Get a License

If your business deals with the importation, manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol in NY, you need a liquor license.

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One of the State Liquor Authority's main functions is issuing licenses and permits. The licensing review process is dependent on the type of application or permit applied for, the current volume of applications, and the completeness and accuracy of the application submitted. The review process currently takes approximately 22-26 weeks for most types of applications; however, most retail businesses and all manufacturing businesses are eligible to apply for a temporary retail operating permit or to apply for a temporary manufacturing permit that allows many applicants to be open and operating for alcoholic beverage sales and/or production typically in less than 30 days. Any deficiencies in your application may result in delays or disapproval of your application.

There are four main groups of liquor licenses:

• on-premises licenses (e.g., bars, restaurants, taverns, hotels);
• off-premises licenses (e.g., liquor stores, wine stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, drug stores);
• manufacturing licenses (e.g., breweries, wineries, distilleries, cideries, meaderies); and
• wholesale licenses (e.g., beer wholesalers, wine wholesalers, importers).

Within each group are numerous types of licenses. Each license type has a different set of application requirements.

All on-premises, off-premises, manufacturing and wholesale applications are provided through New York Business Express as fillable forms.

Please note, that after your check is cashed, it can take up to 15 days to receive a receipt from the State Liquor Authority acknowledging that your application has been submitted and is in the LEAP system.