Who needs a quota retail drink license, or NQ2 retail drink license for a restaurant in Kentucky?
Issued by Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, with your city or county ABC administrator, at step 5 of 6 in the opening sequence: alcohol permits.
Alcohol is sold only in wet territory or in a moist city or precinct that voted it in, so check the county’s status first. Quota retail drink licenses are limited by population, so in many cities a license comes from an existing holder or a waiting list; a restaurant that meets the seating and food sales thresholds in KRS 243.030 can hold an NQ2 restaurant drink license outside the quota. Apply to the local administrator and the state together, publish notice and expect an investigator’s visit. Ask the Department for the current state fee for your license type before applying; the local caps above come from the statute.
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 Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, with your city or county ABC administrator.
Sources and dates
KRS 243.060 (local license fee caps); 804 KAR 4:400 (state license fees); Louisville Metro ABC fee page; Bowling Green, Paducah and Berea ABC application packets. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Yes. Alcohol is sold only in wet territory or in a moist city or precinct that voted it in, so check the county’s status first.
Yes. Alcohol is sold only in wet territory or in a moist city or precinct that voted it in, so check the county’s status first.
Yes. Alcohol is sold only in wet territory or in a moist city or precinct that voted it in, so check the county’s status first.
Yes. Alcohol is sold only in wet territory or in a moist city or precinct that voted it in, so check the county’s status first.
Yes. Alcohol is sold only in wet territory or in a moist city or precinct that voted it in, so check the county’s status first.
Yes. Alcohol is sold only in wet territory or in a moist city or precinct that voted it in, so check the county’s status first.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Kentucky it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, with your city or county ABC administrator.
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 quota retail drink license in Kentucky? | DoorWorthy
