Apply for a hotel or general bar liquor licence

Introduction

There are 2 types of hotel liquor licences.

A hotel liquor licence allows you to sell alcohol to the public for consumption on and off the premises. It also allows you to operate gaming machines, subject to separate approval. The licence is appropriate for venues such as accommodation hotels and large bars.

A general bar licence is more limited. It doesn't allow you to operate gaming machines or sell takeaway alcohol. A general bar licence allows the premises to offer accommodation, dining and public entertainment.

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old.

What you need

a OneGov account or MyServiceNSW Account
a floor plan showing the boundaries proposed for the licensed premises (see How to submit a floor plan with licence application – PDF)
requested liquor trading hours
details of the venue owner
contact details for you or another authorised person
a copy of your development approval or consent
a completed Statement of Risks and Potential Effects (SoRPE)
a completed applicant declaration - PDF (if applicable)
a gaming plan of management (if applicable)
a liquor plan of management
your payment.

If you're applying as an individual, you'll also need:

evidence of your Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) qualifications, including Licensee and Advanced Licensee training (if applicable)
evidence of your Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) qualifications (if applicable)
a current National Police Check certificate issued within the last 3 months
the 3 identity documents you used when applying for the National Police Check.

If you're applying as an organisation, you'll also need to provide:

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 appointment of manager notice (if applicable).

How to apply

Check the eligibility requirements.
Gather required documents.
Select the 'Apply online' button.
Log in or create an account.
Follow the prompts to complete your application.

More information

Notify stakeholders

Some liquor licence applications require you to notify stakeholders and the local community about your application once it has been submitted.

Find out more about notification requirements at Liquor & Gaming NSW.

Licence conditions

Conditions apply to NSW liquor licences. Some conditions apply automatically depending on the type of premises. Other conditions may be imposed on a licence by Liquor & Gaming NSW or the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.

Where there are conditions that may be applied, you can include the conditions form with your application. It may help reduce application processing time.

Find out more about licence conditions at Liquor & Gaming NSW.

Authorisations and exemptions

Authorisations and exemptions can help you customise your liquor licence to suit your needs. See Liquor & Gaming NSW for more information about:

Last updated: 21 July 2025