Small bar licence

• allows alcohol to be sold for consumption on the licensed premises
• allows house-made cocktails mixed on-site to be sold for consumption away from the licensed premises, provided they are packaged in sealed containers
• allows alcohol to be sold for consumption on the licensed premises but does not allow takeaway sales
• doesn't permit gaming machines, keno, or betting
• enables you to provide entertainment - unless this will change the principal use of your venue in which case you may need development consent from your local council
• allows standard trading hours between 10am and 12 midnight, Monday to Sunday, with an additional two hours to 2am, depending on your development consent
• allows extended trading at additional cost- see Liquor Fee Schedule
• is exempt from trading hours risk loading fees
• allows your business to stay open outside liquor trading hours although you must not sell or supply alcohol during these times
• does not require a cumulative impact assessment if the premises is located within a cumulative impact area, as small bars are generally well-managed, with lower rates of violence, and fewer compliance issues than other late trading venues
• permits under 18s on the licensed premises in certain circumstances – access the Minors in Small Bars section below
• may be exempt from the requirement to submit a community impact statement (CIS) in certain circumstances – access the What you’ll need section below for more information
• may qualify for an interim small bar authorisation (ISA) if a CIS is not required – access the interim small bar authorisation below for more information.

Some smaller licensed venues are not eligible for a small bar licence due to their risk profile.

Depending on your venue, you may require a:

• hotel licence: to provide gaming machines, keno or betting, or offer takeaway sales.
• general bar licence: to have more than 120 patrons on your licensed premises, subject to development consent.
• on-premises licence: to operate a facility that is regularly used for adult relaxation entertainment where sexually explicit entertainment is provided - including a strip club or sex industry premises.

Development consent and notification

What do I need to do first for my small bar licence application?

• Contact your local council to confirm if you need to lodge new a development consent application before applying for a small bar licence.
• If you need to lodge a new development consent application with your local council a Category B community impact statement (CIS) is not required (as community consultation will take place through the council process). However you must notify Police and the Secretary Liquor & Gaming NSW within two days of lodging your small bar development application with council
• If development consent is already in place for a small bar, or your local council confirms you are not required to modify your existing development consent, you must submit a Category B community impact statement with your small bar licence application.

What happens if I need to lodge a new development consent application?

If you need to lodge a new development consent application with your local council, or to modify an existing development consent, you should notify both:

• NSW Police in your local area
  AND
• The Secretary Liquor & Gaming NSW

How do I notify and when should I do it?

• You must notify the NSW Police in your local area and the Secretary Liquor & Gaming NSW within two working days of lodging your small bar development consent application with your local council.
• You can notify both departments by completing a Notice of Development Consent application

Provided you notify NSW Police and the Secretary Liquor & Gaming NSW within two working days, you will not have to complete a Category B community impact statement.

What do I need to include in my notification?

You must include:

• the record of lodgement you received when you lodged your development consent application
• the proposed licence name
• the premises address
• the date of the development application; and
• the council or consent authority name.

What happens if I don’t notify within two working days?

Community impact statements

A community impact statement (CIS):

• provides evidence that you’ve advised your local community of your intention to operate a small bar
• gives the community an opportunity to comment
• allows us to gauge the level of support for your application.

This process takes at least 30 days and must be completed before you lodge your small bar application.

Once I lodge my small bar licence application do I need to notify neighbours?

When your application is lodged with Liquor & Gaming NSW you will receive an email with advertising instructions and a site notice. However, there is no additional requirement to notify neighbouring premises and affix the site notice provided you previously notified NSW Police and the Secretary Liquor & Gaming NSW at the development application stage with council.

What happens if I am required to complete a Category B community impact statement?

If you were required to complete a Category B community impact statement as part of the application process, you must notify all neighbouring premises within 50 metres radius of the location of your proposed small bar and affix the site notice to your premises until the application has been determined by Liquor & Gaming NSW.

Download a paper version of the small bar liquor application site notice if you wish to complete it manually at your convenience prior to lodgement of your application.

What information do I have to submit when I apply

You'll need to submit the below:

• a floor plan PDF, 2045.33 KB clearly showing the proposed boundaries for the licensed area
• if applicable, a copy of your local council development approval or consent
• details of the premises owner
• contact details for you or a person authorised to submit your application
• if applicable, a completed applicant declaration (TDEC5) PDF, 173.74 KB
• payment for a new application.

If you’re converting to a small bar from an on-premises or a hotel general bar, you may convert your licence for free until 28 February 2021.

If applying as an individual you'll also need:

• evidence of your Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) qualifications, including your Licensee training and Advanced licensee training qualifications, if required
• 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 applying as an organisation you'll also need:

• ABN, ACN or Y/INC
• the names and birthdates of all directors and office holders (if it is a proprietary company)
• a current Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) extract
• a completed appointment of manager notice.

Licensees and all staff involved in the selling, service or supply of alcohol need to have completed a 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 compulsory courses for licensees and managers: Licensee training and Advanced licensee training.

It is best practice to keep copies of your and your staff’s qualifications in a register on the premises.

An interim small bar authorisation (ISA) allows you to begin serving liquor two days after you have informed NSW Police and your local council when you wish to operate, and after you have lodged a small bar licence application with Liquor & Gaming NSW. You will not be eligible to apply for an interim small bar authorisation if you are required to provide a Category B community impact statement.

Am I eligible for an ISA?

To be eligible for an ISA, you must:

• apply online for a small bar liquor licence
• seek trading hours no later than 2am
• have planning approval from your local council to use the premises as a small bar and you have notified Police and the Secretary (Liquor and Gaming) within two days of DA lodgement with Council
• not be applying for any authorisations at the same time as applying for a small bar licence – e.g. to allow minors on the premises in certain circumstances

Small bars may apply for an Extended Trading Authorisation PDF, 1053.57 KB and/or a Minors Authorisation PDF, 893.07 KB after the liquor licence application has been finalised and a liquor licence has been approved.

All small bars issued with an interim authorisation need to notify NSW Police and the local consent authority at least two days before they start trading.

Small bars that regularly provide meals on their premises between opening time and 10pm have the option to allow minors in the company of a responsible adult until 10pm. This allows families to dine-in together in seated areas of small bars during the day and earlier hours of the evening, just as they can in dining areas of pubs and clubs.

Small bars that wish to make use of this option must ensure the correct signage is in place to convey that they are choosing to permit minors.

Small bars can also apply for a ‘Minors Authorisation’ if they wish to allow minors at other times up until midnight, or in different circumstances. This is available where a small bar provides diverse offerings that are appropriate for minors in addition to bar services - for example:

• retail offerings – book or record stores
• live music and entertainment, arts and cultural events
• catering for family-oriented functions like birthdays and weddings.

Conditions can be attached to this Authorisation, and minors may be required to be accompanied by a responsible adult depending on the services offered.

If granted the authorisation, appropriate signage must be displayed on the premises, including the times and circumstances where minors are permitted.

Is my small bar “regularly providing meals”?

Small bars that regularly provide meals on their premises from opening time until 10pm can decide whether they will allow minors in the company of a responsible adult.

This means meals need to be available for customers to order during these times.

The meals can’t be just bar snacks – they must be genuine meals that are served in seated areas on the premises.

Customers should have no difficulty locating a food menu, which shows meals can be ordered up until at least 10pm.

Applying for a Minors Authorisation

You can apply for the Minors Authorisation using the Minors Authorisation – Small Bars form - AM0041 PDF, 893.07 KB.

When your application is assessed, a range of relevant factors will be considered – including but not limited to:

• your small bar’s business model and types of services offered that are appropriate for minors
• any proposed harm minimisation measures such as CCTV cameras and conditions around the times and circumstances where minors are permitted
• level of supervision – including the venue’s staff to patron ratio, particularly if it is proposed that minors will be unaccompanied by a responsible adult.

Preferably, applications should be accompanied by a Plan of Management that explains how any risks to minors will be addressed.

Each application will be assessed on its merits.

Displaying the correct signage

All small bars must display the correct signage telling patrons the following information:

• Whether minors are allowed on premises, and
• The time period minors are allowed on premises
• The time period minors are NOT allowed on premises

Small bars that do not allow minors on premises due to the nature of their business model (e.g. cocktail bars only) can simply display the sign which prohibits minors from entering the premises.

These signs may be downloaded from the Signs for your business webpage for self-print, or ordered from the Liquor & Gaming NSW online shop.

Compliance monitoring

Small bars can be declared off-limits to minors if serious issues arise - for example, if liquor is ever sold to a minor. A Minors Authorisation for a small bar can also be revoked.

Small bars are allowed to sell house-made cocktails for take-away consumption if the cocktails are in sealed containers.

The cocktails must be mixed on the licensed premises to be sold for take-away.

Due to restrictions on take-away sales on restricted trading days, small bars are not allowed to sell take-away house-made cocktails on Christmas Day or Good Friday.

Small bar standard trading hours are 10am-12 midnight, Monday to Sunday. A two hour extension from midnight to 2am may be granted if approved within your development consent.

You can apply to extend your trading hours:

• temporarily
• permanently
• to different times on different days of the week
• for extended trading application fees-see Liquor Fee Schedule

Applications for an extended trading authorisation to trade beyond 2am require a Category B Community Impact Statement.

A Category B CIS is not required for extended trading applications seeking approval to trade between 10:00 AM  and 12:00 noon.

The table below outlines the standard trading hours and maximum extended trading hours for a small bar licence.

* Includes automatic extended trading between midnight and 2am for small bars under the NSW liquor laws.

You can tailor your licence to meet your needs by applying for authorisations and exemptions - fees may apply.

​A small bar licence is subject to most regulatory controls that apply to other licences where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises:

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.

• Find out what signs you need

Your application costs include:

• an application fee
• a non-refundable processing fee.

Use our Liquor Fee Schedule to calculate your fee.

Licence fees

Pro-rata annual liquor licence fee

A small bar licence is subject to a pro-rata annual liquor licence fee depending on the time of year your liquor licence is granted.

This fee covers the amount of time you use the liquor licence in its first year before the billing cycle starts on 15 March each year. Calculate your pro-rata fee.

Annual liquor licence fee

A small bar licence is subject to an annual liquor licence fee, due in May each year. Read more about annual liquor licence fees.

• FM2044 Licence conditions form - small bar PDF, 485.05 KB

What you need to know

This form contains a list of standard conditions which the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and/or its delegates may impose if the licence is granted.

Special instructions

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.

Please attach the completed form to your online liquor licence application at lodgement.

Lodging this form with your liquor licence application will reduce the processing time.

Apply online now

You must be 18 years or older and authorised to lodge this licence application.

Apply online

Create a OneGov account to apply online for a new licence or maintain your existing licence online.

• online at onegov.nsw.gov.au - create an account, or log into your existing account.

Next steps

Once your application is lodged, you will receive a site notice. This notice must be affixed to the location of the proposed licensed premises and must be provided to the occupiers of surrounding buildings.

We will advertise your application on the Liquor and Gaming Application Noticeboard for 30 days. The community can comment on your application, as well as people who were consulted as part of the CIS process, if applicable.

We're here to help. 

Use our online feedback form to send us your questions, suggestions or feedback. You can also:

Call: 1300 024 720 | Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm

Email Liquor & Gaming NSW

Access the Liquor Act 2007 and the Liquor Regulation 2018 at the Legislation website.