Apply for a premises licence

You need to apply for a premises licence if you intend to conduct any licensable activities or provide any regulated entertainment from a specific premises or location.

Application process

To complete an application for a premises licence you need to submit the following:

• a completed premises licence application form from the licence holder
• a detailed plan of the premises that complies will all requirements (see below)
• a consent form completed by the proposed DPS
• the prescribed fee, which is determined by the non domestic rateable value of the premises (see below)
• documents demonstrating entitlement to work / immigration status in the United Kingdom (if you are applying as an individual)

The plan of the premises should be included with the application, and copied to the responsible authorities as part of the application. The plan of the premises needs to meet the requirements set out in the act and the Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/42 to show the following:

• the extent of the boundary of the building, if relevant, and any external and internal walls of the building and, if different, the perimeter of the premises
• the location of points of access to and egress from the premises
• if different from (2), the location of escape routes from the premises
• in a case where the premises is used for more than one existing licensable activity, the area within the premises used for each activity
• fixed structures (including furniture) or similar objects temporarily in a fixed location (but not furniture) which may impact on the ability of individuals on the premises to use exits or escape routes without impediment
• in a case where the premises includes a stage or raised area, the location and height of each stage or area relative to the floor
• in a case where the premises includes any steps, stairs, elevators or lifts, the location of the steps, stairs, elevators or lifts
• in a case where the premises includes any room or rooms containing public conveniences, the location of the room or rooms
• the location and type of any fire safety and any other safety equipment, including if applicable, marine safety equipment
• the location of a kitchen, if any, on the premises

Unless you have previously agreed with the relevant licensing authority in writing that an alternative scale plan is acceptable to it, the plan should be drawn in standard scale, where 1 millimetre represents 100 millimetres.

The plans are not required to be professionally drawn. What is important is that they are accurate and meet the requirements referred to above.

Please make sure the premises has the relevant planning permissions - for example, usage and trading hours. If you have written agreements with any responsible authorities or persons that may have raised concerns or objections before or during the consultation, please contact the licensing department: licensing@north-herts.gov.uk

Visit the GOV.UK website for further guidance on how to complete the premises licence application form.

Application Fee

Advertising requirements

The applicant is required to display a public notice on the premises detailing the changes that you are applying for. This notice must be displayed in view of the public on A4 pale blue paper, and must appear from the day after the application is given to the licensing authority for a period of 28 days.

This applicant is also required to publish a notice in a local newspaper that appears no later than the 10th working day of the consultation period. Please note the advertisement must be published in a hard copy newspaper. Online adverts will not be accepted.

The above notices must contain the name of the applicant, postal addresses of the premises (or if there is no postal address a description of the premises sufficient to enable the location to be identified), relevant licensing authority and the date by which any representations in relation to the application need to be made to the licensing authority. They should also contain a statement of the relevant licensable activities or relevant qualifying club activities that it is proposed will be carried on at the premises.

Templates of a these notices can be found attached at the bottom of this page.

If the display of the Blue notice and/or the Newspaper advert requirements are omitted then the application will be refused and could incur additional costs if it needs to be restarted.

How to apply

If you apply online then the licensing authority will serve the application on the responsible authorities. You can email your application to licensing@north-herts.gov.uk or online using the link below.

If you submit your application by post then you must also send a copy of the application to all of the responsible authorities. A list of these authorities and their contact details can be found attached at the bottom of this page.

The Licensing Team
North Hertfordshire District Council
PO Box 10613
Nottingham
NG6 6DW

Granting of the licence

At the end of the 28 day consultation, if no representations have been received, then the licence will granted as applied for including any amendments during the consultation period if applicable.

If representations are received then the applicant will be notified and a hearing will take place to determine the application.

All information relating to representations and hearings will be explained to the applicant should it arise.

Annual fees

An annual licensing fee must be paid each year once the licence has been granted. This is due on the anniversary date of the granting of the licence. We will send an invoice to the premises as a reminder. If you would like the invoice to be emailed then email us. Please remember it is the licence holder's responsibility to pay this on time.

The first annual fee is not due until a year after the licence grant date. You can set up a direct debit to pay the fee; find out more about how to pay here.

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