Do bars accept an interim liquor license? what to know

Last updated 2026-07-26

do bars accept an interim license to serve alcohol?

Yes, in most states a bar, restaurant, or new venue can legally serve alcohol under an interim license (sometimes called a temporary permit, provisional license, or emergency permit) while the full liquor license application works its way through the state or local alcohol beverage control (ABC) agency. This isn't a loophole. It's a formal mechanism nearly every state built into its liquor code specifically because full license review, background checks, and public notice periods can take weeks or months, and businesses need a way to open on schedule. The catch is that "interim license" doesn't mean one universal thing. Some states issue a genuine temporary retail permit with its own application and fee. Others let a buyer operate under the seller's existing license during a transfer, under something like an interim operating permit or a "110-day permit." California, for example, allows a licensee to continue operations under specific conditions while an application for original issuance or transfer is pending, per the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's licensing rules. New York's State Liquor Authority also has provisions for temporary retail permits tied to a pending full application in certain circumstances ^[1]. Because the mechanism differs so much by state, the honest answer is: confirm with your state ABC authority before you assume you can pour on day one. If you're back-planning from a signed lease and a set opening date, treat the interim permit question as one of the first calls you make, not something you figure out two weeks before opening night.

what exactly is an interim or temporary liquor license?

An interim license is a short-term authorization to sell or serve alcohol issued while your permanent license application is still under review. It typically covers the gap between when you sign a lease and start build-out and when your full license clears background checks, local zoning sign-off, and any required public notice or protest period. States structure these differently. Some issue a true "temporary permit" as a standalone product, often tied to a specific event or a defined window (30, 60, or 90 days is common, but confirm the exact window with your state ABC authority since it varies). Others allow a new owner to operate under the previous licensee's existing license during a change of ownership or location transfer, which is really an interim operating arrangement rather than a separate license type. A few things are consistent across most states: interim permits usually require the underlying full application to already be filed and often paid for, they usually require some baseline vetting (basic background check, sometimes a local law enforcement sign-off), and they almost always exclude certain privileges the full license would carry, like off-premise sales or extended hours. Don't assume an interim permit gives you everything your full license will. Read the actual conditions attached to it.

how do you get a temporary permit while your full application is pending?

The general process looks similar across states even though the paperwork differs: file your full liquor license application first, then apply for the interim or temporary permit as a companion filing tied to that pending case. Most ABC agencies won't issue a temporary permit in isolation, they want to see the underlying application already in the queue. Typical steps: (1) confirm your entity, lease, and location meet your state's basic eligibility rules (zoning, distance from schools or churches, local quota restrictions), (2) submit the full license application with all required disclosures, fees, and background check paperwork, (3) submit the interim/temporary permit request, often with an added fee and sometimes a local law enforcement or fire marshal sign-off, and (4) wait for a decision that may come faster than the full license because the review scope is narrower. Some states publish official processing time ranges for the underlying full license, which gives you a sense of how long you might need interim coverage. Florida's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, for instance, publishes license application guidance and fee schedules that applicants should review before filing ^[2]. Because timelines shift with staffing and application volume, always check your state ABC's current published processing estimate rather than relying on last year's number.

how much is a liquor license?

There's no single national price. A liquor license can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to well over $100,000 depending on the state, the license type, and whether you're buying a new license directly from the state or purchasing an existing one on the open market in a quota-restricted state. A few real reference points: the TTB's federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau requires a federal Basic Permit for anyone producing, importing, or wholesaling alcohol, and that permit itself has no traditional "price" beyond the application processing, though the state-level retail license is where the real cost sits ^[3]. States that cap the number of licenses (quota states) tend to have the highest secondary-market prices, because a restaurant or bar has to buy an existing license from another holder rather than get a new one from the state. In non-quota states, you're often paying a flat state fee, sometimes a modest few hundred to a few thousand dollars, plus local fees. The honest range: budget anywhere from under $1,000 in a low-fee, non-quota jurisdiction to six figures in a tightly quota-restricted city or county. Confirm the current fee schedule with your state ABC authority, since fees change and vary by county and license class within the same state. For a broader look at how license types differ, see liquor licensing basics.

how much is a liquor license in Florida?

Florida's liquor license costs depend heavily on the license series and, for the most common full liquor license (a "quota license"), on the county's population-based allocation. Florida issues quota licenses (series 4COP and similar) based on county population under a formula in Florida Statutes Chapter 561, and because the number is capped, buying one on the open secondary market can cost far more than the state's own issuance fee. Florida's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (part of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation) publishes the official license application fee schedule, and that's the number to check, not a number quoted secondhand ^[2]. State-issued base fees for many license classes run in the hundreds to low thousands of dollars, but quota licenses purchased from an existing holder in dense counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange) have sold for tens of thousands to well over $100,000 depending on demand, because supply is fixed by statute. So when someone asks "how much is a liquor license in Florida" or "how much is a liquor licence in Florida," the real answer is: it depends on whether you're getting a new quota allocation (rare, tied to population growth) or buying an existing one on the transfer market (common, and market-priced). Confirm current fee amounts directly with the DBPA before budgeting. If you're comparing Florida's process to other states, the florida-bar overview covers general licensing structure in the state.

how do you get a liquor license (step by step)?

Getting a liquor license generally follows five stages, though exact steps and terminology vary by state: (1) confirm your business entity and location meet zoning and distance rules, (2) determine your license type and whether your state has a quota system that requires buying an existing license, (3) file the full application with your state ABC authority, including ownership disclosures, financial documentation, and background check consent, (4) satisfy local requirements, which can include a public notice period, a local government sign-off, health department approval, or a community board hearing, and (5) pass final inspection and pay outstanding fees before the license is issued. Most states also require a separate local step alongside the state application, like a city or county business license, a certificate of occupancy, or fire marshal approval. Skipping the local piece is one of the most common reasons applications stall, because the state agency is often waiting on local sign-off before it will finalize anything. Back-planning matters here. If your lease starts January 1 and you want to open March 1, you need to know your state's typical processing window (ask your ABC authority directly, since published estimates vary and current backlogs shift them) and file the application as early as your lease and entity formation allow, not after your build-out is finished. A $199 tool like our State Liquor License Roadmap exists for exactly this problem: it maps the application, local approval, and interim-permit steps against your target opening date so you're not guessing which filing needs to happen first.

how do you obtain a liquor license if you're new to the industry?

If you've never held a liquor license before, the process is the same application, but expect more scrutiny on background checks, financial disclosures, and sometimes a personal interview with the licensing board, especially in states with local review boards or community input requirements. First-time applicants should budget extra time for two things: entity setup (many states want your LLC or corporation formed and in good standing before you file) and background checks on every owner with a qualifying ownership stake, which in most states is anyone holding 10% or more of the entity, though the exact threshold varies by state, so confirm with your ABC authority. Fingerprinting and a criminal history check are standard in nearly every state. It also helps to know your state's classification system before you file. A "how to obtain a liquor licence" search often turns up wildly different answers because a beer-and-wine restaurant license, a full liquor (spirits) license, and a bar-specific license can have different quota rules, different fees, and different local hearing requirements even within the same state. Check your state ABC's license type chart before assuming you know which one you need. The bar and bares guides break down how license categories differ by concept type.

can you serve alcohol without a liquor license?

No, not legally, with narrow exceptions. Selling or serving alcohol without a valid state and local license is a criminal or civil violation in every state, and penalties can include fines, forced closure, and in some states criminal charges against the individual server or the business owner. The narrow exceptions exist for specific, defined situations: some states allow private, non-commercial gatherings where no sale occurs, certain licensed caterers operating under a catering permit tied to an existing license, or special one-day event permits for nonprofits and fundraisers. None of these substitute for a standard retail on-premise license if you're running a bar or restaurant that sells drinks regularly. This is also where the interim permit question matters most. If your full license is still pending and you don't have an interim or temporary permit in place, you cannot serve alcohol, even if you've already got a lease signed, staff hired, and a grand opening date on the calendar. Opening early "just for a soft launch" without any authorization is a common and expensive mistake. Confirm interim permit eligibility with your state ABC authority before you schedule anything that involves pouring a drink.

how do you get a bartending license or certification?

A "bartending license" isn't a license in the legal sense in most states, it's usually a responsible beverage service (RBS) certification, and requirements vary widely. Some states mandate it for anyone serving alcohol (Utah, for example, has statutory alcohol training requirements for servers and managers), while other states leave it optional or require it only in certain counties or cities. The most common path is completing an approved responsible alcohol service training course, either state-run or from a state-approved third-party provider, then passing a short exam. TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) and ServSafe Alcohol are two widely recognized programs accepted in many states, though acceptance depends on your specific state's ABC or health authority approving that specific provider . Costs for these courses are generally modest, often well under $100, and many can be completed online in a few hours. But don't assume a national certificate travels everywhere unquestioned. If you're opening in a new state, check whether your existing certification transfers or whether you need to retake a state-specific version. This is a separate track entirely from the business's liquor license itself; the bartender's certification and the establishment's license are two different regulatory requirements that both need to be in place.

can anyone take the bar exam?

This question sometimes gets tangled up in liquor license searches because of the shared word "bar," but it refers to the legal bar exam, the test required to become a licensed attorney, not anything related to alcohol licensing. Eligibility to sit for the bar exam is set state by state through each state's bar admission authority, and generally requires graduation from an ABA-accredited law school (with limited exceptions in a few states like California, which allows some non-ABA-accredited paths under specific conditions) . Character and fitness review, a separate background check process, is also standard. If you landed here looking for information on becoming a lawyer rather than opening a bar, check your target state's bar admission office directly, since requirements and fees differ meaningfully state to state. For readers actually researching alcohol licensing terminology in a specific state, our california-bar and florida-bar-member-search pages cover state-specific structures, though note these focus on licensing concepts relevant to hospitality businesses, not legal bar admission.

what happens if your interim permit expires before your full license is approved?

If your interim or temporary permit has a fixed expiration date and your full license still hasn't cleared, you generally have to stop serving alcohol until either the full license is approved or you secure an extension or renewal of the interim permit, if your state allows one. Not every state allows extensions, and some cap how many times you can renew a temporary permit. This is a real operational risk: a bar that opened under a 90-day temporary permit and whose full license review runs long can find itself forced to shut down alcohol service mid-operation, which is disastrous for a business that depends on drink sales. The practical fix is to track your interim permit's expiration date against your full application's actual processing status, not the published average, and contact your ABC authority proactively if it looks like the full license won't clear in time. Waiting until the permit lapses to ask about an extension is the wrong order of operations. Build in a buffer when you set your opening date, and treat the interim permit's expiration as a hard deadline on your own project calendar, more than a bureaucratic formality.

how does an interim license affect your opening date planning?

An interim or temporary permit is often the difference between opening on your signed lease's target date and sitting dark for months waiting on a full license, so it deserves its own line item in your opening timeline, not an afterthought. Work backward from opening day: figure out your state's typical full-license processing window (ask the ABC authority directly, since published estimates shift with backlog), then figure out whether an interim permit is available in your state and whether it requires the full application to be filed first. File both, in the right order, as early as your entity formation and lease allow. If your state doesn't offer any interim mechanism, your entire opening date depends on the full license timeline, which raises the stakes on filing early and filing clean (errors and missing documents are the most common cause of delay across state ABC processes). This is the exact gap our $199 State Liquor License Roadmap is built to close: a state-specific, back-planned sequence of filings, local approvals, and interim-permit windows mapped against your actual opening date, so you know which step has to happen in week one versus week twelve. It's not legal advice and it's not a guarantee of approval or timing, it's a planning tool built from how the process actually works in your state.

Frequently asked questions

Do bars accept an interim license to open early?

Most states allow a bar to serve alcohol under an interim, temporary, or provisional permit while the full license application is pending, as long as the underlying application is already filed and the ABC authority approves the interim request. Rules and availability vary significantly by state, so confirm directly with your state ABC authority before setting an opening date around this.

How much is a liquor license?

Liquor license cost ranges enormously, from a few hundred dollars in some non-quota states to well over $100,000 in tightly quota-restricted counties, because quota states force buyers to purchase existing licenses on the secondary market. Always confirm the current fee schedule with your specific state ABC authority rather than relying on a national average.

How much is a liquor license in Florida?

It depends on the license type. Florida's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco publishes official state fees for standard license classes, but quota licenses (needed for full liquor sales in many counties) are population-capped under Florida Statutes Chapter 561 and often resell for tens of thousands to over $100,000 on the open market. Confirm current fees directly with the DBPA.

How do you get a liquor license?

File a full application with your state ABC authority, satisfy local zoning and business licensing requirements, complete background checks on qualifying owners, and wait for state and local approval. Many states also let you apply for an interim or temporary permit alongside the full application so you can operate while the full review is pending.

How do you obtain a liquor license as a first-time applicant?

First-time owners follow the same application process as anyone else, but should budget extra time for entity formation, background checks on every owner with a qualifying stake (often 10% or more, though this threshold varies by state), and any required local hearings. Confirm your state's specific license classification chart before filing, since fees and rules differ by license type.

Can you serve alcohol without a liquor license?

No. Serving or selling alcohol without a valid state and local license is illegal in every state and can lead to fines, forced closure, or criminal charges. The only exceptions are narrow, defined situations like non-commercial private gatherings or specific one-day event permits, none of which cover regular bar or restaurant operations.

How do you get a bartending license or certification?

Most states require a responsible beverage service (RBS) certification rather than a formal "license." Programs like TIPS and ServSafe Alcohol are widely accepted, but acceptance depends on your specific state approving that provider. Courses are usually inexpensive and completed online in a few hours; requirements vary by state and sometimes by county.

Can anyone take the bar exam?

No. Bar exam eligibility is set by each state's bar admission authority and generally requires graduation from an ABA-accredited law school, with limited exceptions in a few states. This refers to the legal profession's exam, unrelated to alcohol licensing, though the shared word "bar" causes search confusion.

What's the difference between an interim license and a full liquor license?

An interim (or temporary) license authorizes limited alcohol service for a defined period while the full license application is under review. It typically excludes privileges the full license carries, like off-premise sales or extended hours, and usually requires the full application to already be filed. Confirm exact scope and duration with your state ABC authority.

What happens if my interim permit expires before my full license is approved?

You generally must stop serving alcohol until the full license is approved or, if your state allows it, you secure an extension of the interim permit. Not all states permit renewals, so track your permit's expiration against your actual application status and contact your ABC authority before the permit lapses, not after.

Does every state offer an interim or temporary liquor license?

No. Availability, terminology, and requirements vary widely by state; some states have a formal temporary permit process, others allow operation under a seller's existing license during a transfer, and some have no interim mechanism at all. Always confirm with your specific state ABC authority rather than assuming your state works like a neighboring one.

How early should I apply for a liquor license before my opening date?

As early as your entity formation and signed lease allow, ideally as soon as you have a specific location and can meet basic eligibility requirements. Processing times vary by state and current backlog, and filing errors are a common cause of delay, so early, complete filing gives you the most buffer against your target opening date.

Sources

1. Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, License Fee Schedule: Florida publishes official license application fees and guidance through the DBPR licensing division
2. Florida Statutes, Chapter 561, Beverage Law: Florida allocates quota liquor licenses by county population formula under statute
3. Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, Server Training Requirements: Utah mandates alcohol server and manager training under state law
4. Florida Senate - Florida Statutes: Florida Statute governing temporary or interim alcoholic beverage licenses.
5. Florida Senate - Florida Statutes: Statute detailing license issuance procedures and requirements relevant to obtaining a full liquor license in Florida.