Who needs a restaurant retail liquor license, or lounge retail liquor license in Alabama?
Issued by Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Licensing and Compliance Division, after approval by your city council or county commission, at step 5 of 6 in the opening sequence: alcohol permits.
Only wet counties and cities can license, and the city council or county commission must approve the application before the Board acts, so check the local option first. A restaurant license requires a working kitchen and at least 51% of revenue from food; a bar without that ratio holds the lounge license. Apply at the ABC district office with the lease, the health permit, the menu, at least $100,000 of liquor liability insurance and background checks on every owner of 10% or more. Beer-only and wine-only on-premises licenses are cheaper lines on the same fee table.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 5 of 6: Alcohol permits
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Licensing and Compliance Division, after approval by your city council or county commission.
Sources and dates
Code of Alabama 28-3A-21 (license fees and local license taxes); ABC Board license types and fees table; ABC pre-application checklist (form LCD-2); ABC rule 20-X-5-.05. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Yes. Only wet counties and cities can license, and the city council or county commission must approve the application before the Board acts, so check the local option first.
Yes. Only wet counties and cities can license, and the city council or county commission must approve the application before the Board acts, so check the local option first.
Yes. Only wet counties and cities can license, and the city council or county commission must approve the application before the Board acts, so check the local option first.
Yes. Only wet counties and cities can license, and the city council or county commission must approve the application before the Board acts, so check the local option first.
Yes. Only wet counties and cities can license, and the city council or county commission must approve the application before the Board acts, so check the local option first.
Yes. Only wet counties and cities can license, and the city council or county commission must approve the application before the Board acts, so check the local option first.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Alabama it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Licensing and Compliance Division, after approval by your city council or county commission.
Step 5 of 6, alcohol permits. The steps before it: set up the business, register for tax, approve the space and get the permits for your kind of business.
Who needs a restaurant retail liquor license in Alabama? | DoorWorthy
