The department will be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 and will reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025. We will respond to queries in the new year. Best wishes for a safe and happy festive season.
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This policy explains the limited circumstances in which the Director of Liquor Licensing (DLL) will allow a residential premises to become a ‘licensed premises’ under the Liquor Control Act 1988 (LC Act).
A liquor licence is always associated with a licensed premises. Before the DLL will grant a liquor licence, they must be satisfied that the associated premises is of a sufficient standard, and suitable for the proper conduct of a business.1 A residential premises is unlikely to be suitable for the purpose of supplying drinks to patrons for consumption on or off the premises as it is not of a sufficient standard or suitable for the proper conduct of a business under any class of liquor licence or permit2 and patron’s expectations of a licensed venue would not be met.3
The DLL may allow a residence to become a licensed premises when it is being used as a home office, in association with an ‘approved premises’, which is a type of storage facility.
An approved premises is a non-licensed premises, such as a warehouse, from which alcohol can be supplied or delivered to a customer to fulfil online orders or telephone sales. The only licence types which can be granted an approved premises are a:
For more information on approved premises, see the factsheet Off-site storage of liquor.
Under the LC Act, a liquor licence must always be associated with a licensed premises.5 The DLL will consider approving a residence as a licensed premises only when a licensee has, or will have, an approved premises, and:
The applicant must occupy the premises to the exclusion of others,6 and if they vacate it, they must either surrender their licence, or apply to have it transferred to a different premises (which is called the removal of a licence under the LC Act.)7
Further information on licence requirements is available, or contact 61 8 6551 4888.
The policy on this subject is general information and is not professional advice or a legal opinion. The information is provided on the understanding that any person reading it must take responsibility for assessing its relevance and accuracy.
Version 1.0Issued 29 August 2024 In effect from 29 August 2024
Policy reviewed and updated to clarify application and streamline documentation.