Tono raihana waipiro hei inu ā-karapu Apply for an alcohol club license

Follow this process if you want to sell and supply alcohol at your club. The alcohol will be consumed on site, by club members and their guests.

Examples include:

• RSA
• sports club
• working men’s club
• social club.

This can be a complicated process to research yourself.

The best thing to do is to call us on 09 301 0101 and ask for the planning helpdesk to check if the Auckland Unitary Plan allows you to open an alcohol business in your area.

Get building and planning certificates

Before you apply, you need to get an alcohol licensing building and planning certificate.

Visit Apply for an alcohol licensing building and planning certificate.

Get a manager's certificate

Your business must have a certified manager.

Visit Apply for a manager's certificate. 

Be a responsible host

Club licence holders have to ensure that food is available whenever the business is open and selling alcohol.

Learn how to Write a host responsibility policy for your on-licence business or club.

Get food registration

You must Apply for a food registration separately.

• Original application form.
• Copies of your new planning and building certificates.
• A copy of the menu - visit Food in alcohol on-licence business sites and clubs.   
• A copy of your host responsibility policy and an alcohol management plan - visit Write a host responsibility policy.
• A letter of authorisation for the consultant, if you use a consultant.
• A photo of the main entrance.
• A copy of the floor plans highlighting restricted or supervised areas and the main entrance.
• A copy of your Certificate of Incorporation.
• An application for landlord consent if it is a council-owned building, facility or land.

The cost of your licence will partly depend on which class your club belongs to.

• Class 1 club: a club with 1000 or more members.
• Class 2 club: a club with between 250 and 1000 members.
• Class 3 club: a club with fewer than 250 members.

Online

Visit Ways to pay online for information on all payment options.

In person

​Bring your completed application form and supporting documents to one of our libraries with council services and pay by:

• EFTPOS
• Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Application processing timeframe

 Allow eight weeks processing time. To avoid delays, make sure you provide all the required documentation.

Five weeks of this processing time is for:

• the public to object
• the police and the Medical Officer of Health to report on your application.

The District Licensing Committee will hold a hearing if:

• the public objects
• our licensing inspector, police or the Medical Officer of Health opposes your application.

It will take longer to process your application if a hearing is required.

When to renew your alcohol club licence

If you have an existing club licence, you must apply to renew it at least 20 working days before it expires.

If you know you will be submitting your application less than 20 working days before your current licence expires, you need to say on your application form why it is late. The application form will ask you to provide further detail.

What you need to renew your alcohol club licence

Apply online or download the application form below. Please include:

• A copy of the food and drinks menu.
• A copy of the club's constitution or rules.
• A copy of your host responsibility policy and an alcohol management plan - visit Write a host responsibility policy.
• A letter of authorisation for the consultant, if you use a consultant. A photo of the main entrance.
• A copy of the floor plans highlighting restricted or supervised areas and the main entrance.
• A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation or other documentary evidence of its incorporation identifying particulars of the club's charter.
• A copy of your existing club licence.

Calculate the fee to renew your alcohol club licence

Apply to renew your alcohol club licence

Your application fee is non-refundable.

Online

In person

Bring your completed application form and supporting documents to one of our libraries with council services and pay by:

• EFTPOS
• Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

What happens next

If you apply to renew your licence at least 20 working days before it expires, you can continue selling alcohol with no gap in business.

We will forward your application to the District Licensing Committee who will make the final decision.

Publish a public notice

Place your public notice as soon as possible.

The public have 25 working days from the date of the online notice to object to your application.

During this time, the police and the Medical Officer of Health will also look into your application.

For more information, visit Notify the public of your alcohol licence application.

If your application is approved

If your application is approved, we will post your renewed licence to you.

If your application is contested

We will let you know if:

• members of the public object to your application
• New Zealand Police, National Public Health Service - Northern Region (formerly known as Auckland Regional Public Health Service) or our inspector oppose your application.

The District Licensing Committee will contact you if you need to attend a public hearing before a final decision is made.