Santa Cruz Liquor Licenses for Sale

Types of Santa Cruz County Liquor Licenses

A popular location for businesses that require a liquor license, Santa Cruz draws in many tourists and locals to businesses along the Pacific Coast. Santa Cruz County is located in central California on the Pacific coastline. The county has a population of nearly 271,000 residents, many of which live in the city of Santa Cruz, which is not only the largest city but also the county seat. Travelers and locals enjoy visiting Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Natural Bridges State Beach, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and Seacliff State Beach. Each year, the Santa Cruz County Fair takes place in Watsonville, CA, with livestock, entertainment, and food. 

To sell liquor legally at your Santa Cruz County business, we offer online Santa Cruz County liquor license auctions for the following permit types:

• Type 20: Permits the sale of beer and wine for off-premises consumption in Santa Cruz County.
• Type 21: Permits all liquor sales -- beer, wine, and spirits -- for off-premises consumption in Santa Cruz.
• Type 41: Permits restaurants to sell beer and wine for on-site consumption in the County of Santa Cruz.
• Type 47: Permits restaurants to sell all liquor -- beer, wine, and spirits -- for on-site consumption, as well as beer and wine "to go" for off-site consumption in Santa Cruz, CA.
• Type 48: Permits bars and nightclubs to sell all liquor -- beer, wine, and spirits -- for on-site consumption, as well as beer and wine "to go" for off-site consumption in Santa Cruz County, California.
• Type 57: Permits organizations, such as a veteran’s hall, VFW's or golf courses, to sell all liquor -- beer, wine, and spirits -- to members and guests for on-site consumption, as well as beer and wine "to go" for off-site consumption in Santa Cruz County, CA.

Each California liquor license grants the holder the right to sell in a specific California county, such as Santa Cruz. Liquor licenses are not transferable between counties. They are, however, transferable between owners, which means you can legally buy or sell any Santa Cruz County alcohol license.

How to Buy a Santa Cruz County Liquor License

There are two ways to obtain a liquor license in Santa Cruz County, California. One way to procure an alcohol permit is by going directly through the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The alternative route is to secure an alcohol license in Santa Cruz through a liquor license broker on the secondary market, like Liquor License Auctioneers.

Santa Cruz County has a cap on the number of alcohol licenses that are available at any time, so usually, the only way to acquire a liquor license is on the open market through an alcohol permit broker. Most often, a buyer will have to wait until a seller is willing to sell a liquor license to them in Santa Cruz County, CA. This is usually the fastest way to obtain a liquor license, and you’ll be able to sell liquor to your customers faster.

This is where we specialize. As we’ve been in the business, we’ve maintained our network of relationships with both lawyers and business owners. These connections have given us the opportunity to list exclusive Santa Cruz County liquor licenses on our bidding platform. No other alcohol license brokerage can sell these same alcohol permits, which allows us to offer them at fair prices. If your business requires a specific type of Santa Cruz liquor license that you don’t see currently listed on our auction platform, please let us know. Through our exclusive network, we can locate the type of alcohol license you need.

Our experienced alcohol license brokers can accelerate the process of completing the following eight steps to secure a liquor license in Santa Cruz County.

1. Secure the location: First, purchase, rent, or lease the premises where you plan to operate your business and sell or serve alcohol.
2. Select your liquor license: Determine which type of Santa Cruz alcohol license is best for your business. Then choose whether you’ll purchase it from the CA ABC or through a liquor license broker, such as Liquor License Auctioneers.
3. Open your escrow account: Next, create an escrow account with a third-party company. This escrow account will be where all the finances associated with the transfer and sale of the Santa Cruz County liquor license will be held. 
4. Survey the location: An initial survey of the business premises will need to be conducted by a surveyor. Our liquor license brokers can complete this step on your behalf.
5. Complete your ABC Application: Send your completed ABC Application for a Santa Cruz County liquor license to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for review. Our alcohol license brokers can assist you in completing the ABC Application.
6. Post a notice: When the CA Department of ABC has approved the ABC Application for a Santa Cruz alcohol license, they will mail you a notice of intent to sell liquor. This notice must be featured at your business location for at least 30 days.
7. Submit to investigation: When the 30-day time period has elapsed, the CA Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) will inspect your business and determine if it’s conducive to selling alcoholic beverages to customers.
8. Receive the liquor license: If all of the previous seven steps have been completed, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) will send you the official Santa Cruz County liquor license. You are instructed to display the alcohol permit at your business.

Following the eight steps above meets the requirements set by the California Department of ABC. It’s also important to make sure that you are aware of any additional stipulations or requirements, such as zoning permits (CUP’s) that your local municipality may have for acquiring a liquor license in Santa Cruz, California. Being aware of these additional regulations will expedite the process of securing your alcohol permit in Santa Cruz County.

There are many businesses in Santa Cruz County, all competing for liquor licenses. Santa Cruz has many restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and liquor stores that require business owners to obtain alcohol licenses. At Liquor License Auctioneers, our mission is to help you procure a Santa Cruz County liquor license in an efficient manner so that you can get to what matters most - running your business and selling liquor. We strive to provide exceptional customer service while maintaining our ethical business practices. When you are ready to purchase an alcohol license in Santa Cruz, check out our online bidding platform to see which licenses are available. Then, make a bid, and purchase a liquor license in Santa Cruz, CA.