Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle is famous for its dance clubs, and if you want to operate one, you’ll need a nighttime entertainment license from DBKL.
The official DBKL guideline is only available in Bahasa Melayu, so we’ve translated it below for business owners who are most comfortable with English.
Here’s how we’ve broken it down:
- required documents
- premise requirements
- ongoing compliance requirements, and
- fees and security deposits
Let’s begin.
Required documents
To apply for a nighttime entertainment license, you’ll need to prepare the following documents:
- company registration documents
- copy of your MyKad / Passport
- premise floor or location plan
- lease agreement
- coloured photos of premise interior and exterior
- pictures of CCTV footage
- premises license copy
Once you have these, head to DBKL’s eLesen portal and submit them via an application form.
If you’re a first time eLesen visitor, you’ll need to register for a new account.
Application requirements
Before applying, make sure you meet the following prerequisites:
- you have a valid DBKL premise and signboard license
- your premises are not in a residential area or within 100 meters of residential zones, schools, hospitals, places of worship, or universities (see premise requirements below)
- if located in a house, the building has been rezoned for commercial use
- you have obtained approval from DBKL, Fire & Safety, and Police Departments
- display a no-drugs sign on the premises
Need help with some or all of these requirements? Get in touch!
Premise requirements
DBKL has specific conditions that must be met for your nightclub to be approved for operation:
- premises must not be located within 100 meters of a residential area, school, hospital, or other sensitive establishments
- complies with fire safety regulations with adequate fire alarms and emergency exits
- ventilation system must be functioning properly
- have proper soundproofing and maintain noise levels not exceeding 5 dBA
- CCTV systems must be installed and operational
- floor plans must be submitted with any layout changes requiring DBKL’s approval
- clear signage including a no-drugs sign at all entry points
DBKL officials will inspect your premises once your application has been submitted and inform you if there are any changes to be made.
Ongoing compliance requirements
Once you’ve received a nighttime entertainment license, here are ongoing conditions to follow:
- license must be displayed at all times during operating hours.
- premise environment should be clean and safe with well-maintained equipment.
- lighting should be adequate, particularly in game rooms or entertainment areas
- compliance with fire safety regulations
- fire equipment should always be in good condition
- entry and exit doors are not locked during business hours
- ventilation system must be regularly maintained and operational
- premise must have functional CCTV cameras
- stairways, hallways, and exits should be free of obstructions
- soundproofing must be in place to ensure noise levels do not exceed allowed limits
- employees must be 18 years and above
- customers must be 21 years and above.
- premises cannot operate outside hours listed in the license
- no immoral activities or drugs
- alcohol sales require a retail alcohol license
- no underage alcohol sales are allowed (customers must be 21+)
- no obscene materials displayed inside or outside premises
- Customer Relations Officers (GROs) must be registered and dress appropriately
- no explicit films or materials on display
- pricing for food, drinks, and services are clearly displayed
If that sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is!
Keep in mind that customer safety is the responsibility of the business owner, and failure to meet standards can cause not just fines and license suspension, but loss of security deposit.
Which brings us to our final part.
License fees & security deposits
The fees and security deposit for a nighttime entertainment license are based on venue size of the venue and type of entertainment provided.
Here is a breakdown of the costs:
| License Type | Fee | Security Deposit |
| Live Music / Karaoke (up to 12:00 AM) | RM4/day | RM1,000 (for 50m² or less) |
| Live Music / Karaoke (after 12:00 AM) | Additional RM4/day | RM3,000 (51m²–200m²) |
| Disco/DJ Music (up to 12:00 AM) | RM4/day | RM5,000 (201m²–350m²) |
| Disco/DJ Music (after 12:00 AM) | Additional RM10/day | RM7,000 (for 351m² and above) |
Entertainment Tax:
- Live Music / Karaoke: RM0.50 per seat + RM50/month.
- Disco / DJ Music: RM0.50 per seat + RM500/month.
Are you sure about this?
As MISHU is first and foremost a Company Secretarial firm, our main focus is telling business owners how to set up a business, not whether or not it’s a good idea.
We make exceptions once in a while, and this is gonna be one of those times.
For a service-based business, a nightclub is pretty demanding, risky, and cash-hungry.
All this might be worth it if you were entering a booming market, yet 2024 news reports indicate that this is not the best time for KL’s nightlife sector.
If you’re just window shopping for a potential business to set up, check out our curated list of food business ideas for (in our opinion) safer options to start.
However. if you’re set on opening a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur, we hope this guide has been useful, and you know we’re always here to help, right?
Let MISHU help with your license application
Our team is well-versed with helping business owners navigate DBKL licensing requirements, so get in touch if you’d like assistance!