Ngā utu mō te rēhitatanga kai me te raihana waipiro Food registration and alcohol licence fees and charges

Use this page to find the fees and charges for food business registration, food verification (food safety check), alcohol licensing, outdoor dining and to understand when extra charges might apply.

These fees apply whether you are starting a new business or renewing an existing registration or licence.

Fees explained

Our fees are reviewed each year and updated from 1 July. 

• All fees include GST.
• All fees are non-refundable, including the Food Business Levy.
• The fees listed are indicative pricing only and can change.

Options for operating a food business

Food businesses can operate under either a:

• Food Control Plan (template or custom)
• National Programme.

Food registration and verification fees

All registered food businesses must be verified by a recognised verification agency.

For most food businesses, registration and verification fees include a minimum charge.

The overall costs may vary depending on the level of risk involved in your food business, for example, whether it is a specialised or higher‑risk food businesses. If this applies to you, we will confirm the hourly rate before the verification starts.

Visit Apply for verification for your food business for more information.

When you may be charged more

Extra time is charged at an hourly rate if the work takes longer than the minimum time included in the registration or verification fee.

For any corrective action follow‑ups, a minimum charge of 30 minutes applies. This is in addition to travel time and any time needed to assess an issue.

Additional charges may apply if you cancel at short notice or if the verifier is not able complete the verification once they arrive.

Visit Apply for food registration for more information.

Food business fees

The charges in the fee tables are minimum starting fees for common food businesses, such as:

• restaurants
• cafés
• bars
• caterers
• petrol stations
• dairies
• schools
• coffee carts
• food trucks
• food stalls
• early childhood education centres
• transport and distribution businesses.

Note that not all fees listed will apply to every business.

Some National Programmes and Template Food Control Plans (usually for manufacturing or processing businesses) require a custom quote based on the hourly fee.

Our services are charged at the hourly rate where compliance action is taken, such as improvement notices, warning letters or closures.

Outdoor dining licence fee calculator

Outdoor dining licence charges depend on the location and size of the area involved. Use our outdoor dining fee calculator to estimate the cost.

Food Business Levy

The central government introduced the Food Business Levy in 2024. It came into effect on 1 July 2025 and applies to all food businesses.

As your registration authority, we:

• collect the levy on behalf of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
• transfer the levy directly to MPI.

If you do not pay the levy on time, we will forward your debt to MPI. MPI may also apply penalties including interest charges.

Visit the Ministry for Primary Industries website for more information.

Food Business Levy fees

The levy is being phased in over three years.

How we charge the Food Business Levy

The levy is charged every year, regardless of your registration renewal date, for food businesses that run under a National Programme or a Food Control Plan.

Visit Food control plans and national programmes for more information.

Your total registration or renewal fee includes:

• the council's registration or renewal fee
• the annual Food Business Levy
• the Food Business Levy collection fee.

How the Food Business Levy is applied for multi-site registrations

If you run a food business with  multi-site registration, Multi-site registration for a food business allows a business to register all its locations under a single application to ensure compliance with food safety standards. the way we apply the levy depends on the type of registration.

You need to pay an application fee to apply for a new licence or renew an existing licence.

The annual fee must be paid every year. After the first year, you must apply to renew your alcohol licence every three years.

These fees are set by central government, not by the council.

Estimate the cost of your alcohol licence

The cost of an alcohol licence for on-licence A licence to sell alcohol for consumption on the business premises. , off-licence A licence to sell alcohol which will be consumed off the business premises. and a club licence Allows the sale and consumption of liquor to club members, guests of club members, and members of clubs with reciprocal visiting rights. varies depending on different situations.

Use our online calculators to estimate the cost involved and to understand the businesses risk category that applies to you:

• Alcohol on-licence fee calculator
• Alcohol off-licence fee calculator
• Alcohol club licence fee calculator.​

Your risk category depends on your type of business, opening hours and whether you have been fined or prosecuted for breaching your licence conditions before.

This licence fee depends on the size and number of proposed events.

Use our alcohol special licence fee calculator to estimate the cost.

Visit Apply for or renew a manager's certificate (alcohol) for more information.

Visit Apply and pay for an alcohol temporary authority for more information.

Visit Apply for alcohol licensing building and planning certificates for more information.