Entertainment venues

Do I need an approval?

Who needs an approval?

The following entertainment venues require an approval from Council:

Entertainment venues open to the public may require an approval as either an amplified music venue or an entertainment venue.

Amplified Music Venue

An amplified music venue is a premise providing amplified music as a principal element of the business and situated in a core area of the special entertainment area as detailed in figure A of the City Plan 2014.

Entertainment Venue

An Entertainment venue is a premise which is open to the public for entertainment whether or not a charge for admission is made and may include but is not limited to those venues that have been categorised based on risk as category A or B.

Entertainment venues - category A

amplified music concerts - venue for conducting concerts as a primary activity and inside a building
boxing or wrestling contest, display or exhibition
major sporting stadium (any amplified music concerts must apply for a permit as an entertainment event)
RNA showgrounds for any purpose (except any motor vehicle racing or amplified music concerts, which must apply for a permit as an entertainment event)
dog racing
horse racing, trotting and pacing
motor vehicle racing

Entertainment venues - category B

amusement arcade
aquatic leisure park
basketball or netball (any number of courts)
billiard saloon
cinema
circus, including associated entertainments
commercial swimming pool or spa
drive-in theatre
entertainment hall (any entertainment hall operated by a religious or charitable organisation listed in the Appendix A of the Brisbane City Council Budget - Schedule of Fees and Charges shall pay a nil fee for permit renewal)
fleamarkets and markets
any form of entertainment by live artists not involving amplified music
golf links, driving ranges and practice centres
gymnasium or fitness centre
indoor cricket (any number of pitches)
indoor volleyball (any number of courts)
live music or entertainment involving application for a minor nature not being an amplified music concert
riding school
squash courts
tennis court (any number of courts)
ten-pin bowling centre
theatre and theatre restaurant
outdoor sport and recreation
zoological park
concert, lecture, public meeting
dance hall, ballroom dancing, display of dancing
enclosed premises (does not include squash, tennis, basketball, indoor cricket and indoor volleyball)
indoor bowling (not being a ten-pin bowling centre, skittles or bowling green)
mechanical structure for amusement or entertainment
mini golf
night club (not holding a liquor licence covering the whole of the premises)
reception lounges (including premises for wedding receptions, birthdays and other parties)
skating rink (including ice skating)

Premises that are leased from Brisbane City Council and carry out one or more of the activities listed above may require an entertainment venue permit.

Who does not need an approval?

The following entertainment venues do not require an approval from Council:

Amplified Music Venues

An amplified music venue does not need approval if it falls outside of the special entertainment core area A or B.

Entertainment venues do not require an approval from Council if there is a current liquor licence that covers the entire venue.

In the case of amusement arcades, a permit is not required where:

there are less than six electronic amusement machines on the premises
there are less than 10 electronic amusement machines on the premise comprising a broader recreational complex, for example cinema
there are more than 10 electronic amusement machines but the machines are scattered separately and independently throughout a centre or complex, for example 12 machines located independently throughout a centre or complex.

Before you start

If you are starting a new entertainment venue, taking over or making changes to an existing business, you will need to consider planning, building and plumbing approvals.

Planning approval

Your first step when starting any entertainment venue is to check if you need a planning approval.

Council's planning scheme guides how land can be used and developed.

Entertainment venues may need planning approval for these activities:

starting a new entertainment venue
changing the type of activity (e.g. from office to gymnasium)
re-establishing a hall that has been abandoned
changing the intensity of the activity (e.g. increasing operation from 12 hours to 24 hours a day)
changing the scale of activity (e.g. expanding a market into the carpark)
carrying out building work (e.g. replacing a stage)
carrying out plumbing or drainage work.

To find out if you need to submit a development application, you can:

lodge an enquiry with Council
arrange a pre-lodgement meeting with Council
engage a town planning consultant registered with the Planning Institute of Australia
self-assess your property details against Council’s planning scheme.

Approval for entertainment venues is required under Council's planning scheme. Prior to submitting your application you should ensure the site has relevant development permit to prevent the application being delayed.

Building approval

Building work for an entertainment venue may include:

constructing a new venue
replacing a grandstand.

All building work is assessed against the building assessment provisions (including, but not limited to, the National Construction Code and the Queensland Development Code) which set the minimum requirements for building structure, fire safety, access and egress, health and amenity, and energy efficiency.

To find out if you need building approval, you can:

lodge an enquiry with Council
engage a building certifier licensed with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission
check if the type of building work is accepted development that may not require approval under Building Regulation 2021.

Compliance certificates for building work

Assessable building work requires building approval from a building certifier. Sometimes the building certifier relies on advice from other people for assessing the design/specification and inspection of buildings.

The building certifier uses these forms to accept advice on assessable building work.

Form 15 specifies the design and its limitations.
Form 16 confirms the installation or construction meets the design.

Your building certifier will collect these forms if necessary.

During the entertainment venue licence application process, Council may ask for a Form 15 that certifies the design of a major component of your business (e.g. staging or lighting), and a Form 16 to certify that the component was installed to the design specification.

Find out more about Forms 15 and 16.

Plumbing and drainage approval

Entertainment venues may need plumbing approval for the following plumbing and drainage activities:

release of trade waste to sewer
installation and maintenance of backflow prevention devices
use of non-reticulated water supply.

The Plumbing Code of Australia forms Volume 3 of the National Construction Code and contains the technical provisions for plumbing and drainage.

Plumbing and drainage work should be conducted by a licensed plumber.

Contact Council or your local water authority for more information.

Trade waste consent

Trade waste is liquid waste produced by a business. All businesses require consent from the local water authority to release trade waste to the sewer.

Some entertainment venues also need pre-treatment and monitoring equipment (e.g. separators, interceptor, grease traps, or in-sink or in-drain baskets) before discharge to sewer.

The property owner or tenant (depending on the lease agreement) is responsible for organising trade waste consent including the installation of any pre-treatment equipment.

Contact Council or your local water authority for more information on trade waste consent.

Backflow prevention devices

Backflow prevention devices stop sewage flowing back through to the town’s water supply. There are two different types of backflow prevention devices, testable and non-testable.

All entertainment venues connected to town water require a non-testable backflow prevention device. A licensed plumber can install a non-testable backflow prevention device for you.

Entertainment venues with pre-treatment equipment will need to have a testable backflow prevention device. A testable backflow device must be:

installed by an endorsed backflow plumber
registered with Council by the endorsed backflow plumber
inspected or tested annually by a licensed plumbing contractor.

Contact Council or your local water authority for further information on backflow prevention devices.

Non-reticulated water supply

Reticulated water is drinkable water supplied by the local water authority. Non-reticulated water is any other water you have access to (e.g. rainwater, groundwater from wells or bores, or greywater from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances).

Some local governments require the use of rainwater or greywater systems for new buildings. A list of participating local governments is available from the Department of Housing and Public Works.

Entertainment venues can use rainwater or greywater (or other non-reticulated water) for non-drinking purposes including maintaining equipment, flushing toilets, gardening, and as cold water for washing machines.

The installation of a non-reticulated water supply must meet the requirements of Queensland Development Code MP 4.3 - Supplementary Water Sources. A plumbing approval is not required to use rainwater or greywater in your building, but your plumber will need to notify the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Your plumber will provide you with a copy of the notification.

You may need planning approval and building approval for storage tanks larger than 10m2, or if the tank is located in a cyclone area.

Contact Council or your local water authority for more information on the use of a non-reticulated water supply.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted online, in person (with the relevant fee) at Council offices or by mail.

Council will accept applications at any of our conveniently located Customer Centres.

Entertainment venues fees.

Amplified music venue fees.

The applicant for an approval must be a legal entity (e.g. person/s or company. Note - a trust name, business name or shop name is not a legal entity and cannot be the approval holder).

A new application is not required for minor changes (e.g. change of contact details). Contact Council regarding these changes. Find out how to make other changes in this section.

Use this information to assist you in ensuring your application is complete and that you consider other applications that may be required for your business.

Forms

Application forms are available from Council.

The application form for entertainment venues (PDF 68KB) and amplified music venues (PDF 32KB) can be downloaded or obtained from one of our conveniently located Customer Centres.

Plans

You may be required to submit plans with your entertainment venue application. The plans should include:

a plan showing all rooms, exits, sanitary facilities, water supply, location of security lighting, location of potential noise sources, and food preparation areas (if applicable)
a site plan showing the location of premises in regard to other premises.

Plans

drawn to scale 1:100 or 1:200, with elevations and details not more than 1:50, maximum A3 and clearly legible
floor plan showing all areas and location of all activities
- location of any sound amplification equipment, e.g.speakers, mixing desk (if applicable)
- the direction the speakers emit sound (if applicable)
- indicating if windows and doors will be open or closed during times amplified music will be played (if applicable).

Application process - new

This process is for starting a new entertainment venue that requires a licence with Council.

You must obtain relevant planning approval, building approval and plumbing approval before you submit an entertainment venue application.

Submit your entertainment venue application and plans to Council using the approved form. You are responsible for ensuring the application is complete.
Council will process your application and plans within the legislative or agreed timeframe. Council will contact you should additional information be required.
When Council approves your plans, you may begin the fit out. Your building certifier and licensed plumber will advise if any further building or plumbing approvals are required.
On completion of the fit out, contact Council for an inspection.
When Council approves your application, you can then operate in accordance with the approved conditions.

Application process - taking over

This process is for taking over an existing entertainment venue licence.

You may apply for a search of Council records for information on the current entertainment venue and the conditions of approval. This process may require written permission from the vendor.

Submit your entertainment venue application to Council using the approved form. You are responsible for ensuring the application is complete.
Council will process your application within the legislative or agreed timeframe. Council will contact you should additional information be required.
When Council approves your application, you can then operate in accordance with the approved conditions.

You are responsible for ensuring the application is complete.
There may be a fee charged to complete this search.
If you want to change the size, scale or the nature of your venue you may require development approval for a Material Change of Use. Contact Council prior to the lodgement of this application.
You will be notified when a decision has been made regarding your application.
Council will inspect the venue on a regular basis.

Application process - making changes

This process is for making changes to an existing entertainment venue.

Adding extra facilities or renovating your premises could change current planning, building and plumbing approvals. Contact Council to discuss any changes to your premises prior to the commencement of work.

Submit your entertainment venue application and plans to Council using the approved form. You are responsible for ensuring the application is complete.
Council will process your application and plans within the legislative or agreed timeframe. Council will contact you should additional information be required.
When Council approves your plans, you may begin the fit out. Your building certifier and licensed plumber will advise if any further building or plumbing approvals are required.
Upon completion of the fit out, contact Council for an inspection.
When Council approves your application, you can then operate in accordance with the approved conditions.

You are responsible for ensuring the application is complete.
If you want to change the size or scale of the venue you may require development approval. Contact Council prior to the lodgement of this application.
You will be notified when a decision has been made regarding your application.
Council will inspect the venue on a regular basis.

Renewal

If you need to amend details on your approval or require a copy of your approval contact Council.

A notice will be sent prior to the expiration of your current approval.

Related Applications

Advertising signs licence

Some councils have rules about the type and location of any advertising signs for businesses. Depending on the type of advertising sign, you may need to obtain a licence. Find out more about advertising signs.

Business trading name

If you are registering a new business name, you will need to contact Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Food business licence

If you plan to sell or serve food on the premises, you may need to apply for a food business licence. Find out more about food business licences.

Liquor licence

If you intend to sell or serve alcohol on the premises, you will need to apply for a liquor licence. Visit the Business Queensland website for information on liquor licences.

Enforcement and complaints management

Ensure your business is operating lawfully and maintain health and environmental standards to avoid enforcement action.

Legislation

Regulation (Inspection process)

Council is required to monitor the standard of operations in entertainment venues and this is achieved through a routine inspection program. The expected frequency of these inspections will depend on the type of premises being operated and its level of compliance.

Enforcement

If you are running an entertainment venue you must have a current approval and comply with the relevant legislation and all conditions on your approval.

If you have difficulty complying, contact Council.

Failure to comply may result in one or more of the following enforcement actions:

a letter being issued requiring action or work to be conducted
a legal notice being issued requiring action to be taken or work to be conducted
penalty infringement notice (PIN) or on-the-spot fine
suspension of an approval
cancellation of an approval
prosecution.

Complaint management

If Council receives a complaint about your business, officers will investigate. They will assess your compliance with the entertainment venue approval conditions and potentially with any relevant development approval conditions.

For noise related complaints, officers may assess against the following:

entertainment venue approval conditions (if applicable)
planning approval conditions (if applicable)
noise standard for indoor venues as specified in the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (if no other approval conditions apply).