License Fees

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is funded from fees paid by licensees. License fees generally fall into two categories, application fees and annual fees. The department is authorized to increase alcohol license fees annually by an amount not to exceed inflation to ensure revenues keep pace with increased costs.

The upcoming fee schedule is available on the 2025 License Fees page.

Application Fee Schedules

Effective 1/1/2024
Application fees for new licenses, license transfers, non-profit temporary licenses, caterer’s permits and other miscellaneous fees.

Annual Fee Schedule

Effective 1/1/2024
A schedule of annual fees, including all applicable surcharges.

Penalty Fee Schedule

Effective 1/1/2024
A schedule of penalty fees for license renewals.

Application Fees Overview

Application fees are charged at the time an application is submitted for new licenses, or to transfer or change an existing license. These fees are charged to recover the average cost of processing the application, including the investigation of the proposed licensed premises and the background of the license applicant. Application fees are generally non-refundable.

Application fees are charged for licensing activities related to issuing a new license, transferring an existing license, or making a change to an existing license – such as moving the location of the licensed premises, qualifying a new manager, or changing the ownership structure. The fees for new licenses or the transfer of an existing license can vary based on the privileges provided by the license. Specifically, the fees for license types that authorize the retail sale of all types of alcoholic beverages (namely, beer, wine, and distilled spirits), which are called “General” licenses, have higher fees. The number of General licenses is limited based on the population of each county and the process for applying for new a new license for most General licenses type occurs only once per year through a public lottery referred to as the “Priority” process.

Single Application

To process most applications, the department must conduct an investigation regarding the proposed licensee and premises. In some cases, an applicant may require multiple licenses to conduct the proposed business. If an application includes multiple license types for the same premises and all license types are identified at the time of application, only one application fee (the highest one) will be charged.

Annual Fees Overview

Annual fees are charged each year and must be paid to keep a license active for the following year. The annual fee for the first year of operation of a new license is due at the time of application and will allow the license to be active for approximately one year from the date of issuance. The annual fee that is collected at the time of application is refundable if the application is withdrawn or denied. Prior to the license expiration date, licensees will receive a renewal notice reflecting the annual fees that are due, the payment deadline, and optional payment methods. Penalty fees are imposed if full payment is not received or postmarked by the payment deadline.

For some license types, the annual fees charged will vary based on production, population, or the number of months of the year the licensee operates. These tiers are briefly described below:

  • Production-based fees: For License Type 02 Winegrowers and Type 22 Wine Blender, the annual fee is based on the number of gallons produced. Production is reported annually and there is a process to compute an additional payment or refund, if the licensee’s production moves them in to a tier that is different from the previous year.
  • Population-based fees: For On-Sale General licenses, the annual fee is based on the population of the city in which the licensed premises is located. There are three tiers, cities with populations over 40,000, cities with population between 20,000 and 40,000, and then all other jurisdictions.
  • Seasonal fees: For seasonal licenses, annual fees vary based on the number of months the licensee has indicated they will operate. These fees generally vary based on three-month increments. The ABC no longer issues new seasonal licenses.

Contact

For additional information,
contact your local ABC District Office.

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Bakersfield

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4800 Stockdale Highway., Suite 213
Bakersfield, CA 93309

Phone:
(661) 395-2731
Fax:
(661) 322-5929
Email:
Bakersfield@abc.ca.gov

Concord

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1800 Sutter St., Ste 450
Concord, CA 94520

Phone:
(925) 655-6314
Fax:
(925) 655-6310
Email:
Concord@abc.ca.gov

Eureka

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1105 Sixth St., Suite C
Eureka, CA 95501

Phone:
(707) 445-7229
Fax:
(707) 445-6643
Email:
Eureka@abc.ca.gov

Fresno

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1330 B East Shaw Ave.
Fresno, CA 93710-7902

Phone:
(559) 225-6334
Fax:
(559) 225-8740
Email:
Fresno@abc.ca.gov

LA/Metro

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888 S Figueroa Street, Suite 320
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Phone:
(213) 833-6043
Fax:
(213) 833-6058
Email:
LAMetro@abc.ca.gov

LB/Lakewood

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3950 Paramount Blvd., Suite 250
Lakewood, CA 90712

Phone:
(562) 982-1337
Fax:
(562) 275-4174
Email:
LongBeach/Lakewood@abc.ca.gov

Lodi

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3021 Reynolds Ranch Parkway, Suite 150
Lodi, CA 95240

Phone:
(209) 371-6761
Fax:
(209) 371-6763
Email:
Stockton@abc.ca.gov

Monrovia

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222 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 114
Monrovia, CA 91016

Phone:
(626) 256-3241
Fax:
(626) 263-9858
Email:
Monrovia@abc.ca.gov

Palm Desert

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34-160 Gateway Dr., Suite 120
Palm Desert, CA 92211

Phone:
(760) 324-2027
Fax:
(760) 324-2632
Email:
PalmDesert@abc.ca.gov

Redding

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1900 Churn Creek Rd., Suite 215
Redding, CA 96002

Phone:
(530) 224-4830
Fax:
(530) 224-9338
Email:
Redding@abc.ca.gov

Riverside

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3737 Main Street, Suite 900
Riverside, CA 92501

Phone:
(951) 782-4400
Fax:
(951) 781-0531
Email:
Riverside@abc.ca.gov

Sacramento

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2400 Del Paso Road, Suite 155
Sacramento, CA 95834

Phone:
(916) 419-1319
Fax:
(916) 419-3994
Email:
Sacramento@abc.ca.gov

Salinas

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1137 Westridge Parkway
Salinas, CA 93907

Phone:
(831) 755-1990
Fax:
(831) 755-1997
Email:
Salinas@abc.ca.gov

San Diego

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8620 Spectrum Center Blvd., Suite 302
San Diego, CA 92123

Phone:
(858) 300-6855
Fax:
(858) 300-6874
Email:
SanDiego@abc.ca.gov

San Francisco

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33 New Montgomery St., Suite 1230
San Francisco, CA 94105

Phone:
(415) 356-6500
(415) 356-6501
(415) 356-6502
(415) 356-6503
Fax:
(415) 356-6599
Email:
SanFrancisco@abc.ca.gov

San Jose

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224 Airport Parkway, Suite 620
San Jose, CA 95110

Phone:
(408) 346-2417
Fax:
(408) 346-2413
Email:
SanJose@abc.ca.gov

San Luis Obispo

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3220 S. Higuera St., Suite 103A
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Phone:
(805) 543-7183
Fax:
(805) 543-3814
Email:
SanLuisObispo@abc.ca.gov

San Marcos

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570 Rancheros Drive, Suite 240
San Marcos, CA 92069

Phone:
(760) 471-4237
Fax:
(760) 471-6142
Email:
SanMarcos@abc.ca.gov

Santa Ana

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2 MacArthur Place, Suite 200
Santa Ana, CA 92707

Phone:
(657) 205-3533
Fax:
(657) 205-3520
Email:
SantaAna@abc.ca.gov

Santa Rosa

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50 D Street, Room 130
Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Phone:
(707) 576-2165
Fax:
(707)527-9537
Email:
SantaRosa@abc.ca.gov

Van Nuys

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6150 Van Nuys Blvd., Room 220
Van Nuys, CA 91401

Phone:
(818) 901-5017
Fax:
(818) 785-6731
Email:
VanNuys@abc.ca.gov

Ventura

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1000 South Hill Road, Suite 310
Ventura, CA 93003

Phone:
(805) 289-0100
Fax:
(805) 289-0110
Email:
Ventura@abc.ca.gov

Surcharges

The annual fee is the sum of the License Fee and at least one of the following surcharges, depending on the license type

Surcharge Name Surcharge Purpose Amount For Licenses
Appeals Board Surcharge This surcharge is used to fund the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board, which is an independent entity to which licensees or applicants can appeal administrative decisions of the department. Three percent of License Fee, rounded to the nearest five dollar increment. Applies to all permanent licenses.
CHP Surcharge This surcharge provides funding for the California Highway Patrol’s Designated Driver Program. $10 Applies to most permanent licenses. Exemptions can be found in Business and Professions Code Section 23320.5.
Business Practices Fee This surcharge is collected to fund enforcement of tied-house components of the ABC Act – commonly referred to as Trade Enforcement. $24 or $52 depending on license type Applies only to the following license types:

21 Off-Sale General
66 Controlled Access Cabinet

04 Distilled Spirits Manufacturer
05 Distilled Spirits Manufacturer Agent
07 Rectifier
13 Distilled Spirits Importer's General
18 Distilled Spirits Wholesaler
27 California Winegrowers Agent
74 Craft Distilled Spirits Manufacturer
WordPress Data Table

Penalties for Late Payment of Annual Fees

License renewal notices are sent annually to all licensees to communicate the annual fees that are due by the expiration date of the license. If full payment is not received or postmarked by the expiration date, the following penalties are imposed:

  • If payment is received within 60 days after the payment deadline, a penalty of 50 percent of the License Fee is added to the annual fee.
  • If payment is made between 60 and 90 days after the payment deadline, a penalty of 100 percent of the License Fee is added to the Annual Fee.
  • If payment is not made within 90 days after the payment deadline, the license is automatically revoked.