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The Board issues special occasion permits to specific, eligible entities for the purpose of raising funds. The permit may be used in conjunction with activities and events involving other entities; however, no one other than the holder of the special occasion permit may acquire a financial interest in the permit. Only one (1) special occasion permit shall be issued to an eligible entity per calendar year and each permit may, generally, only be used for six (6) consecutive or non-consecutive days. Special occasion permit holders may sell alcoholic beverages during the same hours as restaurant liquor license holders, and may sell alcohol for consumption off the licensed premises.
Entities eligible to hold a special occasion permit include:
- a city of the third class
- a hospital
- a church
- a synagogue
- a volunteer fire company
- a volunteer ambulance company
- a volunteer rescue squad
- a unit of a nationally chartered club which has been issued a club liquor license
- a library
- a nationally accredited Pennsylvania nonprofit zoological institution licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture
- a nonprofit agricultural association in existence for at least ten years
- a bona fide sportsmen’s club in existence for at least ten years
- a nationally chartered veterans’ organization and any affiliated lodge or subdivision of such organization
- a fraternal benefit society that is licensed to do business in this Commonwealth and any affiliated lodge or subdivision of such fraternal benefit society
- a museum operated by a nonprofit corporation in a city of the third class or township of the first class
- a nonprofit corporation engaged in the performing arts in a city of the third class or in an incorporated town
- an arts council
- a nonprofit corporation that operates an arts facility or museum in a city of the third class in the county of the fourth class
- a nonprofit organization as defined under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)) whose purpose is to protect the architectural heritage of boroughs and which has been recognized as such by a municipal resolution
- a nonprofit organization as defined under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)) conducting a regatta in a city of the second class with the permit to be used on State park grounds or conducting a family-oriented celebration as a part of Welcome America in a city of the first class on property leased from that city for more than fifty years.
The Board may refuse to issue a special occasion permit if it finds that the applicant is not reputable or does not otherwise meet the requirements of the Liquor Code. Such a refusal may be based in whole or in part on the applicant’s prior operational history with either a special occasion permit or a license issued by the Board.
Special occasion permits applications are available by calling the Board’s Licensing Information Center at (717) 783-8250 or by logging onto www.lcb.state.pa.us, clicking on “Licensing”, then “Special Permits” and then choosing the special occasion permit packet.
When applying for a special occasion permit, the applicant must have secured the use of the premises in which the license is to be issued and provide a description of the area to be used. The application must be made thirty (30) days prior to the event and the local or Pennsylvania State Police must be notified of the times and place where alcohol is to be served.
