Who needs an on-sale intoxicating liquor license, or on-sale wine license in Minnesota?
Issued by Your city council (issuing authority), with approval by the Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, at step 5 of 6 in the opening sequence: alcohol permits.
Apply to the city with the lease, the floor plan, the owners’ disclosures and proof of liquor liability insurance; the city holds a public hearing, approves, then sends the license to the state for approval. A restaurant with at least 25 seats may hold the cheaper wine license, which also allows strong beer with a 3.2 malt liquor license. A city must give 30 days’ notice before raising a fee.
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 Your city council (issuing authority), with approval by the Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division.
Sources and dates
Minn. Stat. 340A.404 (on-sale licenses), 340A.408 (retail license fees) and 340A.413 (number of licenses); city liquor ordinances. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Yes. Apply to the city with the lease, the floor plan, the owners’ disclosures and proof of liquor liability insurance; the city holds a public hearing, approves, then sends the license to the state for approval.
Yes. Apply to the city with the lease, the floor plan, the owners’ disclosures and proof of liquor liability insurance; the city holds a public hearing, approves, then sends the license to the state for approval.
Yes. Apply to the city with the lease, the floor plan, the owners’ disclosures and proof of liquor liability insurance; the city holds a public hearing, approves, then sends the license to the state for approval.
Yes. Apply to the city with the lease, the floor plan, the owners’ disclosures and proof of liquor liability insurance; the city holds a public hearing, approves, then sends the license to the state for approval.
Yes. Apply to the city with the lease, the floor plan, the owners’ disclosures and proof of liquor liability insurance; the city holds a public hearing, approves, then sends the license to the state for approval.
Yes. Apply to the city with the lease, the floor plan, the owners’ disclosures and proof of liquor liability insurance; the city holds a public hearing, approves, then sends the license to the state for approval.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Minnesota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Your city council (issuing authority), with approval by the Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division.
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 an on-sale intoxicating liquor license in Minnesota?