Restaurant Beer and Wine License

What This License Is For

A Restaurant Beer and Wine License is used by full-service restaurants (must have a kitchen and provide table service) located in an incorporated city or within five miles of the incorporated city limits.

What This License Allows

  • Serve beer and wine between 11:00 AM and 11:00 PM.
  • Maintain sales of at least 65% food (up to 35% may be alcoholic beverages).

Off-Premises Sales

You may also sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption (including curbside pickup) during the hours of 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM in original packaging, prepared servings, or growlers.

If you offer off-premises sales:

  • Food must also be ordered.
  • The beer or wine must be listed on the food bill.
  • Sales must count toward the 65% food-sales requirement.

Limitations

  • A restaurant beer and wine license may not apply for gambling.
  • A restaurant beer and wine license may not be concessioned.

Fees

(Does not include competitive bid fees)

Fees (does not include competitive bid fees)
Fee type Amount
New License Fee $400
Application Processing Fee $400
One-time Application Fee (based on seating) $5,000—$20,000
Renewal Fee $400

Note: The application processing fee only applies to original applications and is not applied to renewals.

Application Requirements

To apply for a license, it must be available from the state to purchase, or you may apply to purchase from an existing license holder. Only restaurants may apply for this type of license.

  • A public eating place where individually priced meals are prepared on-site and served for on-site dining.
  • At least 65% of the business’s annual gross income comes from food sales.

Business Requirements

A business must have:

  • A dining room
  • A full-service kitchen
  • Employees for meal preparation, cooking, and service

Evening Meal Service Requirement

A business that serves an evening meal:
  • At least 4 days per week
  • For at least 2 hours each day
  • Between 5:00 PM and 11:00 PM

License Quotas and Limits

The number of licenses available in an incorporated city is based on population. However, if the population increases and a new restaurant beer and wine license becomes available, it will be offered through the competitive bidding process. See Quota Systems web page and the Quota Sheet (PDF) for more information.

License quotas and limits: population-based percentage of beer quota
Population Percentage of Beer Quota
5,000 or less 80%
5,001–20,000 160%
20,001–60,000 100%
More than 60,000 80%

Application Options

Renewal Date

A restaurant beer and wine license must be renewed every year by June 30.