Cuyahoga OH, D-2 Liquor License

Buyers never pay an auction fee to purchase their alcoholic beverage license—Ever!

Sellers only pay a 10% auction fee for any license over $30,000.00.

Sellers only pay a flat fee of $3,000., for all alcoholic beverage licenses $30,000.00., and under.

The price listed for each license "already" includes the auction fee.     

Transfer fees vary per license and are paid by the seller unless negotiated otherwise. 

Our fee structure is unmatched in the liquor license industry!

Steps In Processing Transfer Applications 

1.  Notification is sent to the legislative authority and police department of the political subdivision for which the application is filed. Legislative authorities include the city council of an incorporated city or the township trustees and county commissioners of an unincorporated area. John R. Kasich, Governor Jacqueline T. Williams, Director 6606 Tussing Road Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-9006 www.com.ohio.gov Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control 2 

2.  Notification of any transfer of ownership is sent to the Ohio Department of Taxation. No transfers are approved until the Department of Taxation notifies the Division of Liquor Control that all taxes are current. 

3.  Notification of any transfer which involves a change of location from the original permit premises is sent to the county Board of Elections which in turn, notifies the Division of the wet or dry status of the area. If the new location is dry, the applicant is notified and processing ceases. If the area is wet, processing continues. 

4.  A physical inspection of the premises, or proposed premises, and the surrounding area is conducted by a Division compliance officer to determine if there are any institutions such as schools, churches, playgrounds, libraries or township parks within a 500 foot radius. 

5.  Authorities in control of institutions within a 500 foot radius are notified that an application for a liquor permit has been filed. 

6.  Local legislative authorities and institutions within a 500 foot radius are given the opportunity to file objections to the issuance of the permit and request a hearing. 

7.  If an objection is filed and a hearing requested, the Division of Liquor Control notifies the permit applicant by certified mail as to the date, time and place of the hearing. 

8.  Police records of all transfer applicants, including any five percent or more stockholder of a corporation, are checked. 

9.  Upon completion of processing, the applicant is notified to return the old permit and identification card to the division. The new permit is then mailed to the new location or new owner. 

10.  Before a transfer can be approved, all outstanding administrative and legal issues must be resolved. 

Factors Used to Determine the Designation of an Economic Development Project: 

The architectural certification of the plans and the cost of the project; 

The number of jobs that will be created by the project;

The projected earnings of the project; 

The projected tax revenues for the political subdivisions in which the project will be located; 

The amount of financial investment in the project; 

Written acknowledgment at the time of application from the municipal corporation or township that the proposed business is an economic development project.

Remember, a permit alone cannot be purchased. The transaction must include other assets such as stock and inventory, tables and chairs, or other equipment.

Class A, B, C, D, E, G, H, I, and W permits are renewed annually pursuant to ORC 4303.27. Class C and D permits only are renewed on a trimester schedule by county.

Permits located in:  Ashland, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingham, Noble, Perry, Pickway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, Washington, Wayne, and Wyandot counties expire February 1st.

Where Do I Renew My License  

Renewal Process 

1. Get an Application -  Applications for new liquor permits can be obtained below:

2. Complete the Application:

Prospective permit holders should complete the application (front and back), sign and notarize it, and send it to the above address along with the $100 non-refundable processing fee that is charged for filing an application. Applicants will be required to pay the appropriate permit fee once the permit is ready to be processed. If an opening exists in the area requested by the applicant, processing will begin once the permit fee is submitted. (Permit quotas are based on population in a taxing district.) If there is no opening, the application will be held until an opening is available.

3. Division Notifies Legislative Authority of Filed Application:

When processing begins, a notice is sent to the local legislative authority (city council or township trustees and county commissioners) and local police department (chief of police or township police and county sheriff).

4. Opportunity for Legislative Authority or Nearby Public Institution to Object:

A Licensing Office compliance officer makes a physical inspection of the applicant’s premises, draws a diagram of the premises and surveys the area within a 500 foot radius of the business to determine if there are any churches, schools, playgrounds, libraries or township parks within 500 feet. Those public institutions that are within 500 feet of the proposed permit premises are notified of their right to object to the issuance of the permit.

5. Division Checks the “Wet/Dry” Status of Proposed Permit Location:

When an application is received, the Division sends a letter to the county Board of Elections to determine the precinct in which the applicant’s business is located. When this information is received, the division checks to determine whether the location is wet for the type of beverages that the applicant wishes to sell.

6. Hearing on Any Filed Objections:

If a hearing is requested by either the legislative body or a public institution, the applicant is notified by certified mail as to the time and place of the hearing. The applicant may be represented by an attorney at the hearing.

7. Time Frame for Permit Issuance:

If no hearing is requested, no objection is filed by the local police, and no adverse information is discovered through the local police or the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII), the permit could be issued within ten to twelve weeks, but no sooner than 15 days from the filing date. If a hearing is held, the results are sent by certified mail to the applicant and the objector. If the objections are overruled, the legislative body may file an appeal within 30 days of the order to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. Public institutions do not have the right to appeal. If the objections are sustained, a rejection order is sent by certified mail to the applicant. The applicant may file an appeal within 30 days of the date of the order to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. A permit cannot be issued until all administrative and legal remedies have been exhausted.