Obtaining A Liquor License
If your business deals with the importation, manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol in New York, you need a liquor license.
The NY State Liquor Authority issues licenses for selling alcoholic beverages. The details of the license application and review process depends on the type of establishment and its activities. Each license type has a different set of application requirements.
All retail applications are provided through New York Business Express as fillable forms:
Applicants for on-premises licenses must notify the municipality of its intent to file the application. The notice must be made at least 30 days before before the application is filed with the Authority. In New York City, the notice is sent to the local Community Board where the premises is or would be located .
The 200 Foot Rule & The 500 Foot Rule
It is important to investigate the location of your business before beginning the application process.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibits certain licensees from being issued if the location is on the same street and within 200 feet of a building that is used exclusively as a school, church, synagogue or other place of worship.
This restriction is commonly called the ‘200 Foot Rule‘ and applies to any retail establishment where liquor will be sold for on-premises consumption and any retail establishment where liquor or wine will be sold for consumption off the premises.
Can I Qualify For A Temporary Permit While I Wait For My Permanent License Application To Be Processed
To qualify for a temporary permit, the following conditions must be satisfied:
- There must be an active license in existence at the premises for which you are applying.
- The permit and $640.00 fee must be filed simultaneously with the Retail License Application.
- The temporary permit will expire 90 days from the date of issuance.
Licensesuite: Everything You Need To Make It Easy To Get A Buffalo New York Liquor License
Using LicenseSuite is the fastest way to get your Buffalo, New York liquor license. Without LicenseSuite, you’ll likely have to spend hours researching industry specific requirements and applicable governmental requirements from various agencies.
There is a better way to meet all your legal obligations and get a Buffalo, New York Liquor License. At LicenseSuite, simply enter your City, State, and industry and click ‘Get Your Licenses.’ From there, we’ll walk you through your specific requirements. You’ll then get one report with details on each specific liquor license requirement that you’ll need to fulfill. We also offer services where we can handle all the paperwork for you, making obtaining a Buffalo, New York Liquor License quick and easy.
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Different Types Of Liquor Licenses
The two main types of liquor licenses are on-license and off-license. Selling alcohol on site requires an on-license liquor permit, while selling alcohol off site, requires an off-license liquor permit. As a restaurant owner, youll likely be interested in getting an on-license.
There are also more specific liquor license classes, depending on the type of establishment and what state youre in. To simplify your life, here are four most common types:
The details, specifics, and definitions of these licenses will vary by state, so you can get more details by contacting your local Alcohol Beverage Control Board the board responsible for liquor laws in your state. There is a full list of the ABC agencies further along in the article, when we discuss how to get your liquor license.
Now that you have a broad understanding of the type of licenses, youre likely wondering, How much does a license cost in my state?
Tips To Apply For A Liquor License In New York City
Only takes 5 mins to read!
If you are opening a bar or restaurant in New York City, or if you already own a business and would like to apply for a liquor license to increase revenue, understanding the application process and knowing where to start could save you time and money.
Bars, restaurants, clubs, and music venues that serve or sell alcohol in the state of New York are required to be licensed by the New York State Liquor Authority . The application process can be relatively simple or extremely complicated, depending upon the type of license.
For example, you may apply for any of the following:
- Seasonal License
- Beer and Wine License
- Full Liquor License
Generally, you should not begin the liquor license application process until after you have acquired rights to the location where you want to start your business. With that said, occasionally, when closing seems likely or imminent, it is wise to begin the Community Board application process prior to full rights acquisition in order to initiate the process.
After you have closed on the property or signed a lease:
- Send notice to the Community Board. Within NYC, the Community Board is the first level of review to determine whether or not an applicant should be permitted to have a liquor license. The notice form provided by the NYSLA will give the board the general parameters of your business plan.
Community Boards opinions and decisions are advisory only.
Aaron Pierce
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Specific Types Of License
Each of the four categories breaks down into multiple specific licenses. A restaurant or bar, for example, can apply for an on-premises license to sell all types of alcohol beer, wine and cider only or just beer and cider. The drinks must be consumed on site and the licensee can’t sell unopened beer.
Other on-premises license options include:
The other four categories break down into similar lists. Whether you want a restaurant license or a liquor store license in NYC you’ll need to go through the list and pinpoint the right option for your business.
I Plan To Include Alcohol During My Experience Is There Anything I Should Be Thinking About
Yes. If you plan to include alcohol during your experience, we encourage you to please keep your safety, and that of your Guests, front of mind.
Safe experiences do not involve providing alcohol to a Guest:
- Who is under 21
- Who will be driving or operating any type of vehicle
- Who looks or acts inebriated
- Who has informed you that they are ill or has a drinking problem or
- Until after any portion of an Experience involving physical activity or activities that involve operating machinery is complete.
In addition, if you are hosting an Experience with alcohol in a public venue or outdoor space, make sure alcohol is permitted to be consumed in that venue and consider whether a permit is required.
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Liquor License Nyc Cost
The application fees at the time of writing are usually $100 for beer or wine and $200 for liquor, with some specialty fees as well. The actual liquor license NYC cost varies more, depending on the type of license and the location: Staten Island, which is in Richmond County, is on a different fee schedule than the rest of the city.
For example:
- Drug store and grocery store beer license: $330 for the first and second locations, $660 for any added stores. A wine and beer license costs $594, rising to $1,056 for each store after the second.
- A hotel beer license: $960.
- Ballpark beer: $576.
- Liquor store license NYC: $4,098 or $2,562 in Staten Island.
- Bed and breakfast: $490 to $550 depending on the number of rooms.
- Restaurant brewer: $5,850 or $4,350 in Staten.
How To Get A Liquor License In New York City
Whether you have an existing business or are looking to start one, a liquor license for your New York City business could increase traffic and revenue. But getting one isnât a walk in the park. You must be aware of the processâthe specifics of the licensing programs, eligibility, and how to apply.
The New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and State Liquor Authority can be an excellent place to start. However, itâs best if you have a basic understanding of the license requirements and laws before you kick off your liquor license journey.
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What Are The Annual Fees To Maintain A Liquor License In The State Of New York
As of 2018, a Restaurant Wine licensee pays $960.00 every two years to maintain its liquor license. If the license is to sell spirits in addition to wine and / or beer for on-premises consumption , the tax amounts to $4,352.00 every two years. Outside New York City, the above fees are considerably lower.
Type Of Liquor Licenses In La
The five most common types of liquor licenses in California are:
- Type 20: Off-Sale Beer and Wine sales only no liquor
- Type 21: Off-Sale Full Liquor, so beer, wine, and liquor
- Type 41: You can serve beer and wine with food
- Type 47: For full-service restaurants, you can serve beer, wine, and liquor alongside food
- Type 48: For bars and nightclubs, you can sell liquor
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What Must I Do To Conduct A Teen Night In My Premises
At least 10 days prior to the event, you must notify the State Liquor Authority, in writing, advising them of the exact dates. A valid drivers license or non-driver identification card issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, the Federal Government, a State Government, Commonwealth, Possession or Territory of the United States or a Provincial Government of Canada or a valid U.S. passport, or valid passport of any other country or a valid military ID from the U.S. ABC Law)
How To Get A Liquor License In All 50 States
What all this information means is that obtaining a liquor license is a complicated, expensive, and time-consuming process. But with liquor sale profit margins so high, it is a process that many business owners deem worth it. If you count yourself as one of those business owners, let us help you get started on your application with our state-by-state guide to obtaining a liquor license. Cheers!
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Find A Commercial Space Suitable For Your Business Or Find An Existing Business To Purchase
If you wish to start your restaurant or bar business from scratch, you will need to find a commercial space suitable to host your business operations. In doing so, keep in mind that obtaining a liquor license in some New York City areas, especially in Manhattan, might be more challenging than in other areas due to large concentration of establishments already holding a license .
Further, consider the following: obtaining a liquor license for a space that has never had a liquor license before may be even more challenging, and significantly so if you are applying for a OP license , commonly referred to as full liquor license. Therefore, when choosing your location make sure to ask your prospective landlord to provide records of liquor licenses held by prior tenants at that specific address . Even upgrading from a beer & wine license to a full liquor license may be challenging if that location never had a full liquor license before.
Same degree of care is required when you are purchasing an existing business. In any such case make sure that the current business owner already holds the type of liquor license that you wish to apply for and that there are no records of violations in connection with the operation of such license.
Acquiring A Liquor License: What You Need To Know
NATIONAL REPORTHaving the appropriate paperwork in order will help hoteliers seeking liquor licenses streamline the lengthy process, even if there are bumps along the way. Being aware of roadblocks ahead of time can prevent headaches down the road. As they say, time is money, and the more time spent with paperwork, the less money the property ends up making. Once a license is acquired, staying ahead of evolving alcohol offerings can help properties stay compliant.
The acquisition of a hotel, restaurant or catering establishment involves a number of complex layers of legal inquiry, said Kevin M. Hirson, partner at Warshaw Burstein LLP, a full-service law firm with offices in New York City. These transactions involve real estate, tax, corporate, banking, administrative and employment law.
For the lawyer, what it ultimately comes down to is the clients economic desires, however. The real estate purchase agreement, asset purchase agreement or lease must fit the clients expectations. What must also fit the clients needs and desires: price, rent, term, assets intended to be acquired and other economic details in the documents.
One hurdle overlooked more often than not is the individual. The individual principals must be able to qualify for a liquor license. For example, felons, police officers, minors, and alcohol manufacturers, producers and wholesalers dont qualify for state liquor licenses.
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Applying For A Liquor License In The United States
In the United States, liquor licenses are determined on the state level. For instructions on how to apply in your state, we suggest visiting the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureaus site and clicking on your states link.
Below are a few examples of how getting a liquor license can vary from state-to-state.
Note: Pay special attention to renewal rates and timelines. A liquor license is usually valid for between one and three years. The good news is that renewing your license is generally an easier process than obtaining one for the first time.
New York Boosts Local Craft Spirit Industry With Relaxed Liquor Licensing
New Yorks craft distilling business is booming thanks to legislation aimed at removing barriers to entry. Under the urging of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the state has passed a flurry of laws in recent yearsmost notably the Craft New York Act of 2014that have reduced the operational burdens and costs facing liquor-based small business. The new legislation has helped to reduce license costs, lower taxes, and remove bureaucratic delays. Consequently, more than 500 new craft vendors have planted roots in New York since 2012. Read more
The Craft New York Act of 2014
Governor Cuomos legislation helped to set off a wave of new entrants in New Yorks craft distillery sector by simplifying regulations reducing fees allowing for off-site tastings and sales and establishing a new license category for operations qualifying as farm distilleries.
The 2014 Act would initiate a period of increasingly relaxed regulations around applications for craft liquor licenses, with subsequent legislative changes helping to modernize long-outdated Alcohol Beverage Control Laws. The resulting boom in the states craft liquor sector has placed New York among the top craft beverage producers in the U.S..
Qualifying for a Farm Distiller License
If your operation meets these two primary qualifications, the benefits of obtaining a Farm Distiller licenseas opposed to a traditional Distiller Class A licenseare considerable.
The Cost Differential
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How Much Does An Nyc Liquor License Cost
Thereâs no single set cost of a New York liquor license. How much you pay depends on a variety of factors. First, your fee is different depending on the type of license you need. Your price can be more or less if you want your liquor license to allow you to serve alcohol on-site vs. off-site.
Your location also determines your cost. There are 5 boroughs in NYC. The price is generally consistent if youâre in the counties of New York , Kings , Bronx, or Queens. But you could pay a different fee if your business is in the county of Richmond .
Finally, youâll encounter expenses beyond the required liquor license filing feeâthere are costs to get health department approval, get a business certificate, and perform other steps along the way.
Another cost youâll need to factor in is liquor liability and restaurant and bar insurance. But we make coverage affordable. Plus, itâs quick and easyâcontact Huckleberry for a free online quote .
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Obstacles To Getting A Liquor License
Most of the obstacles associated with obtaining a license are bureaucratic. Working with your state’s governing agency, you must determine what kind of license you need and the availability of that license.
The type of license you need depends on a variety of factors that you will explain to your state’s ABC board. For example, you’ll need to explain what type of establishment you operate , if you’ll let customers bring their own alcohol , the hours and days you will sell alcohol, and if you will be manufacturing alcohol on the premises.
Based on your answers to these questions, your state’s ABC board will tell you what kind of license you need, and if one is available. Many states have a limited number of liquor licenses, making new licenses hard to come by. If that is the case in your state, you may have to purchase your license from an existing business.
Once you find a liquor license, you will need to submit an application. Some of the items you must provide with your liquor license application are your employer identification number , business license, sales tax permit, health permit, building permit, and zoning permit. The building and zoning permits are used to determine if your business is in a location and facility where it is legal to sell alcohol. For example, some states won’t grant you a license if your business is too close to a school.
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