or supply liquor on any premises in respect of which an application for a liquor licence or extended trading hours has been refused in the previous two years.
- L&GNSW can give written directions to the licensee or an employee or agent that relates to the operation of the authorisation. This can include a direction prohibiting or restricting the sale of liquor at certain times.
The sale on other premises licence may be restricted when used inappropriately – for example:
- The operation of a caterer’s licence to avoid conditions attached to other liquor licences that would usually be required to stop the sale and supply of liquor.
- The use of a catering licence to facilitate pop-up restaurants that are operated at premises for extended periods of time.
- Licensees failing to give required written notice to L&GNSW, the local police, or local council of a proposal to provide catering services at a function.
As an alternative to applying for a Limited Licence – Large Scale Commercial Event, an on-premises catering service licence can be utilised to sell liquor at the event.
Licensees who conduct large scale events may benefit from holding a single on-premises catering service licence, which can be utilised for every event, rather than applying for a new licence for each occasion.
If you are proposing to sell alcohol as part of a catering service at large scale events, additional licence conditions may be imposed on the licence to ensure the appropriate stakeholders are notified and sufficient planning is in place for each event.
Trading and extended hours
| Day | Standard trading hours |
|---|---|
| Monday - Sunday | 5.00am - 12.00am |
| Good Friday | 12noon - 10.00pm 5.00am - 12.00am: alcohol can only be served with or in addition to a meal in the dining room |
| Christmas Day | 12 noon - 10pm 5.00am - 12.00am: alcohol can only be served with or in addition to a meal in the dining room |
| New Year's Eve | From the start of standard trading to 2.00am the next day - unless extended trading hours have been approved |
Please note that any extended trading after 12.00am will require a Statement of Risk and Potential Effects (SoRPE).
| Business activity or kind of premises | Extended hours |
|---|---|
Restaurant Principal activity must be preparation and serving of meals to the public Under 18s allowed | Monday to Sunday: 12.00am – 5.00am |
Public entertainment venue – nightclub Principal activity must be provision of public entertainment Under 18s allowed – must be with a responsible adult | Monday to Sunday: 12.00am – 5.00am |
Public entertainment venue – theatre or cinema Principal activity must be provision of public entertainment Under 18s allowed | Monday to Sunday: 12.00am – 5.00am |
Tertiary institution Premises must be a tertiary institution, and alcohol can be sold to any adult (subject to individual licence conditions) Under 18s allowed | Monday to Sunday: 12.00am– 5.00am |
Motel Principal activity must be provision of accommodation Under 18s allowed | Not applicable – alcohol can be sold to residents or employees at any time |
Caterer Principal activity must be provision of catering services Under 18s allowed | Monday to Sunday: 12.00am – 5.00am |
Vessel Premises must be a vessel that transports passengers such as on a cruise Under 18s allowed | Not applicable – alcohol can be sold from one hour before the vessel starts its voyage until 30 minutes after the voyage ends All alcohol must be consumed on board and as part of the voyage. |
A 6-hour closure period applies to all liquor licences, including those with extended trading hours. It usually starts at 4.00am and ends at 10.00am each day.
You can apply to change the 6-hour closure period:
- temporarily
- permanently
- to different times on different days of the week.
In your application, you need to provide detail on:
- the current and proposed hours of closure, and why the closing period should be changed
- the demonstrated or likely needs of patrons
- the interests of the local community
- the opinion of local police on the proposal, if any
- ways you will minimise harm associated with misuse and abuse of alcohol - including harm arising from violence and other anti-social behaviour
- ways you will promote, sell and supply alcohol safely and responsibly
- ways the proposal will not detract from the amenity of community life.
Also see
Training requirements
It is best practice to keep copies of your and your staff’s qualifications in a register on the premises.
The licensee and all staff involved in selling, serving or supplying alcohol need to have completed an approved Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course and hold a valid NSW competency card.
This requirement also applies to security staff and promotional staff conducting tastings on the premises.
The Liquor Regulation 2018 introduced an additional two courses for licensees and managers:
- Licensee training
- Advanced licensee training
View the Licensee Training or Advanced Licensee Training course to confirm if you are required to complete the course.
How to apply
You must be 18 years or older and authorised to lodge this licence application.
Read through what's required in the following before applying online at Service NSW - create an account, or log into your existing account.
The following outlines what you'll need for your application.
Your application can take longer to review if we don’t have all the details we need to assess it. We will come back to you to obtain the missing information to progress your application.
You can help us speed up the application process by:
- Providing all the correct information at the time you apply
- Responding to our request for missing information as soon as possible after we contact you.
All applicants need to provide
- a floor plan (PDF 2MB) (PDF 2MB) showing the proposed boundaries for the licensed area
- if applicable, a copy of your local council development approval or consent
- requested liquor trading hours
- details of the venue owner
- contact details for you or a person authorised to submit your application
- if applicable, a completed applicant declaration (TDEC5) (PDF 237.41KB)
- payment.
If applying as an individual you’ll also need:
- evidence of your Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) qualifications
- a current National Police Certificate issued within the last three months
- the three identity documents you used when applying for the National Police Certificate.
If you're applying as an organisation you also need:
- ABN or ACN
- the names and birthdates of all directors and officeholders (if it is a proprietary company)
- a current Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) extract
- details of an Approved Manager (if applicable).
Applying for a nightclub or extended trading authorisation
If you are applying for a nightclub or an extended trading authorisation with your on-premises licence you will need to prepare a Statement of Risks and Potential Effects (SoRPE).
For further information, visit our applying for a liquor licence page.
If applying for a nightclub or an extended trading authorisation must also:
- Notify neighbouring premises with a 100-metre radius of your venue.
- Notify the recognised leaders or representatives of the local Aboriginal community, and Aboriginal health and social services in the local government area.
Conditions
The following form(s) contain a list of licence conditions which the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and/or its delegates may impose if the licence is granted.
Please attach the completed form to your online liquor licence application at lodgement. Lodging this with your liquor licence application will reduce the processing time.
- FM2034 Licence conditions form - on premises (PDF 744.37KB)
- FM2037 Conditions form – On Premises vessels (PDF 624.03KB)
- FM2039 Licence conditions form - On-premises licence (catering services) (PDF 255.63KB)
Note that: The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and/or its delegates may impose additional or alternative conditions if warranted. However, the party seeking additional or alternative conditions must demonstrate the need for those conditions.
If you would like to seek alternate conditions, and/or additional conditions, please indicate the relevant condition number, alternative condition text and/or additional condition as well as the reasons in the space provided below the conditions list. You can attach additional information on separate pages if required.
Once your application is lodged, you will be provided with a public site notice which you will need to affix to your premises until the application is granted. Council, police and agency stakeholders will be automatically notified of your application.
You must:
- Affix the site notice to the front of the premises and ensure it is visible to the public. This site notice must remain in place until your application has been determined.
- Notify neighbouring premises with a 50-metre radius of your venue
A paper form version of the site notices can be downloaded below if you wish to complete them manually at your convenience prior to lodgement of your application.
APP600 On-premises liquor application site notice (PDF 214.7KB)
An on-premises application for a restaurant only (with no requested authorisations or other classes), will be advertised on the Liquor and Gaming Noticeboard for 14 days.
All other applications will be advertised on the Liquor and Gaming Noticeboard for 30 days. The community can comment on your application, as well as people who were consulted as part of the Liquor & Gaming NSW notification process, if applicable.
- We'll assess your application
- We'll notify you, and publish the outcome.
For details on this, and what else happens if your application is approved or rejected, see What to expect at Apply for a liquor licence in NSW
Contact us at Liquor & Gaming NSW
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