Upcoming License Fees

Introduction

The Department is authorized to adjust alcohol license fees annually, up to the rate of inflation, to ensure revenues keep pace with increasing costs. Effective January 1, 2027, all application and annual license fees will increase by 3.31 percent over the 2026 fee amounts. The fees listed below reflect these adjustments, calculated from the statutory base fee pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 23320 and rounded to the nearest five dollars. Standard surcharges for the ABC Appeals Board, the California Highway Patrol, and Business Practices are applied in addition to the adjusted base fee.

Application Fees Overview

Application fees are paid when you apply for a new license or to transfer or change an existing one. These fees help cover the cost of processing the application, including reviewing the proposed licensed location and conducting background checks on the applicant. In most cases, application fees are non-refundable.

Application fees apply to common licensing actions, such as issuing a new license, transferring a license, or making changes to an existing license. This can include relocating a business, adding or changing a manager, or updating the ownership structure. Fees for new licenses or license transfers may vary depending on the type of license and its associated privileges.

Licenses that allow the retail sale of all types of alcoholic beverages—beer, wine, and distilled spirits—are known as “General” licenses and typically have higher fees. The number of General licenses available is limited based on each county’s population. For most General license types, applications for new licenses are accepted only once a year through a public lottery known as the “Priority” process.

Single Application

To process most applications, the Department needs to review both the applicant and the proposed business location. In some cases, a business may need more than one license to operate as planned. If an application includes multiple license types for the same location, and all of those license types are listed when the application is submitted, only one application fee will be charged—the fee for the highest-cost license.

Annual Fees Overview

Annual fees are charged each year and must be paid to keep a license active for the upcoming year. For a new license, the first annual fee is paid when the application is submitted and typically covers 12 months from the issue date of the license. For new license applications that are withdrawn or denied, the annual fee paid with the application will be refunded.

Before a license expires, licensees will receive a renewal notice that shows the amount due, the payment deadline, and available payment options. If payment is not received or postmarked by the deadline, penalty fees may apply.
For certain types of licenses, annual fees may vary depending on factors such as production levels, population, or how many months the business operates during the year. An example of those factors is:

• Production-based fee: For Type 02 Winegrower and Type 22 Wine Blender licenses, the annual fee is based on how many gallons are produced. The licensee reports their production each year, and the fee is adjusted if that production moves them into a different tier than the previous year. The adjustment may result in an additional payment or a refund.
• Population-based fees: For On-Sale General licenses, the annual fee is based on the population of the city where the business is located. Fees are divided into three tiers: 1) cities with more than 40,000 residents, 2) cities with 20,000 to 40,000 residents, and 3) all other areas.
• Seasonal fees: For seasonal licenses, the annual fee depends on how many months the licensee plans to operate, usually calculated in three-month increments. The ABC no longer issues new seasonal licenses.

Contact

For additional information,
contact your local district office.