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Alcohol fees and charges

Find out how we assess risk and set fees for selling and supplying alcohol.

Fees framework

Look up our fees framework (2021) for sale and supply of alcohol to see what your licence may cost.

Note that these fees increase from 1 January 2022. See our fees framework (2022).

Fee increases from 2020

Alcohol licence fees will be increasing each year from 2020 to 2022. The new licence fees will be set under Council’s Alcohol Fees Bylaw, that came into effect on 1 January 2020.

This is because the current fees set by the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Regulations 2013 do not cover the cost to Council for administration, reporting and enforcing the regulations.

How are the fees calculated?

Alcohol licence fees are based on recovering the costs of running the licensing system. They are set by the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Regulations 2013.

Licence fees can vary depending on the risk profile of the premises. Council uses a framework to decide which businesses pose a high or low risk in Lower Hutt. The three-factors in the framework are the:

type of premises (or business)
latest alcohol sales time, and
number of enforcements (offences) in the last 18 months.

Reduced fees for special licences

If you're applying for a Class 1 or Class 2 special licence, you might be eligible to reduce your fees by one category.

You're eligible for reduced fees if:

Your application is for a Class 1 or Class 2 special licence.
The event or series of events is a community or fundraising activity that will benefit the community or recognised charities.
The special licence holder is not a commercial entity that will make commercial gain from the event.
No infringement notices have been issued for related events in the last year.

How to request reduced fees

Requests for reduced fees must be made in writing when you apply for your licence. You need to include the reason you're requesting a fee reduction.

Our Chief Licensing Inspector or one of our Senior Officers decides who receives reduced fees. Their decision is based on the circumstances of the applicant or activity.

More information

Our Local Alcohol Policy (PDF 123 KB) has detail about how we have developed our risk framework.

The Health Promotion Agency's alcohol.org.nz website has more information on how the law sets penalties and fines for people who break their licence conditions.