Liquor License Requirements

Do you have plans of opening a liquor store? Are you wondering what are the requirements to apply for a license.

Are you wondering where to apply and what to expect in the process of obtaining your license? Here is a basic guide to help you get started on your plan.

get a license for liquor store

The law governing the wholesale, retail, transport and dispensing of liquor is complex. Case in point, there are very specific licenses for every type of liquor distributor there is. One type of license is a license granted to grocery or convenience stores that want to sell beer (off premises consumption). Another is granted to restaurants and bars (establishments that sell beer for consumption on or off the premises). Further, there are very fine restrictions on how they might distribute and dispense liquor. For example, the sale of a bottle of wine in restaurants is allowed only if it is ordered within a meal.

The specific requirements to obtain a liquor license, therefore, will vary, depending on: the specific laws of the issuing municipality, the kind of distributor that is applying for a license, and the specific manner by which the application will operate its business. Licenses are granted by the local government. If you wan to know the specific requirements that you must meet, visit or contact your town or village office).

Generally, a license applicant must:

  • meet certain age requirement, usually at least 21 years old
  • be a U.S. citizen, have a resident alien status and have resided at the community from which he is applying for a license for a certain period of time
  • must be free of police records closely related to liquor business
  • must obtain approval from the community near where the liquor store is proposed to be opened.
  • meet the zoning requirements and building specifications (site plan)

(In some towns, the person applying for the license is required to have a beverage service training certificate). Before an application will be approved, a notice will be sent out to the community. The notice will also be published at a local newspaper for a specified number of times for a certain period. The city council or town board recommends the granting of the license, but it could not disobey the decision of the community if the residents won’t allow it.

Among the major reasons why an applicant is denied a license are: the city has already reached its quota (the allowable number of liquor distributor in relation to the city’s population) or the community won’t allow a liquor business to be established around it. If the problem is only the lack of license, one solution to this is to have a license of an established business transferred to you.

To make your liquor license processing easier, you can also hire the services of liquor license specialists.

7 Comments

  • Mitesh Bauskar said on June 27, 2011
    sir i want to open a restaurant & bar in nashik Maharastra (India) so help me what is the procedure.
  • Tanmay chitte said on February 19, 2014
    I am looking for a liquor license in Nashik
  • KETAN THORAT said on July 29, 2014
    I WANT TO START BEER AND WINE SHOPPE, YOU HAVE TO HELP ME TO GET LICENSE, I HAVE PROPER PRIMICES TO START SHOP WITH ALL DOCUMENTS.
  • Subhas said on June 14, 2017
    Interested in opening MSIL Liquor retail outlet in Dharwad district
  • Sanjay rajput beginner adviser said on October 5, 2017
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  • MANGESH HANUMANT DATRANGE said on December 31, 2017
    I WANT TO OPEN LIQUOR SHOP AT NASHIK. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW MUCH WILL BE COST FOR THE SAME. WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES FOR THAT.
  • SANTOSH T S said on February 25, 2018
    Interested in opening MSIL MRP Liquor retail outlet in Belgaum district, khanapur taluk, Itagi village. Please help me sir. Contact number 8904387506. 7259617036

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