Businesses wishing to sell or serve liquor must apply to the Province for a liquor licence. The provincial Liquor Control and Licensing Branch refers applications for new liquor primary licences or amendments to existing licences to governments for comments in the of a resolution in a specific format.
In order for the City to consider this referral, a Licenced Establishment Application must be submitted.
Find out the property’s zoning using PoCoMAP or the Zoning Maps in the Planning Division, and check the Zoning Bylaw for zoning requirements and regulations that apply to your property, including such supplemental regulations as recycling facilities and specifications and bicycle facilities. Certain regulations in the zoning bylaws may be varied or supplemented through the Development Permit or Development Variance Permit process. Land use and density cannot be varied and a rezoning application will be required.
Review the Heritage Resource Inventory (2013) to see if the subject property has been identified as having potential heritage significance. Consult the Heritage page to learn more about the City’s heritage policies and programs.
Before submitting your application, you may wish to take steps to speak to the property owners adjacent to the proposed development. This is an opportunity to introduce the proposal, seek input and address neighbour concerns early in the process.
Planning staff are available to discuss the proposal and how it addresses community goals and objectives. Staff will also provide advice to ensure a comprehensive application, including public consultation requirements and appropriate terms of reference for required consultant studies.
Bring information such as copies of current liquor licences, seating plan, parking plan for the site, and proposed establishment concept. During the preliminary meeting, indicate if the project would involve variances or amendments to regulations.
Application Process
Submit a complete Licenced Establishment Application [PDF/445KB], including fees (see below). Please consult the application checklist attached to the application form for a detailed list of requirements. Staff are only able to accept complete applications.
Applications for new liquor licences or amendments to existing liquor licences will be reviewed in accordance with the regulatory criteria established by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch and the City’s licenses establishment policy [PDF/254KB].
Applications for new liquor-primary establishments or liquor retail stores are considered on a case-by-case- basis through site-specific rezoning applications.
A development sign must be posted on the property within 30 days of application. The sign must be four feet by eight feet and placed in a highly visible area facing the street (two signs for large corner or through properties).
Applicants must submit a photograph of the sign(s) to the File Manager when the sign is posted and again when the date for the public hearing has been added. The sign(s) must be removed following a decision on the application.
There is no defined timeframe to obtain a decision in a licenced establishment application. The time depends on the complexity of the policy issues, comprehensiveness of the application, time to respond to identified issues, public consultation process and timing of Committee and Council meetings.
The appointed Planning File Manager will circulate the application to staff in other departments and any applicable outside agencies. The primary contact will be notified about any requests for information or revisions. Enquiries about the status of the application should be directed to the Planning File Manager.
If a licenced Establishment does not comply with submission requirements or if additional information is required for its assessment, a written response from the Planning File Manager will be provided listing resubmission requirements.
Resubmissions which fully address all identified issues and information requirements will proceed in a timely manner through the application review process. All materials responding to resubmission requirements must be provided by the applicant in one comprehensive resubmission to the File Manager unless otherwise stipulated by the File Manager.
Consultation with neighbours, local residents and any other who may be affected by the proposal is strongly encouraged prior to and throughout the application process. This enables the applicant to convey their development vision to the surrounding neighbours, receive input and adjust the proposal to meet community objectives. Holding a neighbourhood information meeting should be raised with staff early in the application review process.
If a DP involves significant variance to Zoning Bylaw regulations and, in the opinion of the Smart Growth Committee (SGC), would benefit from a formal opportunity for public input, then a Public Meeting may be required prior to a decision on an application. An additional fee would be required to cover the advertising costs involved in such consideration.
For all applications, including those that require rezoning, the initial staff report will be forwarded to the Council of Committee for consideration.
Council of Committee has the delegated authority to adopt a resolution regarding licenced establishment applications or to determine that a Public Hearing must be held at a future Council meeting prior to a decision being made.
If rezoning is required, such as for applications for new liquor primary licences, Council of Committee will consider if the application should proceed to Council for formal consideration or if it requires additional information prior to making such a determination.
Council will hold a Public Hearing to gather input from the community. If Council wishes to proceed with a resolution supporting or opposing the application, they may do so at this time.
Alternatively, Council may request more information prior to making a decision. Applications that require rezoning will follow the rezoning procedures.
A date is set for the public hearing by the Corporate Officer and required notification is provided to property owners and residents adjacent to the property. The public hearing date must be posted on the development sign immediately after the date is set. Council will hear from any person who wishes to provide comments at the hearing.
After Council closes the public hearing, it will make one of the following decisions:
Resolve to support or oppose the application in accordance with the Liquor Control and Licensing Act and Regulation;
Require further information; or
Advise the applicant that that unless a referendum is completed and the results are considered by Council within 60 days, Council deems the application is not supported
A referendum is provided at the applicants cost. It is carried out by way of door-to-door survey of the owners and occupiers of the property within 240m of the proposed establishment by an independent contractor engaged by the City. Council will make a decision to support or oppose the application after receiving the results of the referendum.
