Submitting an application

​​​​​​​​​​​​Once you have confirmed your business plan, the circumstances in which you propose to sell liquor and have obtained the relevant approvals, you are ready to submit your liquor licence application. 

The application must include the following documents before an assessment can commence:

  • Licence Application form - answer all the mandatory (*) questions, sign and date the form and lodge with the required supporting documents.
  • Statutory Declaration - this declaration is made under the Oaths Act 2001 to signify that you have personally completed the application form and certify that the details are true, correct and fully disclosed. The Declaration cannot pre-date when the application form was signed.
  • Authority and Consent - on this form you authorise and consent to the release of any criminal history records and consumer credit information applicable to you.
  • Proof of identity documents - you must provide a combination of three identity documents. Further information can be found on Proo​f of identity.
  • Payment of the application fee – this must accompany the application. Refer to Fees and credit card payment form - Credit Card Authority. The form provided is destroyed once the payment is successful.
  • Associate forms (if applicable) - all identified associates must submit a completed form with supporting documents. Further information and the Associate form can be found on  Associates. A person is considered to be an associate if:

    • ​they hold, or will hold, any financial interest or relevant position, and can exercise a significant influence over, or with respect to, the management or operation of the business; or
    • the Commissioner is satisfied that the person could exercise a significant influence over the applicant. ​

*Associates to Club Licences - Office bearers are considered associates, typically the President, Secretary and Treasurer but may also be the Vice President, a Public Officer, Executive Committee. 

  • Business Plan/Submission - a detailed proposal of how your business will operate including why you want to sell liquor, how this will be done, and the effective controls measures in place.
  • Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditation - A copy of your Responsible Service of Alcohol accreditation. Further information and approved training providers can be found on Responsible service of alcohol​.
  • Local council planning approval - you must obtain relevant local council planning approval to sell liquor at the premises. Council may apply restrictions on hours of trade or apply conditions to your activities.
  • A lease or property title to show your proof of tenure at the premises. Tenure is your right to enter and use the premises. If your name does not appear on the lease or Title, you will need to provide evidence that you are authorised by the lessee or owner of the property to be the licensee.
  • Plans of the premises - to determine where the licensed area is to be. The red line on a plan shows the area where the sale of liquor can occur. This is usually a building or part of a building. For an online business, this might be an office. Consider the Red line (site) plan standards.
  • Interior and exterior photographs of the premises showing the internal sales and seating area and any external seating to be used for consumption.
  • A copy of the menu or a description of food available (if applicable).
  • A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and Constitution - for Club licence applications.
  • A copy of your excise licence to manufacture, produce, or store under bond, alcohol products if you are a brewery or distillery. Contact the Australian Tax Office for further information - Excis​e on alcohol | Australian Tax Office.​

Once you have completed the Liquor Licence Application Form​ and obtained all the applicable documents, you can send us your application 

by email to: 
licensing@treasury.tas.gov.au 
or post to:
The Commissioner for Licensing
Liquor and Gaming Branch
GPO Box 1374
HOB​​ART TAS  7001


If emailing documents, the preferred format is in pdf, or word doc, dox and photos can be accepted as jpeg, png or bmp format. If sending the application by post, allow additional time for the receipt and processing of your application.



Interview 

As part of the assessment process, we will conduct an interview with you. This interview will usually be conducted over the phone and is designed to assess your skills, knowledge, competency and experience, in relation to the sale of liquor.

Before we speak to you, you should understand what obligations a licensee has. You should have a good understanding of the Act, regulations and the guides and fact sheets we produce.
 

Public Notice of your application 

When your application is ready to progress, you will be required to provide public notice of your application in your local newspaper and at the premises. 

Interested parties may provide a written submission (within 14 days of advertising) either supporting or objecting to your application. If an objection is received, you will be provided with an opportunity to respond. 
 

Assessment time

If you provide us with a complete application, we aim to advise you of the outcome of your application within 4 - 6 weeks. In some cases, it may take longer.

A complete application contains:

  • ​a fully completed application form;
  • the application fee; and
  • all required supporting information (as outlined in the application form). 

The application process may take longer if:

  • your application is incomplete, and we need to follow up with you;
  • the Commissioner requires additional information to properly consider your application;
  • an objection to your application is received;
  • the Commissioner refers your application to the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission for determination; or
  • an extended public holiday period is approaching.

If the Commissioner is satisfied that you are qualified to hold a licence and that the application is in the best interest of the community, they will grant the licence. Should the Commissioner choose to refer the matter to the Commission, you will be informed.

The grant fee is a one-off payment, but the annual fee is an ongoing yearly payment required to keep your licence in effect.

The annual fee is sent to you (typically in February) and is to be paid by 31 March each year. If you do not pay by that date, you will incur a 10% penalty. If the fee remains unpaid, your licence may be suspended and/or cancelled.

Relevant fees can be located on the Licence an​d permit fees page. ​​​​

Your liquor licence may require additional approvals, for example if you want extended trading hours or to have consumption in an outdoor dining space that is not a part of your licence. 

Out-of-Hours Permit

An Out-of-Hours permit is required to authorise the sale of liquor on the licensed premises for any period between midnight and 5am. Conditions will restrict consumption to inside the premises and not allow liquor to be taken off the premises during this time. Other conditions may apply.

Approval from council will be required to ensure you can operate during the additional hours.

If you would like to trade after 2am you will need to operate CCTV at the premises and comply with the Surveillance Standards.

Forms and further information can be found on the out of hours or on and off permits.
 

Off Permit

Licensees holding an On or On-restaurant licence who would like to sell liquor for consumption off the licensed premises such as for street dining, can apply for an Off Permit authority.

Approval from council will be required to ensure the consumption of liquor is permitted on public footpaths or thoroughfares.

Forms and further information can be found on the out of hours or on and off permits.

On Permit

Where an Off licence is in effect, an On permit can be authorised for occasions such as tastings sold as part of a promotion.

Relevant approval from council will be required to ensure consumption on the premises is an authorised activity. Forms and further information can be found on the out of hours or on and off permits.​


If a liquor licence is granted, you will be required to pay a grant fee and pro-rata liquor licence annual fee.

The annual fee is calculated from the proposed licence start date for the remainder of that calendar year.

You are not authorised to sell liquor until the fees have been paid and you have received your liquor licence.

If the Commissioner refuses your application, the reasons will be forwarded to you. This decision may be published on the web.

A decision not to grant a licence (and certain other decisions of the Commissioner) may be referred to the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission.

Any appeal is required to be made in writing within 14 days from the date of the written decision. ​



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