Liquor licenses are capped at one per 1,500 city residents (two in a city of 1,500 or fewer), so most cities have none to issue; Alcohol Beverage Control keeps a priority waiting list for each city, joined with a deposit of half the annual fee ($375 in Boise), and offers a license as the population grows. The usual route is to buy an existing license on the market, where prices run well into six figures in Boise. Beer and wine licenses have no quota and issue in about 90 days, which is how most new restaurants and wine bars open. Bills to raise these fees in 2026 (S1230,S1268) died in committee.
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 Idaho State Police, Alcohol Beverage Control, then the county and the city.
Sources and dates
Idaho Code 23-903, 23-904, 23-916, 23-1014 and 23-1315; Alcohol Beverage Control licensing pages, FAQ and priority waiting list application. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Yes. Liquor licenses are capped at one per 1,500 city residents (two in a city of 1,500 or fewer), so most cities have none to issue; Alcohol Beverage Control keeps a priority waiting list for each city, joined with a deposit of half the annual fee ($375 in Boise), and offers a license as the population grows.
Yes. Liquor licenses are capped at one per 1,500 city residents (two in a city of 1,500 or fewer), so most cities have none to issue; Alcohol Beverage Control keeps a priority waiting list for each city, joined with a deposit of half the annual fee ($375 in Boise), and offers a license as the population grows.
Yes. Liquor licenses are capped at one per 1,500 city residents (two in a city of 1,500 or fewer), so most cities have none to issue; Alcohol Beverage Control keeps a priority waiting list for each city, joined with a deposit of half the annual fee ($375 in Boise), and offers a license as the population grows.
Yes. Liquor licenses are capped at one per 1,500 city residents (two in a city of 1,500 or fewer), so most cities have none to issue; Alcohol Beverage Control keeps a priority waiting list for each city, joined with a deposit of half the annual fee ($375 in Boise), and offers a license as the population grows.
Yes. Liquor licenses are capped at one per 1,500 city residents (two in a city of 1,500 or fewer), so most cities have none to issue; Alcohol Beverage Control keeps a priority waiting list for each city, joined with a deposit of half the annual fee ($375 in Boise), and offers a license as the population grows.
Yes. Liquor licenses are capped at one per 1,500 city residents (two in a city of 1,500 or fewer), so most cities have none to issue; Alcohol Beverage Control keeps a priority waiting list for each city, joined with a deposit of half the annual fee ($375 in Boise), and offers a license as the population grows.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Idaho it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Idaho State Police, Alcohol Beverage Control, then the county and the city.
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 retail liquor by the drink license in Idaho? | DoorWorthy
