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Off Licence

An off licence entitles the holder to sell or supply liquor for consumption off the premises. Drinking on the premises is strictly prohibited. When liquor is being sold or supplied to the public, a person with a current manager's certificate must be on duty at all times. 

Off Licence for a Premises

  • If you are a caterer, an endorsed off licence authorises the sale or supply of liquor for functions or events
  • The fee for an off licence is $793.24 and the fee for an endorsed off licence is $134.94
  • With a complete application, that includes all supporting documents, the processing time frame is approximately 20 working days.  

Before you apply for your off licence you will need to obtain building and planning certificates of compliance and provide the following:

  • A scale plan showing those parts of the premises to be used for the sale or supply of liquor, and each entrance to the premises that you designate as a principal entrance
  • If you are not the owner of the premises, a written statement from the owner to the effect that there is no objection to the grant of the licence
  • A map showing the location of the premises - this can be a photocopy of a street map indicating where the site is located
  • A photograph of the exterior of the premises (or an artist’s impression of the exterior of the proposed premises as they will look when completed)
  • Certificate of Incorporation if the applicant is a company.

Public Notices

You must give public notice of the application in the prescribed, within 20 working days after filing the application. Please place the notice in the public notice section of a local paper, for example The Press, Northern Outlook or North Canterbury News.

Copies of the published public notice(s) and dates must be forwarded to the Waimakariri District Licensing Agency as soon as possible.

Within 10 working days after filing this application with the District Licensing Agency, the applicant must ensure that notice of the application in form 1A is attached in an obvious place on or adjacent to the site to which the application relates (unless the Secretary of the District Licensing Agency agrees that it is impracticable or unreasonable to do so).

Applying for an Off Licence

  • Download and complete the off licence application form
  • Send two copies of your application, including all the required information and the $793.24 fee to:

  • The Secretary
    Waimakariri District Licensing Agency
    Waimakariri District Council
    Private Bag 1005
    Rangiora 7440.

Certificates of Compliance

Certificates of Compliance are required to be lodged with your liquor licence application. The Certificates confirm that your premises and the use of your premises does not conflict with the Waimakariri District Plan and the Building Act 2004. Failure to supply these certificates will cause processing delays.

Applications should include all necessary information, particularly existing resource consents and planning certificates (if any), planned usage of floor areas for all buildings on site, proposed or existing opening hours and maximum number of occupants. Scaled site plans must also be provided. The site plans must also demonstrate the car parking provided for each activity on site.

Building Code Certificate

The Building Code Certificate is required to ensure that the premises complies with the Building Code.

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