Permits and licences for community facility tenants

Depending on the activities conducted by your organisation, you may need liquor, gaming or health licences.

Liquor licensing

Your lease/licence agreement will specify if alcohol is permitted on your premises under a liquor licence.

In most cases, you must have a liquor licence or permit to sell or supply liquor (alcohol) in Queensland. The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) regulates liquor licence and permit applications in Queensland. A liquor licence states where and when you are allowed to serve alcohol. Different licence types are available to suit different businesses or community organisations. Fees and legal obligations for liquor licences vary, depending on the type of business and licence. For information on all types of licences and permits available and how to apply, visit the Queensland Government website.

Council consent, as a landowner, is required to establish or renew all long-term and temporary liquor licence applications and for events or other activities on Council land. If you want to change the terms of an existing licence or permit, you will also need Council consent. Council will review your proposal and provide written advice on your application.

To obtain Council consent:

Complete as much as possible of the relevant application form available from the Queensland Government website.
Submit your application to Council for approval as the landlord to proceed.

Council will review your application, liaise with key stakeholders and provide a written response to your application. Once you have Council's consent, you can submit your completed application to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.

Gaming, fundraising and raffles

Your lease/licence agreement will indicate what level of gambling, if any, is allowed on your premises.

Some tenants will be permitted to only undertake gambling in the form of bingo and raffles for fundraising purposes, while others may be permitted to have gaming machines. If your lease/licence does permit gaming on the premises, you must obtain Council's written consent, as landlord, to apply for the relevant gaming licence.

Applications for gaming licences need to be made to the Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation. For more information, visit the Queensland Government website.

To obtain Council consent:

Complete as much as possible of the relevant application form available from the Queensland Government website.
Submit your proposal to Council for approval, as landlord, to proceed.

Council will review your application, liaise with key stakeholders and provide a written response. You can then submit your completed application to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.

Compliance checklist for liquor and gaming licensees

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) regularly conducts unannounced liquor inspections at licensed premises in accordance with its proactive compliance program. OLGR compliance officers may also attend a venue if OLGR has received a complaint about the venue's operation.

To assist liquor and gaming licensees, OLGR has developed a compliance checklist to explain what compliance officers look for during inspections of licensed premises. While the checklist is not exhaustive, it provides a good overview of the main types of issues that compliance officers look for. Your volunteers and employees involved with liquor and gaming at your premises should be familiar with and use the checklist.

Food licencing

The Food Act 2006 requires certain food businesses where food is prepared, packed, stored, handled, served or supplied to be licensed with Council.

To find out the process and fees for establishing a new licence, renewing an existing licence, or making licence amendments, visit food business licences.

For more information on food licensing, phone Council's Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263).

Event permits

If you are planning an event, you may require an event permit.

Find out more about event and festival management on our managing your organisation page including event permits, event traffic marshal scheme and event planning resources.

Signage

If you want to display signs or notices on your leased/licensed premises, you may need to obtain Council approval.

Some common signs are permitted for sports and community organisations and only require you to undertake a self-assessment process. If you need to install infrastructure or wish to display any licensable signs or notices, you'll need Council approval, as landlord, and any other required approval from Council as local authority such as advertising device approval.

To obtain the consent of Council, as landlord, to install signage or display a licensable sign, fill in the online Application for works on a community lease site application form.

Council will advise you of any other requirements if your application for works on a community lease site is approved.

View advertising devices for more information.

Markets

If you want to host a one-off market, or host markets regularly at your premises, you need approval from Council as landlord. You may also require a permit or development approval for a market. For advice, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.

Personal trainers

If you want personal trainers to conduct activities from your leased premises, you need approval from Council as landlord. Ensure the proposed times are within your permitted hours of use, as detailed in your lease agreement. Personal trainers also need a Council permit to operate.

For advice, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.