Permanent (ongoing) and temporary (one-off) extended trading hours

If you are a Queensland liquor licensee you may be able to apply for an extension to your trading hours, depending on your licence type. For most licence types, extended hours means any hours of trade before 10am and after 12 midnight.

Extensions to trading hours are either temporary (one-off) or permanent (ongoing):

Temporary (one-off) extended trading hours

The following one-off extensions to trading hours are available upon approved application:

  • 7–9am for the purpose of a function only for all licences except community other licences (see definition of 'function' in the table below).
  • 7–9am for community club licences only who can demonstrate a need in the community for this trading, or the club is a lawn bowls or golf club.
  • 9–10am for all licences except community other licences who can demonstrate a need in the community for this trading.
  • 9–10am for takeaway liquor sales for commercial hotel licences, community club licences and commercial special facility licences.
  • 12 midnight to 5am for all licences except community other licences.

The number of temporary extended trading hours permits that can be issued for trading prior to 10am is limited to 4 dates per any 1-year period. Permits for trading between 12 midnight to 5am is limited to 6 dates per calendar year.

All applications for temporary trading after 12 midnight must be for a special occasion. Lock out conditions may be imposed.

Permanent (ongoing) extended trading hours

Pre-10am trading

All licence types

  • Approved extended trading between 7–9am for the provision of functions only is available to all licensees upon approved application with the exception of community other licensees (see definition of 'function' in table below).
  • Approved extended trading between 7–9am is available upon approved application for community clubs only when need in the community is demonstrated or the club is a lawn bowls or golf club.
  • Approved extended trading from 9am is available to licensees, with the exception of community other licensees, upon approved application who can demonstrate a need in the community for this trading.
  • Approved extended trading for takeaway liquor sales from 9am is available to licensees of commercial hotel licences, community club licences and commercial special facility licences upon approved application who can demonstrate a need in the community for this trading.
  • Approved extended trading between 7–10am will incur annual fees payable within 28 days of the grant of the application and then by 31 July each year.

Takeaway liquor

  • 9am to 10am for commercial hotel licences, community club licences or commercial special facility licences for takeaway liquor sales that can demonstrate a need in the community for this trading.

12 midnight to 5am trading

  • Extended trading permissible between 12am–2am (excluding takeaway liquor sales and community other licences) for premises located outside a safe night precinct, subject to approval based on strict criteria.
  • Extended trading permissible between 12am–3am (excluding takeaway liquor sales and community other licences) for premises located within a safe night precinct.
  • Extended trading permissible between 12am–5am for commercial special facility licences relating to an airport or casino only.
  • Extended trading permissible between 12am–1am for subsidiary on-premises restaurant and café licences.
  • Approval to trade during this period is subject to annual late trading fees payable within 28 days of application approval and then by 31 July each year.
  • Approved extended trading hours will be endorsed on the licence.

Extended trading hours for weekends only

All licensees (except community other licensees) have an option to apply for extended trading hours during weekends. The weekend extended trading periods are:

  • prior to 10am Saturday and Sunday
  • 12 midnight to 5am Friday night/Saturday early morning and Saturday night/Sunday early morning (refer to table below for details).

The annual fees payable for extended trading are reduced for weekend-only trade, if applicable.

Summary of permanent (ongoing) extended trading hours

Trading hours

Availability

5am to 7am

No trading permitted other than 24-hour trading by certain commercial special facility licences

7am to 9am

Limited extended trading period for all licences (with the exception of community other licences) – licensees may only serve alcohol in conjunction with a bona fide function* upon approved application

7am to 9am

Extended trading allowed for community clubs only on approved application where:

  • there is a demonstrated need in the community (e.g. to service shift workers)
  • or
  • the club is a golf or lawn bowls club

9am to 10am**

  • Extended trading allowed (with the exception of community other licences) by approved application upon demonstrated need in the community
  • Extended trading allowed for takeaway liquor sales for commercial hotel licences, community club licences or commercial special facility licences by approved application upon demonstrated need in the community
  • No gaming prior to 10am

10am to 12 midnight**

Ordinary trading hours for all licences except producer/wholesaler licences, industrial canteens, commercial special facility licences for airports and casinos and takeaway liquor sales for commercial hotel licences, community club licences or commercial special facility licences (all licensed premises permitted to trade until 2am on the morning of New Year's Day)

10am to 10pm**

Ordinary trading hours for takeaway liquor sales for commercial hotel licences, community club licences or commercial special facility licences

10pm to 12 midnight Extended trading hours for takeaway liquor for special facility licences relating to casinos or airports with a demonstrated community need.
12 midnight to 1am

Extended trading permissible to this time only for restaurants and cafes with a subsidiary on-premises licence, subject to approval. Submission and approval of application, payment of the relevant application fee and annual fee required

12 midnight to 2am

Extended trading permissible for premises located outside of a safe night precinct (not including takeaway liquor sales and excluding restaurants, cafes and community other licences) subject to approval based on strict criteria. Submission and approval of application, payment of the relevant application fee and annual fee required

12 midnight to 3am

Extended trading permissible for premises located within a safe night precinct (not including takeaway liquor sales and excluding restaurants, cafes and community other licences) subject to approval based on strict criteria. Submission and approval of application, payment of the relevant application fee and annual fee required

12 midnight to 5am

Extended trading permissible for commercial special facility licences relating to airports or casinos only

* Functions are defined under section 4A of the Liquor Act 1992 and do not include an event or occasion organised by the licensee from which the licensee receives benefit other than from a charge for the use of the premises or the provision of catering facilities.

** Takeaway alcohol sales for commercial hotel licences (including detached bottle shops), community club licences and commercial special facility licences approved after 1 December 2010 are 10am–10pm. Takeaway alcohol sales for these licences approved prior to 1 December 2010 remain as 10am to 12 midnight.

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  • Last reviewed: 3 Feb 2020
  • Last updated: 20 Sep 2023