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Alcohol License: State-by-State Guide

Alcohol License applies to restaurants, bars, and retail stores selling beer, wine, or spirits. Who issues it is the first thing that changes at the state line — sometimes a state agency, often a city or county. Each state page below names the office we verified for that state, or says plainly that we could not.

Typical cost (US range)
$200–$50,000
Typical timeline
60–365 days
Renewal
Usually annual, sometimes with a periodic public hearing.

Who issues this across the US

45 jurisdictions with a state issuer plus possible local rules; 5 jurisdictions where we have not verified the issuing office; 1 jurisdiction issue this locally.

What varies enormously: whether the state or the locality issues the retail licence, quotas, dry areas, hours, and the fee, which ranges from modest to very large.

Choose your state

Related filings

Most businesses that need an alcohol license end up needing at least one of these too.

Business LicenseHealth Department Permit