What is a Place of Assembly?
The Public Health Act 1997 defines a Place of Assembly as:
- any place or area used for the entertainment of members of the public;
- any place or area used for the assembly of members of the public for social and recreational purposes;
- any school or other place or area used for community or public purposes.
Who needs a Place of Assembly Licence?
Any person who wishes to:
- operate, use or manage a place as a Place of Assembly;
- conduct any entertainment at a Place of Assembly;
- lease or offer for lease a place as a Place of Assembly.
What type of Licences are there?
There are two types of licenses:
- General Purpose (Place of Assembly) which is issued for 12 months to permanent Places of Assembly and is renewable each year;
- Specific Event (Temporary Place of Assembly) which is issued for the duration of a public event at venues not usually licensed as Places of Assembly. Every separate event needs a separate licence.
What is the cost of a Licence?
Both types of licence incur a fee. The fee is determined upon assessment of the application and ranges between $50.00 - $200.00+. Contact should be made with the Environmental Health Unit for further information or refer to Hobart City Council's Fees and Charges booklet.
Do I need any information to support my Licence Application?
Yes, both permanent and temporary structures (tents, etc) need to be suitable for use as a Place of Assembly.
For permanent structures all new applications must be supported by:
- Buildings constructed since 1994 - Either a Certificate of Occupancy or an Occupancy permit issued by a building surveyor;
- Buildings constructed before 1994 - An Occupancy permit issued by a building surveyor, at a venue that requires a Place of Assembly licence;
- If more than 200 persons can be accommodated an evacuation plan which is acceptable to the Tasmania Fire Service is required;
- For temporary structures (tents, stages etc) a Certificate of Likely Compliance issued by a building surveyor addressing compliance of the temporary structure with the requirements for temporary structures contained in the Guidelines is required.
Where can I obtain the appropriate application forms?
The application form for General Purpose Place of Assembly Licence is available here, and the Temporary Place of Assembly Licence application form is available here. Both application forms may also be obtained from the Hobart City Council's Customer Service Centre, 16 Elizabeth Street, Hobart. Contact can also be made with an Environmental Health Officer on 6238 2715.
Is overcrowding an offence?
Yes, the licensee can be subject to an on the spot fine or court action. An authorised officer can also cancel the event and evacuate the premises in the interests of Public Health should numbers exceed allowable occupancy limits.
What happens if I operate without a Licence?
You can be liable for an infringement notice or prosecution.
Are there any guidelines I should be aware of?
Yes, the Guidelines for Places of Assembly 2008 are found in the Public Health Act 1997.
For Specific Events Temporary Place of Assembly, further information can be found here.
What about Smoke Free Public Events?
Under the Public Health Act 1997, the Director of Public Health has the authority to designate classes of public events as smoke-free. A list of these events can be found here http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/peh/tobacco_control/smoke-free/smoke-free_public_events
To assist you in managing your public smoke free event, DHHS provides a range or resources inlcuding signage and smoke free event management plan templates. These resources can be found here http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/peh/tobacco_control/publications
Any enquiries?
Please contact an Environmental Health Officer at the Hobart City Council on phone (03) 6238 2715.