Last updated 2026-07-25
TL;DR
The Arizona State Bar attorney lookup is a directory for verifying licensed lawyers, run at azbar.org, and has nothing to do with liquor licenses. If you're opening a restaurant or bar in Arizona, you need the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, not the State Bar. This article covers both, so you land in the right place.
What is the AZ State Bar attorney lookup, actually?
The Arizona State Bar attorney lookup is a public directory that lets you verify whether someone is a licensed, active attorney in Arizona. It's run by the State Bar of Arizona, the regulatory body that admits and disciplines lawyers in the state, and it's the tool courts, clients, and employers use to check bar status, admission date, disciplinary history, and good standing. [1] If you typed "az state bar attorney lookup" hoping to find something about liquor licenses, you're in the wrong neighborhood, and that's fine, it happens constantly because "bar" means two totally different things. A State Bar is a professional licensing body for lawyers. A liquor bar is a business that sells alcohol. Arizona regulates both, through completely separate agencies, with completely separate applications, fees, and rules. So before you go further: if you're checking whether a lawyer is licensed to practice in Arizona, go to azbar.org and search their attorney directory. If you're opening or transferring a restaurant or bar and need a liquor license, keep reading, because the rest of this article is for you.
How do I use the actual attorney lookup tool?
The State Bar of Arizona's attorney search lets you look up any active or inactive attorney by name, bar number, or firm. It returns license status (active, inactive, suspended, disbarred), the date of admission, and whether the attorney has any public discipline on record. [1] This matters if you're vetting a lawyer to help with a liquor license application, a lease negotiation, or an LLC formation for your bar. A licensed attorney in good standing should show up as "active" with no red flags. If someone claiming to be your lawyer doesn't show up at all, or shows as suspended, that's worth a direct conversation before you pay them anything. For comparison, other states run similar tools. The Florida Bar member search works the same way for Florida-licensed attorneys, and the California Bar has its own attorney search too. None of these tools issue or track liquor licenses. They're strictly for the legal profession.
How do I get a liquor license in Arizona (not from the State Bar)?
Liquor licenses in Arizona are issued by the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC), not the State Bar, not any court, and not the Secretary of State. The DLLC handles applications for series licenses (the number designates the license type, like Series 6 for bars or Series 12 for restaurants), transfers, and renewals, under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 4. [2] The process generally runs through your local government first (many cities and counties require a local posting period and a recommendation before the state acts) and then through the DLLC for state-level review and issuance. Processing timelines vary by license type and whether it's a new license, a transfer, or an interim permit, so confirm current timelines directly with the DLLC. If you're building a timeline back from a lease signing and a target opening date, treat the license application as the long pole in your schedule. It is rarely the fastest part of opening a bar or restaurant. Confirm current fees and quota status for your specific license series and county with the Arizona DLLC before you sign anything you can't get out of.
How much is a liquor license?
There's no single national number, because liquor licenses are issued state by state (and sometimes county or city on top of that), and costs range enormously depending on whether you're buying a new license from the government or buying an existing one on the private market in a quota state. A new liquor license application fee from a state agency is typically in the hundreds to low thousands of dollars. That's the application and issuance fee, not the market price. In states where the number of licenses is capped (quota states), existing licenses get bought and sold between private parties, and those prices can run into the tens of thousands or, in dense urban markets, hundreds of thousands of dollars, because you're paying for a scarce asset, not a government fee. Arizona itself uses a quota system for some license series based on county population under Arizona Revised Statutes section 4-207, which is why certain Arizona bar licenses (like Series 6, the full liquor license for bars) trade on the open market for a real market price well above the state's issuance fee. [2] Confirm the current fee schedule and quota status for your specific license type and county with the Arizona DLLC, since these numbers change and vary by jurisdiction.
How much is a liquor license in Florida?
Florida works differently than Arizona. Florida's quota licenses (the general "4COP" license that allows beer, wine, and spirits) are capped per county based on population under Florida Statutes section 561.20, and in counties where the quota is full, you can only get one by buying an existing license from a current holder on the open market, which is typically far more expensive than any state fee. [3] The Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) issues these licenses and sets the state application and annual license fees, which vary by license series and county. Because Florida's quota licenses are tied to county population growth, availability opens up only when a county's population crosses certain thresholds, or when an existing license comes up for sale or transfer. [3] If you want detail specific to Florida's licensing structure, quota counties, and application steps, that deserves its own full breakdown rather than a paragraph here. Confirm current fees and quota status directly with Florida's ABT before budgeting, since published fee schedules change and county quota numbers shift with each census update.
How do I obtain a liquor license or liquor licence generally?
The mechanics are similar across states even though the names, fees, and quotas differ. First, you confirm what license type fits your business (a bar, a restaurant with incidental alcohol sales, a brewery taproom, a package store) because each type has different rules on what you can sell and to whom. Second, you check whether your state or county runs a quota system for that license type, because that determines whether you apply fresh through the government or have to buy an existing license from a private seller. Third, you handle local approval, which often means a public notice period, a hearing, or a sign-off from your city or county before the state will issue anything. Fourth, you submit the state application itself, along with background checks, financial disclosures, lease documentation, and floor plans. Fifth, you wait for review, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the state, the license type, and whether anyone objects during the local posting period. The federal side is simpler and universal: any business that manufactures, imports, or wholesales alcohol needs a Federal Basic Permit from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), issued under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, separate from your state retail license. Most bars and restaurants selling drinks to customers don't need a TTB permit for retail sales, but they do need to comply with federal excise tax rules if they're producing anything. [4] Your state ABC or liquor authority is where the retail license itself comes from, and every state's process, cost, and quota rules differ enough that generic advice only gets you so far. This is where a state guide for your specific state, or a structured planning tool, saves real time over guessing.
Can you serve alcohol without a liquor license?
No, not for a commercial establishment. Selling or serving alcohol to the public without the required state and local license is illegal in every U.S. state and typically carries criminal penalties, fines, and immediate business closure, on top of making it impossible to get licensed later. There are narrow exceptions. Private events where no sale occurs (a wedding where the host provides alcohol free to guests, for instance) generally don't require a liquor license because no commercial transaction is happening. BYOB setups exist in some states and let a restaurant allow guests to bring their own alcohol without the restaurant itself holding a full liquor license, though rules on corkage fees and what staff can and can't do (like pouring the wine) vary by state. If you're planning to charge for drinks in any form, cover charges that include alcohol, a paid tasting event, a fundraiser with a cash bar, you need a license or, at minimum, a special event permit from your state ABC authority. Arizona's own special event license process is a good example of how these temporary permits work for one-off situations like festivals or fundraisers; they're generally faster and cheaper to get than a full retail license, but they still require an application. [5]
How do I get a bartending license?
Most states don't require a bartending "license" the way they require a business liquor license. What most states require instead is alcohol server training, sometimes called a responsible beverage service (RBS) certification, which is a course (often just a few hours, online or in person) that covers checking IDs, recognizing intoxication, and understanding liability under your state's dram shop laws. Some states make this training mandatory for anyone serving alcohol, while other states leave it up to individual counties, cities, or even individual employers to decide. Oregon, for example, requires alcohol server education for anyone serving or selling alcoholic beverages under Oregon Revised Statutes section 471.406. A handful of states have no server training requirement at all, though many employers require it anyway because it reduces their liability insurance costs and reduces the odds of an over-service incident. The practical answer: check your specific state's ABC or alcohol control website for "responsible beverage service" or "alcohol server training" requirements. The course itself typically costs a modest amount (often well under $50) and takes a few hours, and the certification usually needs renewal every few years. This is separate from, and much simpler than, the liquor license the business itself needs to legally sell alcohol in the first place.
Can anyone take the bar exam?
This question, like the original search term, is about the legal profession, not liquor licensing, so it's worth answering directly since people land here confused. No, not anyone can take the bar exam. Every state sets its own eligibility rules through its bar admission authority, but the near-universal baseline is graduation from an accredited law school (or, in a handful of states, completion of an alternative path like reading the law under a supervising attorney) plus passing a character and fitness review. A few states, including California, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming, allow "reading the law" as an alternative to law school, where a person studies under a licensed attorney's supervision for a set number of years instead of attending law school. This is rare and demanding, and most people who take the bar exam do so after finishing a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited or state-accredited law school. Arizona requires bar exam applicants to have graduated from an ABA-approved law school and pass a character and fitness evaluation administered by the State Bar of Arizona. [1] None of this has any bearing on liquor licensing. If you're a restaurant or bar owner reading this section, you can skip it entirely, it's here only because the search term brought you close to it.
How does Arizona's liquor license quota system work?
Arizona caps the number of certain license types, notably the Series 6 (bar) and Series 7 (beer and wine bar) licenses, based on county population under Arizona Revised Statutes section 4-207. As a county's population grows past certain thresholds, the state issues new licenses through a lottery-style application process at defined intervals; outside of those windows, the only way to get one of these capped licenses is to buy an existing one from a current holder. [2] Other Arizona license types, including many restaurant licenses (Series 12), are not subject to the same population-based quota and can generally be applied for directly through the DLLC without waiting for a lottery, provided you meet the underlying requirements (a bona fide restaurant operation with a food-to-alcohol sales ratio, for example). [2] Because quota rules and current population thresholds shift as Arizona's counties grow, and because the DLLC periodically opens new application windows, confirm the current quota status for your target county and license series directly with the DLLC before you assume you can apply fresh. If the license type you need is capped and unavailable in your county, you're looking at buying on the private resale market, working with a broker, or considering a different license type or location.
What should I actually plan for if I'm opening a bar or restaurant?
Work backward from your opening date. Liquor licensing is very often the single slowest piece of opening a bar or restaurant, slower than build-out, slower than hiring, sometimes slower than getting your health permit. If you've signed a lease with a target opening date, the license application should have started the day you signed, not after your buildout is finished. Build in time for the local approval step (public notice periods and hearings can add real delay depending on your city), the state review itself, and a buffer for requested corrections or additional documentation, since almost every application gets at least one follow-up request. If your license type is subject to a quota in your area, budget both the time and the money to buy an existing license, since that market has its own negotiation and transfer timeline on top of the state's review. A lot of owners underestimate this because they're focused on the buildout and the menu, the parts that feel like "real work." The paperwork side feels administrative, so it gets pushed to the back burner, and that's exactly how a finished, staffed restaurant sits dark for weeks waiting on a license. If you want a structured way to map your specific state's requirements against your opening date, LiquorReady's $199 State Liquor License Roadmap builds a back-planned timeline from your target open date, though you can absolutely build this timeline yourself directly from your state ABC authority's published guidance if you'd rather do the research.
Where do I go for state-specific liquor licensing details?
Every state runs its own agency, own fee schedule, own quota rules, and own application process, so generic national advice only gets you to the starting line. For Arizona specifics, the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control's own site is the primary source, and it's worth reading directly rather than relying on secondhand summaries, since fees and quota windows change. [2] For a broader look at how different states structure their liquor licensing systems, state guides cover license types, transfer rules, and typical cost ranges state by state. If you're comparing Arizona against another state, or you operate in multiple states, that comparison is worth doing early, before you sign a second lease assuming the process will look like the first one. And one more time, because it matters: if you actually came here to verify an attorney's license status in Arizona, that's the State Bar of Arizona's attorney directory at azbar.org, not the DLLC, and it has nothing to do with anything else in this article except the shared word "bar." [1]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a liquor license?
It depends entirely on the state, county, and license type. Government application fees typically run from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, but in quota states where licenses are capped and traded privately, market prices can run tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Confirm current fees with your state's ABC authority before budgeting.
How do I get a bartending license?
Most states don't require a formal bartending license, they require alcohol server (responsible beverage service) training, a short course covering ID checks and intoxication recognition. Requirements vary by state; some mandate it statewide, others leave it to local jurisdictions or employers. Check your state ABC authority's website for current requirements and approved course providers.
How can I get a liquor license?
Identify the correct license type for your business, check whether it's subject to a quota in your county, complete any required local approval step (often a posting or hearing period), then submit the state application with background checks and lease documentation. Timelines and requirements vary significantly by state, so confirm specifics with your state's ABC authority early.
How to obtain a liquor license?
Start with your state ABC or liquor control agency's website to confirm the license type you need, current fees, and whether local approval is required first. Most states require a business entity, a lease or proof of location, background checks on owners, and often a local government sign-off before state issuance. Processing time varies widely by state and license type.
How to obtain a liquor licence (Canada/UK spelling)?
In the US, the process is state-specific and runs through your state's alcohol beverage control agency, not a federal body. In Canada and the UK, licensing runs through provincial liquor authorities or local licensing councils respectively. If you're operating in the US, confirm requirements with your specific state ABC authority; this article and site focus on US state licensing.
How much is a liquor license in Florida?
Florida's quota licenses (like the 4COP) are capped by county population, so in full counties you generally must buy an existing license privately, often at a significant premium over any state fee. Florida's ABT sets state application and annual fees separately. Confirm current fee schedules and county quota status directly with Florida's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.
How much is a liquor licence in Florida (alternate spelling)?
Same answer regardless of spelling: Florida uses a county-based quota system for its general liquor licenses, so cost depends heavily on whether your county's quota is full. If it's full, you're buying on the private resale market at market rates, not a fixed government fee. Confirm current numbers with Florida's ABT before budgeting.
Can you serve alcohol without a liquor license?
No, not for a commercial sale. Serving alcohol for sale without the proper state and local license is illegal everywhere in the US and can carry criminal penalties and immediate closure. Narrow exceptions exist for free private events with no sale, and some states allow BYOB with restrictions. Special event permits exist for one-off situations.
Can anyone take the bar exam?
No. Nearly every state requires graduation from an accredited law school plus a character and fitness review before you can sit for the bar exam. A few states allow an alternative "reading the law" path under attorney supervision instead of law school. This applies to the legal profession's bar exam, unrelated to liquor licensing.
What is the AZ State Bar attorney lookup used for?
It's a public directory run by the State Bar of Arizona that lets anyone verify an attorney's license status, admission date, and disciplinary history. It's used to confirm a lawyer is actively licensed and in good standing before hiring them. It has no connection to liquor licensing despite the shared word "bar."
Is the State Bar the same agency that issues liquor licenses?
No. The State Bar regulates the legal profession (attorneys). Liquor licenses are issued by a completely separate state agency, typically called an Alcohol Beverage Control agency, Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, or similar, depending on the state. In Arizona, that's the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, not the State Bar.
Does Arizona have a quota on liquor licenses?
Yes, for certain license types. Arizona caps Series 6 (bar) and Series 7 (beer and wine bar) licenses based on county population under Arizona Revised Statutes section 4-207, with new licenses periodically issued through an application lottery as population grows. Other license types, like most restaurant licenses, generally aren't subject to the same population-based cap. Confirm current quota status with Arizona's DLLC.
How long does it take to get a liquor license?
There's no universal timeline; it depends on your state, license type, and whether local approval steps like a posting period or public hearing are required. Some simple restaurant license approvals move in weeks, while capped licenses requiring a private purchase and transfer approval can take months. Build your opening timeline around the license application, not the other way around.
Sources
- Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 4, Section 4-207 (Number of Licenses; Population Quotas): Arizona's DLLC issues liquor licenses, including quota-based Series 6 and Series 7 licenses tied to county population.
- Florida Statutes, Section 561.20 (Limitation Upon Number of Licenses Issued): Florida issues quota liquor licenses (such as 4COP) capped by county population through its ABT division.
- 27 CFR Part 1, Basic Permit Requirements Under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act: Most retail bars and restaurants do not need a federal TTB permit unless they manufacture, import, or wholesale alcohol.
- Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, Special Event License: Special event permits allow temporary alcohol sales for one-off events without a full retail liquor license.
- Oregon Revised Statutes, Section 471.406 (Alcohol Server Education Requirements): States such as Oregon require statewide alcohol server (responsible beverage service) training/certification for those serving alcohol.
- American Bar Association, Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements (2023): Bar admission generally requires graduation from an accredited law school or, in a few states, completion of an alternative reading-the-law path, plus a character and fitness review.