Declaration as to suitability of licensed premises application

What does this application do

The declaration as to the suitability of licensed premises application allows to you apply for a certificate that declares a premises suitable to be used as or developed into a pub, club or hotel. This application is made prior to your application for a full on-licence.

The process allows applicants to confirm they will get a licence, provided the planned works meet the court's requirements and objections are not upheld. You must be in a possession of another licence to extinguish (legally terminate), or at least have an agreement to extinguish one.

If granted the certificate lasts one year. However, if you are not ready within the year, you can apply to extend the certificate for one additional year.

How much does this application cost

There is a fee of €330 per application.

Please be aware this fee is for the court application only. Revenue have a separate fee for taking out the licence.

How to prepare

You must extinguish (legally terminate) an existing licence from another premises in order to be granted a new licence.

It is important you do a licensing search to show the court that the premises was never licensed before. Please see more on our searching the register page.

You must arrange in advance with the court office to have the District Court clerk in the area available to give evidence. However, in some circuits the judge accepts a record of the CSOL search or a certificate from the office.

How to apply

1. Complete your application

If you are a legal practitioner and have an account in CSOL, you can complete the application in CSOL. Alternatively, you can complete an application manually which is usually drafted by legal counsel.

2. Serve the notice parties

You should notify or serve the relevant notice parties for your application. If the application is submitted in CSOL, the notice parties are automatically notified. Alternatively, you can serve the notice manually. Please see our serving and proof of service page for more information.

For this application, the notice parties are:

• An Garda Síochána must be notified at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The District Court clerk must be notified at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The District Court judge where the premises is situated must be notified at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The Combined Court Office Manager must be notified at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The public must be notified through local newspaper advertisement at least twenty one days prior to the court date.
• The Fire Officer must be notified at least twenty eight days prior to the court date.
• The HSE must be notified at least one month prior to the court date.

3. Submit your application

You can submit your application through CSOL or manually at the court office. The application must be lodged at least twenty one days prior to the court date.

4. Provide proofs to the court office

You must provide the required supporting documentation or "proofs" to the court office. This must be done manually, there is currently no option to upload the "proofs" listed below through CSOL.

What proofs are required

1. Original notice of application with relevant stamp duty.
2. Affidavit of service (only where application is manually served).
3. The full original newspaper showing advertisement (outlined in red border).
4. You will be expected to call your engineer or architect into evidence on the day to certify compliance with planning and building regulations and fire safety certificate conditions.
5. Evidence of title to the property.
6. A set of plans for the proposed premises.
7. Confirmation there is no objection from the Fire Officer.