Making Changes to My Licence
It is our job at the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to regulate the liquor industry and to protect the public from the negative effects of alcohol manufacture and sale. That means, while you are allowed to make changes to your licensed establishment over time - change the name, take a new partner, add a patio, etc. - we are responsible for keeping a close watch on those changes.
You'll find the forms you need to apply for a change in your licence in our section called Forms and Fees You must apply to us, and receive our approval, before you change your location or make the changes identified below:
Permanent Changes
- changing the location of your business
- changing your hours of sale
- changing the name of your establishment or your name as it appears on the licence
- changing the name of any other person or company - owner, partner, shareholder, corporation or holding company - as it appears on the licence
- adding a receiver or executor, and
- transferring shares - if you are a private corporation, holding company or third party operator - either externally to new shareholders, or internally between current shareholders.
Structural Changes
- changing your floor plan
- changing (or adding to) the structure of your establishment
- increasing your capacity up to the occupant load of your establishment, as determined by fire/building officials
- increasing the current occupant load of your establishment
- changing (or adding) an outdoor patio, if you operate a liquor-primary or a food-primary establishment, or have a winery lounge endorsement
- adding a restaurant lounge endorsement, if you operate a food-primary establishment
- increasing your store size if you operate a Licensee Retail Store, and
- adding service from a golf cart or take-out window or kiosk to your liquor-primary licence, if you own a golf course.
Third-Party Operator or Resident Manager Changes
- changing or adding a third-party lessee or management firm operating your licensed establishment, and
- changing your resident manager, if you are a non-resident private corporation.
Temporary Changes
- extending your normal hours of sale, your usual capacity, and/or the area that is covered by your liquor licence, or
- adding entertainment
- temporarily suspending your licence to host an unlicensed event or to allow for a special event under a special occasion licence.
- Note: A complete application for a Temporary Change to a Liquor Licence including the supporting documents must be submitted a minimum of fourteen (14) business days in advance of your proposed event(s); otherwise your application will not be accepted and will be returned to you with the fees. Business days are defined as Monday to Friday excluding statutory holidays.
Licence Specific Changes:
Depending on the type of licence you hold you may need to contact the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for approval on these changes.
Winery Licence Changes
- adding a winery lounge
- adding an outdoor picnic area
- hosting special events at your winery such as weddings on an ongoing basis without having to obtain a special occasion licence
- offering tours of your vineyard during which time visitors can purchase or sample your products.
Licensee Retail Store Changes
Moving your Licensee Retail Store
You may apply to move your licensee retail store to another location within the same municipality, or if you are applying to move your store to a neighbouring municipality, your proposed site must be within five km (as the crow flies) of your existing licensee retail store location.
In addition, you cannot re-locate within one kilometre of another licensee retail store, and your proposed location must comply with local zoning bylaws.
Along with your application form and non-refundable application fee, you will need to attach:
-
proof of your "valid interest" in the property where the licensee retail store will be located (i.e., you own, lease, or have an option to own or lease, the property and facilities that will not expire for at least 12 months from the date we issue your licence)
-
the local government or First Nation zoning map which lists the permitted uses at your proposed location
-
a site plan of the property, drawn to scale, indicating where your licensee retail store will be located and how far it is from your liquor-primary establishment, and
-
four or more 5" X 7" colour photos taken of the proposed site, one facing each side of the property.
We will need proof that you have a fully executed lease or certificate of title at your new location before we issue your licence at the new location.
Local Government/First Nations Input on Changes:
Depending on the type of licence you hold and the type of change you want, you may need to ask your local government/First Nations for a resolution commenting on your application.
Local Government/First Nations Input on Permanent and Structural Changes
Specifically, if you have a
- liquor-primary licence and you want to re-locate your business or change your hours of sale
- food-primary licence and you want to serve liquor after midnight or add patron-participation entertainment until midnight (such as dine and dance or karaoke)
- liquor-primary licence, a liquor-primary club licence or a winery lounge and you want to add a new outdoor patio, or make any other alteration or addition that will increase the physical size of the establishment and the occupant load
you must ask your local government to (1) sign and date your application for a permanent change and (2) send a copy of a resolution commenting on your application directly to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch within 90 days.
Local Government/First Nations Input on Temporary Changes
If you have a
- liquor-primary licence and you want to temporarily extend your licensed area, change your hours, or temporarily change location, or a
- food-primary licence and you want to temporarily serve liquor after midnight, extend your licensed area, temporarily change location or add patron-participation entertainment (such as karaoke)
you must ask your local government/First Nation to comment on your application for a temporary change and sign and date your application.
