This section includes information on a range of permits and approval processes related to organising events. Please note this is just a guide and other permits may apply. 
The processes included in this section are:

• Liquor Licence Permit 
• Provision of Food and/or Temporary Food Event Permit 
• Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) & Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) Permits 
• Roadside Promotional Boards Permit 
• Temporary Banning of Dogs, Alcohol and other items 
• Fireworks and Pyrotechniques displays 
• Road and Footpath Closure Permits 

Liquor Licence Permit 
If you are selling or providing alcohol at an event you will require a permit. Permits for sale or consumption of alcohol are issued from the South Australia Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation. The process for obtaining a licence can take up to 8 weeks. You will need to develop a management plan to avoid the supply of alcohol to minors and ensure that the responsible service of alcohol must be in accordance with the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998. 
If you decide to have alcohol at your event and are successful in obtaining a licence you need to plan for the effects of alcohol consumption. These include:

• Extra toilets 
• Additional First aid for injuries, intoxicated patrons and dehydration 
• Security for disturbances caused by intoxicated patrons 

In your event plan include a copy of the Liquor Licence Permit and any additional resources you may require in order to hold a safe and responsible event. 

Consumption of liquor or possession in unsealed container and behaviour near licensed premises 
A person must not, without a Permit, on a Road, any Council Land or any open space to which the public have access: 
consume or ingest any Liquor; or 
have in his or her possession a bottle, can, wine cask or other receptacle, which contains Liquor and has been opened. 

​PENALTY: MAXIMUM TWENTY (20) PENALTY UNITS

Clause does not apply:
to a person in licensed premises or authorised premises under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998; 
or 
where the consumption of Liquor is taking place at an organised function conducted with Proper Authority or as part of a picnic with family and/or friends within a Municipal Reserve, provided that no nuisance is caused to other persons in the area and the persons concerned leave the area in a clean and tidy condition afterwards.

Provision of Food and/or Temporary Food Event Permit 
Please see the above Provision of Food for details on Food and/or Temporary Food Event Permits.

Australasian Performing Rights Association Permits (APRA) 
Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) 
Entertainers at any event or festival performing songs that are not their own original songs must obtain a permit from the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) prior to the event. Contact APRA on: 

• Australasian Performing Rights Association 
• www.apra.com.au 

Allow one month for this process and make sure you adjust your budget accordingly as a permit fee will apply.

If you're using recorded music or music videos to enhance your event in any way, then you will usually need a licence and permission from the copyright holder to do so. 
Examples of such uses include: 

• Playing protected recorded music in public 
• Screening music videos in public 
• Playing protected recorded music and/or radio to your phone customers on hold 
• Broadcasting recorded music over the radio or TV 
• Broadcasting music videos on TV 

Contact PPCA: 

• Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) 
  
• www.ppca.com.au 
• licensing.mail@ppca.com.au

Allow one month for this process and make sure you adjust your budget accordingly as a permit fee will apply.

Roadside Promotional Boards Permit 
Approval is required from Council to erect signage for promotional purposes around the municipality on any Council owned land. 
If you wish to erect promotional signs on private property (residential or business) you will need to seek the permission of the landowner. The following addresses the size and duration requirements: 

• A sign with an advertisement area not exceeding a 5 square metres publicising a local educational, cultural, political, religious, social or recreational event not held for commercial purposes. Only one sign may be displayed on the land, it must not be an animated or internally illuminated sign and it must not be displayed longer than 14 days after the event is held or 3 months from its creation, whichever is sooner. A sign publicising a local political event may include information about a candidate for an election. 
• A sign publicising a special event on the land or in the building on which it is displayed, provided no more than 8 signs are displayed in a calendar year and the total number of days the signs are displayed does not exceed 28 in that calendar year. The sign must be removed when the event is finished. 

Temporary Banning of Dogs, Alcohol and other items 
In order to hold an event in a safe and responsible environment it may be necessary to apply for a temporary ban of dogs, alcohol and other items. 
Council owned land may already have particular bans in place and it is worth checking this prior to confirming your arrangements. 

Fireworks and Pyrotechniques Displays 
If you are planning on having Fireworks and/or Pyrotechniques Displays at your event you must contact the Council Community Events Officer

Road and Footpath Closure Permits 
If you are planning on closing any road or footpath approval is required from Council’s engineering department. 
Traffic Management Plans including any road or footpath approval require approval from Council’s Engineering department. 
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The following items are required when applying for a Road and/or Footpath Closure Permit: 

• Current Public Liability Insurance 
• Traffic Management Plan (incorporating a risk assessment) 
• Written notification to affected businesses/residents/public transport providers if applicable 
• Notification to Emergency Services of possible detours or expected significant delays. 

Most Event Organisers will engage external service providers at some stage of the event planning phase. This may include but is not limited to any of the following: 

• Event Management Companies 
• Event Safety Management Companies 
• Performers/bands/entertainers/MC’s 
• Equipment suppliers – display boards, tables, trestles and business stands 
• Temporary infrastructure – toilets, marquees and stages 
• Security 
• Staff 
• Amusement rides 

All external assistance with your event must be properly documented and agreed upon by all parties involved. Each of these arrangements, whether by letter, e-mail or telephone will require a written contract that is legally binding.

When entering into a contract, you want to make sure you are getting what you need and what you are paying for. Therefore, it is highly desirable that all contracts be in writing in the form of a letter supported by written agreement to document exactly what you want and are and are not paying for. This also avoids misunderstandings and minimises arguments over what has been agreed. 
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On occasion service providers sub-contract their services to another party. As an event organiser you need to be aware and approve the company that is working on your event site. If you are happy for a service provider to sub contract the services that you have requested then you need to make sure you have a copy of the relevant documentation such as insurances and licenses. Whether it is a direct service provider or a sub-contracted provider, you should demand the same level of skill, experience and documentation. 
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If you require temporary infrastructure such as marquees, staging and seating stands then you will also need to make sure that the person overseeing the contract and all staff working within the construction site are properly qualified to do so. 

In the Event Plan record all the contracts and agreements and supporting documentation required to oversee these contracts.