ARPRA Successfully Advocates for Liquor Licence Exemption for Over 55’s Communities

The NSW Government Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport which encompasses the Hospitality and Racing sector, has recently adjusted its list of circumstances where a liquor licence may not be required. 

The new liquor licence exemption started on 28th January 2026 under the commencement of the Liquor Amendment (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2026 making it unnecessary for a liquor licence to be held for eligible communities. 

The background to this development is some persistent advocacy work by the Affiliated Residential Park Residents Association (ARPRA) in consultation with the Land Lease Living Industry Association NSW and the NSW Police around making the legislative amendment. 

Residential land lease communities (RLLCs) increasingly cater for residents of similar ages to those living in retirement villages and lend themselves to community gatherings. However, RLLCs were ineligible for the same kind of liquor licence exemption that retirement village residents enjoyed for social gatherings. 

For some time now many land lease communities had the costly task of obtaining a liquor licence (approximately $750 per annum for registering under non-profit associations). The licensing requirements also included having persons trained to hold a Responsible Service of Alcohol competency card. For a residents committee, social club or other fundraising committee the cost of the licensing requirements consumed a large amount from their own budgets and necessitated fundraising efforts. 

Under the new liquor licence exemption for land lease communities, eligible communities must meet specific criteria. The NSW Government website states that the following applies to residential land lease communities that restrict residents to those aged 55 or over: 

When a licence is not required 

A liquor licence is not required for alcohol to be sold or supplied during gatherings at a residential land lease community to adult residents or guests of residents. However: 

• the residential land lease community must operate with an over-55s age restriction rule 
• the gathering must be organised and run by residents (and not by the operator of the registered residential community) 
• a residents committee member or nominee of the residents committee must be present at the gathering to supervise the sale and supply of alcohol and the general conduct of the gathering 
• alcohol sold and supplied at the gathering must be purchased from a retail liquor outlet 
• gatherings must be held at a temporary bar or common areas of the registered residential community 
• records must be kept of the gatherings held by the community. 

More information about exemptions, including contact details for residents to give feedback, make enquiries, or complaints can be found on the NSW Government Business and Economy, Liquor and Gaming website.