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Liquor license costs by state, 2018
| Life in the 50 states | |
|---|---|
| This article is part of a Ballotpedia project detailing the costs of select government services and consumer products in the 50 states as of 2018-2019.
|
Costs for restaurants to obtain licenses to sell liquor on premises vary from state to state and, sometimes, between localities within a state. A restaurant is generally required to obtain a license or permit in order to sell alcohol on premises.
Note that the amounts detailed below may not account for all fees and/or taxes levied by state and/or local government. Also, note that some states limit the total number of licenses that can be issued; in these states, licenses might be bought or sold between private entities for variable prices. See the map and table below for further information on the cost of liquor license fees in the states.
Complete data
The table below provides complete data on the fees associated with obtaining a liquor license in the 50 states.[1]
| Liquor license fees by state, 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Liquor license fee (for a restaurant to sell beer, wine, and liquor on site) | Other fees | Duration | Notes |
| Alabama | $300.00 | Annual | ||
| Alaska | $1,000.00 | Annual | ||
| Arizona | $1,000.00 | Annual | ||
| Arkansas | $300.00 | Annual | Small restaurant permit. | |
| California | $13,800.00 | $100.00 | Annual | |
| Colorado | $500.00 | $75.00 | Annual | |
| Connecticut | $1,450.00 | $100.00 | Annual | |
| Delaware | $1,000.00 | Annual | ||
| Florida | $1,820.00 | Annual | ||
| Georgia | $1,000.00 | Annual | ||
| Hawaii | $900.00 | Annual | ||
| Idaho | $100.00 | Annual | ||
| Illinois | $4,440.00 | $750.00 | Annual | |
| Indiana | $1,000.00 | Annual | ||
| Iowa | $750.00 | Annual | ||
| Kansas | $300.00 | Annual | ||
| Kentucky | $1,800.00 | Annual | ||
| Louisiana | $2,500.00 | Annual | ||
| Maine | $1,500.00 | Annual | ||
| Maryland | $2,500.00 | Annual | ||
| Massachusetts | $2,000.00 | Annual | ||
| Michigan | $600.00 | Annual | ||
| Minnesota | $300.00 | Annual | ||
| Mississippi | $475.00 | Annual | ||
| Missouri | $500.00 | Annual | ||
| Montana | $400.00 | $400.00 | Annual | Based on seating. |
| Nebraska | $250.00 | Annual | ||
| Nevada | $2,500.00 | Annual | Restaurant must have 30 dining seats available at all times. | |
| New Hampshire | $178.00 | Annual | ||
| New Jersey | $500.00 | Annual | ||
| New Mexico | $250.00 | $100.00 | Annual | |
| New York | $4,352.00 | $200.00 | Biennial[2] | |
| North Carolina | $1,000.00 | Annual | ||
| North Dakota | $2,020.00 | Annual | ||
| Ohio | $2,300.00 | $100.00 | Annual | |
| Oklahoma | $1,005.00 | Annual | ||
| Oregon | $400.00 | $2.60 | Annual | |
| Pennsylvania | N/A | N/A | N/A | In general, the only way to obtain a liquor license in Pennsylvania is by purchasing an existing license, due to a state law that puts a limit on the number of available licenses. As such, a fixed price cannot be determined. |
| Rhode Island | $500.00 | Annual | ||
| South Carolina | $300.00 | $25.00 | Annual | |
| South Dakota | $230.00 | Annual | ||
| Tennessee | $5,000.00 | $300.00 | Annual | |
| Texas | $600.00 | $1,229.00 | Annual | |
| Utah | $2,200.00 | $330.00 | Annual | |
| Vermont | $115.00 | Annual | ||
| Virginia | $300.00 | Annual | ||
| Washington | $400.00 | Annual | ||
| West Virginia | $400.00 | Annual | ||
| Wisconsin | N/A | N/A | N/A | Fees vary by municipality. |
| Wyoming | $500.00 | Annual | The annual fee for a restaurant liquor license can be no more than $3,000.00 and no less than $500.00. | |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ This information was compiled by Ballotpedia staff in June 2018.
- ↑ New York State, "Schedule of Retail License Fees," accessed November 11, 2022
