Overview

• From Saturday, venues across NSW can host live music, comedy, theatre and book readings outdoors in all zones without a development application if they meet new limits.
• Performances must start after midday, run no more than twice a week, and finish by 8pm in residential zones, 10pm next to residential areas, or midnight elsewhere.
• Outdoor dining capacity can increase without planning approval by up to 20% for venues approved for 100 patrons, 15% or 50 patrons for larger venues, and up to 30% with a cap of 100 extra patrons in special entertainment precincts.
• Councils can declare special events that permit unlicensed shops and cafes to trade until midnight, and street fairs and community festivals on public land are treated as exempt development.
• The government says liquor licence, building code and fire safety limits still apply, and planning leaders have welcomed the cut to duplicative approvals.