Who needs a local retail alcoholic beverage license, then the state retail license in North Dakota?
Issued by Your city (or county outside city limits), then the North Dakota Office of Attorney General, Licensing Section, at step 5 of 6 in the opening sequence: alcohol permits.
The city or county license comes first: apply to the city auditor, pass the background check, the fire and health inspections and a vote of the governing body (Fargo routes applications through its Liquor Control Board). Then file the state application with the local license. Most cities set a fixed number of liquor licenses by population, so in Fargo and Bismarck a bar often buys an existing license at a market price; beer and wine and restaurant classes are easier to get. Allow 60 to 90 days.
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 (or county outside city limits), then the North Dakota Office of Attorney General, Licensing Section.
Sources and dates
Attorney General application for state retail alcoholic beverage license (SFN 11066, revised May 2026) fee schedule; N.D.C.C. 5-02-03 (local license fees) and 5-02-04 (state license fees); City of Fargo liquor control board records. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Yes. The city or county license comes first: apply to the city auditor, pass the background check, the fire and health inspections and a vote of the governing body (Fargo routes applications through its Liquor Control Board).
Yes. The city or county license comes first: apply to the city auditor, pass the background check, the fire and health inspections and a vote of the governing body (Fargo routes applications through its Liquor Control Board).
Yes. The city or county license comes first: apply to the city auditor, pass the background check, the fire and health inspections and a vote of the governing body (Fargo routes applications through its Liquor Control Board).
Yes. The city or county license comes first: apply to the city auditor, pass the background check, the fire and health inspections and a vote of the governing body (Fargo routes applications through its Liquor Control Board).
Yes. The city or county license comes first: apply to the city auditor, pass the background check, the fire and health inspections and a vote of the governing body (Fargo routes applications through its Liquor Control Board).
Yes. The city or county license comes first: apply to the city auditor, pass the background check, the fire and health inspections and a vote of the governing body (Fargo routes applications through its Liquor Control Board).
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In North Dakota it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Your city (or county outside city limits), then the North Dakota Office of Attorney General, Licensing Section.
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 local retail alcoholic beverage license in North Dakota?
