Bergen County Liquor Licenses for Sale

Types of Bergen County Liquor Licenses

Business owners seeking to sell or serve alcohol to customers should acquire a liquor license in Bergen County. Located in northeastern New Jersey, Bergen County is situated across the Hudson River from Manhattan, NY. Bergen County has the highest population in the state of New Jersey, with nearly 956,000 people. The county seat, Hackensack, is the largest city by population, while Mahwah is the largest township by size. Many locals and travelers visit Bergen County to see New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium, the Palisades, DreamWorks Water Park, the George Washington Bridge, and Bergen County Zoo. Bergen County draws in a crowd all year with many events and festivals.

In order to provide liquor at your Bergen County business establishment legally, we offer online Bergen County liquor license auctions for the following permit types:

• Type 32: Permits restaurants, 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 Bergen County.
• Type 33: Permits restaurants, 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 Bergen County, New Jersey.
• Type 44: Permits liquor stores & grocery stores to sell all liquor sales -- beer, wine, and spirits -- for off-premises consumption in Bergen County, NJ.

Each New Jersey liquor license grants the holder the right to sell in a specific New Jersey municipality or borough, such as Hackensack. Liquor licenses are not transferable between municipalities or boroughs. However, they are transferable between owners, which means you can legally buy or sell any Bergen County alcohol license issued in your municipality or borough.

How to Buy a Bergen County Liquor License

In New Jersey, there are two ways for buyers to obtain a Bergen County alcohol license. A buyer may purchase an alcohol permit directly from the NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). An alternative option is to use a liquor license broker, such as Liquor License Auctioneers, to help you secure a Bergen County liquor license on the open market.

There is a cap on the number of licenses in each New Jersey county as well as each township and borough. Most of the time, a buyer will have to attain a Bergen County alcohol license through the secondary market in one of the following three transfer options: Person-to-Person, Place-to-Place, or Person-to-Person and Place-to-Place. Often, a buyer will have to wait until someone is willing to sell a liquor license to them in Bergen County.

This is where Liquor License Auctioneers enters the picture. Over our many years of experience in this industry, we’ve connected with numerous business proprietors and lawyers who also specialize in this business sector. We have maintained these relationships throughout the years, and because of these valuable connections, we have the ability to provide select Bergen County liquor licenses exclusively on our online auction platform. These particular Bergen County alcohol licenses are only available on our bidding site, and no other alcohol permit brokerage has the authority to sell these same liquor licenses. This allows our expert liquor license brokers to offer our Bergen County alcohol licenses at fair prices. If you need a specific alcohol permit for Bergen County, please let us know, and we can inquire within our network to see if we can locate the alcohol license for you.

How to Apply for a Liquor License in Bergen County, New Jersey: 

1. Enter into a Contract of Sale: The Bergen County liquor license transfer process starts with the seller (transferor) and buyer (transferee) entering into a contract of sale.
2. Complete the 12 Page ABC Application: This 12 page NJ ABC Application for a Bergen County alcohol license must be submitted in TRIPLICATE (meaning it must have all original signatures).
3. Pay the Annual License Renewal Fee: There is a 10% Annual License Renewal Fee for both Person-to-Person transfers and Place-to-Place Bergen County alcohol permit transfers. For the Person-to-Person and Place-to-Place transfer, a 20% Annual License Renewal Fee is required.
4. Write a $200 Check or Money Order for ABC: Make out a check or a money order payable to the State of NJ, Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control for $200.
5. Consent to Transfer: The Consent to Transfer or consent of sale for the Bergen County liquor license must be notarized and signed by the alcohol license holder.
6. Disclosure Statement of Applicant: The Disclosure Statement of Applicant (source funding) for the Bergen County liquor license purchase must be included as part of the ABC Application.
7. Submit Federal & State Fingerprint Reports: Both the federal and state fingerprint reports from the police must be sent to the Division of ABC.
8. Additional Investigative Report: The police will conduct an additional investigation and write up a report to submit with your ABC Application for a Bergen County alcohol permit.
9. Send a Detailed Sketch of the Business Premises: As part of the NJ ABC Application, you must submit a detailed sketch of the business establishment and proposed licensing area. Include a photo of the outside of the business location.
10. Affidavit of Publication: This is when a Notice of Intent to Transfer will be published two times with one week in between each publication. The Notice of Intent to Transfer allows the public an opportunity for them to voice any objections to the transfer. These objections are sent in writing to the clerk of the local issuing authority.
11. Submit a Certificate of Sales Tax Authority: The buyer must submit the Certificate of Sales Tax Authority and obtain the Alcoholic Beverage Retail Licensee Clearance Certificate for Transfer. The buyer may contact the New Jersey Division of Taxation ABC Licensing Unit at 609-292-0043.
12. Application for Bulk Sale Permit: If the buyer is also purchasing the existing inventory of liquor from the current liquor license holder, the ABC Application must include a check of $75.00 made payable to the NJ Div. of Alcoholic Beverage Control. If the buyer is not going to purchase this existing inventory, then they don’t have to send a check, but this form must still be submitted with the ABC Application.
13. Provide a Letter from the Buyer’s Attorney: This letter will notify the local issuing authority of the closing date for the sale of the Bergen County alcohol license.
14. Resolution of Transfer: The Resolution of Transfer will be passed by the issuing authority. This Resolution may not be contingent on another action.
15. The License will be Amended to Reflect New Ownership: At this time, the Bergen County liquor license will reflect the new ownership and generation change on the ABC Application. Make any checks payable to the Director, Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Our expert liquor license brokers can guide you through these eight steps to obtain a liquor license in Bergen County.

1. Secure the location: Select a business location in Bergen County, NJ, where you plan to serve or sell alcoholic beverages. You must be able to show that the business premises is rented, leased, or purchased.
2. Select your liquor license: Choose the type of Bergen County alcohol permit you need for your business. Decide how you will purchase the Bergen County liquor license - either from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) or from an alcohol license broker on the open market, like Liquor License Auctioneers.
3. Open your escrow account: Use a third-party company to help you open an escrow account. This escrow account will be used to hold all of the financial transactions associated with the Bergen County liquor license purchase and transfer.
4. Survey the location: Hire a contractor to survey your business establishment. You may have our liquor license brokers perform the inspection on your behalf.
5. Complete your ABC Application: Once the ABC Application is completely filled out and all the forms and documents are thoroughly completed, send it to the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for them to review and approve. Liquor License Auctioneers can help you complete the ABC Application for an alcohol license in Bergen County, NJ.
6. Post a notice: After the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has taken the time to review and approve your liquor license for Bergen County, they will mail you a notice of intent to sell liquor. This notice must be posted at your business for 30 days.
7. Submit to investigation: At the end of the 30-day time period, the New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) will come to your place of business and do a final inspection to make sure your establishment is up to code for selling or serving liquor.
8. Receive the liquor license: If you’ve passed the inspection conducted by the NJ ABC, then they will send you the official Bergen County liquor license in the mail. Once you have received the alcohol license, you should prominently display it at your business location.

Following these eight steps ensures that you’ve met the standards for securing a liquor license in Bergen County set by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in New Jersey. It’s always good to know if your local municipal government has its own requirements for acquiring an alcohol permit in Bergen County. If you are aware of what these additional stipulations may be, then you can accelerate the process of securing your liquor license in Hackensack, NJ, so you’ll be able to start selling liquor at your place of business.

Bergen County, NJ, has a lot of competition for all kinds of businesses trying to obtain alcohol licenses. Bergen County, being the largest populated county in New Jersey, has a plethora of restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and liquor stores trying to serve the population over 21. To be sure that your business establishment has the proper alcohol permit to sell alcohol legally, you can use our liquor license brokers to help you secure a Bergen County liquor license. Our business model is second to none. We’ve gained plenty of knowledge with our years of experience in this industry. Our expert, qualified alcohol permit brokers, provide you with customer service and unmatched ethical prices for Bergen County alcohol licenses. See our Bergen County liquor licenses for sale, and buy one now.