Last updated 2026-07-25
TL;DR
A Type 48 liquor license is California's on-sale general public premises license. It lets a bar or nightclub sell beer, wine, and spirits for on-site drinking, with no food service required, and legally bars anyone under 21 from entering. It's quota-restricted in most counties, so most operators buy one on the private resale market rather than waiting on a new state issue.
what is a type 48 liquor license
A Type 48 is a California ABC (Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control) license category for "on-sale general, public premises" operations. In plain terms, it's the bar license. It authorizes sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for consumption on the premises, and unlike a restaurant license, it does not require you to serve a meal with every drink order [1]. The defining legal feature of a Type 48 is who can walk in the door. California's Business and Professions Code requires that persons under 21 years of age be denied access to the premises, full stop, more than denied alcohol [2]. That's the line that separates a Type 48 bar or nightclub from a Type 47 restaurant that happens to have a full bar. If minors can be present (even accompanied by a parent, even just to eat), you're not looking at a 48. Because of that access restriction, Type 48 is the standard license for straight bars, cocktail lounges, nightclubs, and taverns that don't run a real kitchen. If you're opening a gastropub or a restaurant with a serious bar program where families and minors will be in the dining room, you almost certainly want a Type 47 instead, not a 48.
how much is a liquor license in california for a type 48
There are two totally different price tags here, and conflating them is the single most common mistake new operators make. The state's own original issuance fee for an on-sale general public premises license runs in the low thousands of dollars, and ABC publishes its current fee schedule directly (confirm the exact current figure with the ABC fee schedule, since it's adjusted periodically) [3]. That fee only matters if you can get a license issued directly from the state, which in most California counties you cannot, because Type 48 is quota-controlled. Here's the real number that matters: because most counties are at or over their quota cap, almost every operational Type 48 changes hands on the private resale market, where a license holder sells their existing license to you. Resale prices for Type 48 licenses in high-demand California counties (Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego) have historically run from the high five figures into six figures, and pricing swings hard by county and by year based on how many licenses are sitting on the market. ABC does not set or cap this resale price, brokers and market supply do, so treat any number you hear as a snapshot, not a rule. Budget for the license price itself, plus escrow fees, plus the ABC transfer fee, plus your own legal and application costs.
why is type 48 quota restricted and what does that mean for you
California caps the number of certain on-sale general licenses per county based on population, under a formula in the Business and Professions Code, and ABC publishes county-by-county priority lists showing where the quota is open versus closed [3] [4]. When a county is "at quota," ABC is not issuing new Type 48s there. The only way in is to buy an existing one from someone willing to sell and transfer it, or to win one of the periodic public lottery drawings ABC occasionally runs when new slots open up. This is why Type 48 behaves more like a taxi medallion than a permit you fill out a form for. In a quota county, your timeline and your budget are set by the resale market, not by ABC's processing speed. Confirm current quota status for your specific county directly with ABC before you sign a lease assuming a 48 will be available. If your county is under quota, the direct-issue path exists and is far cheaper. If it's over, plan on a broker-assisted purchase and transfer, which routinely runs several months even after you've found a seller, because ABC still has to run the transfer application, the 30-day public posting period, and its own investigation.
how does a type 48 differ from a type 47 and type 41
| Type 41 | On-sale beer and wine, eating place | Yes | Yes | Restaurants without hard liquor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 47 | On-sale general, eating place | Yes | Yes, bona fide meals | Full-service restaurants with a full bar | |
| Type 48 | On-sale general, public premises | No, must be 21+ | No | Bars, nightclubs, taverns | Type 47 requires that the licensee operate an actual eating place and maintain suitable kitchen facilities to prepare and serve meals, per ABC's own licensing definitions [1]. Type 48 has no such requirement, and correspondingly no minors-allowed provision. If you want a full liquor bar and also want to let in anyone under 21 (families, all-ages shows, a coffee-shop-by-day model), a 47 is your only option among these three. If your business model is genuinely bar-first with no meaningful food program, 48 is usually the right fit and often the cheaper license to acquire in counties where 47s are also tight. |
People confuse these three constantly, so here's the actual distinction ABC draws. | License | Common name | Minors allowed on premises | Food service required | Typical use |
how to get a liquor license in california step by step
The mechanics are the same whether you're pursuing a direct issue in an under-quota county or buying an existing Type 48 for transfer. First, confirm your county's quota status and, if buying an existing license, verify it's active and in good standing with ABC, not suspended or subject to discipline. Second, file ABC Form 211 (the application) with your local ABC district office, along with the required fees. Third, ABC posts a public notice at your premises and in local publications for 30 days, giving neighbors, local law enforcement, and the public a chance to protest [3]. Fourth, ABC conducts an investigation, including a background check on you as the applicant and a review of the premises. Fifth, if there are no unresolved protests and the investigation clears, ABC issues the license. Realistically, budget two to four months for an uncontested transfer once you have a willing seller lined up, and longer if there's a protest or if your local city or county has its own conditional use permit process layered on top (many cities require a separate CUP for a bar use, independent of ABC). Confirm current processing timelines with your ABC district office, since staffing and volume shift them year to year.
how much is a liquor license in florida for comparison
Florida runs on a completely separate system from California, worth understanding if you're comparing states or considering opening in both. Florida's quota liquor licenses (the ones that allow full liquor, called "quota licenses") are capped by county population under Florida Statutes Chapter 561, with one new license issued per roughly 7,500 residents in most counties [5]. Like California's Type 48, Florida's quota licenses in built-out counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange) are effectively unavailable from the state directly and trade on the private resale market, where prices have run anywhere from the tens of thousands into the high six figures depending on county, and Orange and Miami-Dade have historically been among the most expensive in the state. Florida also offers non-quota alternatives that sidestep the wait entirely: an SFS (special food service) license doesn't need a quota slot if you meet minimum seating and food-sales requirements, and Florida's division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco publishes the specific thresholds. If you're comparing California's Type 48 bar license to Florida, the honest answer is there's no Florida license that maps directly onto it, since Florida's quota license covers both bar and restaurant on-premise use. Talk to Florida's ABT directly about which category fits a bar-only concept with no food program. For readers researching Florida specifically, our Florida bar guide and Florida Bar member search page cover licensing (not to be confused with the Florida State Bar, the attorney association, which is a completely different "bar").
how can i get a liquor license if i'm just starting a bar concept
Start with the lease and the concept, then work backward. If you already have a signed lease and a target opening date, the license timeline is very likely your critical path, not your buildout or your menu. First, nail down which state and county you're in and pull that jurisdiction's specific license category rules directly from the ABC (or equivalent state agency) website, not from a general search. Second, find out immediately whether your county is under or over quota for the category you need. Third, if you're over quota, start talking to license brokers or attorneys who specialize in liquor license transfers now, not two months before opening, because sourcing a seller and clearing ABC's investigation takes real time. Fourth, get your local zoning and conditional use permit questions answered early, because a city can block a bar use even if ABC would approve the state license. A lot of operators lose months because they treat the liquor license as a paperwork step at the end of buildout instead of the first domino. If you want a structured way to reverse-engineer your whole timeline from a target opening date, that's exactly the kind of planning problem our $199 State Liquor License Roadmap is built to solve: you tell us the state and target date, we hand back the sequence and lead times you need to hit it.
how to get a bartending license and does california require one
California does not currently require a state bartending license or a mandatory alcohol server certification for most on-premise servers, which surprises a lot of new operators moving from other states. That said, individual cities and counties can and do impose their own requirements, and many employers require Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training regardless of state mandate. Separately, California's statewide RBS program (established under AB 1221) does require most alcohol servers and their managers at on-premise licensees to complete ABC-accredited training and pass a state exam, with specific compliance deadlines that ABC has published and enforced. So while there's no single "bartending license" you carry around like a driver's license, if you're staffing a Type 48 bar in California, check ABC's RBS program page directly for which employees must be certified and by when, since exemptions and deadlines have shifted since the law took effect. Other states vary widely: some (like Utah and parts of Nevada) mandate a TABC-style or state-specific alcohol server permit for anyone pouring a drink, others leave it entirely to the employer. Confirm your specific state's server training rules with that state's ABC authority before you assume California's relatively light-touch approach applies where you're opening.
can you serve alcohol without a liquor license
No, not for a business open to the public. Selling or serving alcoholic beverages without the required state license is a criminal violation in essentially every U.S. state, and California's Business and Professions Code specifically makes it unlawful to sell alcoholic beverages without a license issued by ABC [6]. Penalties typically include fines, potential misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the state and circumstances, and civil liability if an unlicensed sale contributes to an alcohol-related injury. There are narrow exceptions everywhere: private, non-commercial gatherings where no sale occurs, certain nonprofit or one-day event permits, and BYOB setups where the establishment isn't the one selling the alcohol (rules on BYOB corkage vary a lot by state and city, so confirm locally). None of those exceptions cover a bar, restaurant, or nightclub operating a normal bar program without a license. If you're mid-buildout and tempted to open before your license clears because your lease clock is running, don't. An unlicensed opening can jeopardize your eventual license approval entirely, since ABC investigates the applicant's conduct, more than the paperwork.
can anyone take the bar exam
This question shows up in liquor license research because of the word "bar," but it's actually about becoming a lawyer, not opening one. The bar exam is the licensing test administered by state bar associations (not the federal government) that determines who can practice law in that state. Eligibility rules are set state by state, but the near-universal baseline is graduation from an ABA-accredited law school (or, in a handful of states, completion of an approved apprenticeship or reading-the-law program instead), plus passing a character and fitness review [7]. A few states, notably California, allow candidates who haven't finished an ABA-accredited J.D. to sit for the bar under specific alternative-pathway rules, and the California Bar has its own detailed eligibility requirements worth checking directly if that's your situation. If you're researching this because you need a liquor license attorney rather than because you want to become one, that's a completely separate track from anything on this page, though the wordplay collision is a fair one to get tripped up by.
how to obtain a liquor license outside california
what does it cost beyond the license price itself
The license fee or resale price is usually the headline number, but it's rarely the only number that matters for your opening budget. Budget separately for: ABC or state agency transfer/processing fees, which are typically modest (often a few hundred to low thousands depending on state) [3]; local business license and health permit fees; a liquor liability insurance policy, which most landlords and many states functionally require and which can run from a few thousand to well over ten thousand dollars annually depending on your concept, hours, and claims history; any local conditional use permit or zoning variance fees if your city requires one for bar use; and legal or broker fees if you're using an attorney or license broker to handle a transfer, which commonly run a percentage of the license price or a flat fee in the low thousands. Most operators budget the license itself and forget the carrying costs while they wait. If you're financing a six-figure license purchase, remember you're also carrying rent on your signed lease the entire time ABC processes the transfer, which is exactly why getting your timeline right before you sign anything matters more than most people expect.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a liquor license?
It depends entirely on state, county, and license type. Direct state issuance fees are often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, but in quota-restricted areas like most of California and Florida, resale prices for an existing license can run from the tens of thousands into six figures. Confirm current fees with your state ABC authority and current resale pricing with a local license broker.
How do I get a bartending license?
Most states don't issue a standalone "bartending license." Instead, many require Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training and a short exam for anyone serving alcohol, which California mandates under its statewide RBS program for most on-premise servers. Check your specific state ABC authority's server training page for the exact requirement, provider list, and compliance deadline where you work.
How can I get a liquor license?
Confirm which license category fits your concept (bar versus restaurant versus off-sale), check whether your county is under or over that category's quota with your state ABC authority, then file the required application, pay the fees, and go through the public notice and investigation period. In quota-restricted counties, you'll typically need to buy an existing license on the resale market instead.
How to get a liquor license?
Identify your state's ABC or alcohol control agency, determine the correct license type for your business model, confirm quota availability in your county, and file that agency's specific application form with the required fee. If direct issuance isn't available, work with a license broker or attorney to source and transfer an existing license instead.
How to obtain a liquor license?
Start with your state ABC authority's website to identify the license category matching your concept, then check quota status for your county. If a slot is open, file the direct application; if the county is at quota, you'll need to purchase an existing license through a transfer, which still requires ABC's application, public notice, and investigation process.
Can anyone take the bar exam?
Generally no. Most states require graduation from an ABA-accredited law school plus a character and fitness review before you can sit for the bar exam, though a few states allow apprenticeship or non-accredited-school pathways instead. Eligibility rules are set state by state through each state's bar association, so requirements vary meaningfully by jurisdiction.
How do I obtain a liquor licence (UK/other English-speaking countries)?
Outside the U.S., "licence" spelling usually points to the UK, Canada, or Australia, each with its own system separate from any American state's ABC process. In the UK, for example, premises licenses are issued by the local council under the Licensing Act 2003, not a national alcohol agency, so you'd apply through your specific local authority.
How much is a liquor license in Florida?
Florida's quota liquor licenses in built-out counties often trade on the resale market for tens of thousands to several hundred thousand dollars, since new quota slots open only as county population grows under Florida Statutes Chapter 561's roughly one-per-7,500-residents formula. Non-quota options like the SFS (special food service) license can cost far less if your concept qualifies.
How much is a liquor licence in Florida (alternate spelling)?
Same answer regardless of spelling: Florida's population-based quota system means pricing depends heavily on county. Confirm current quota status and direct-issuance fees with Florida's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and get current resale pricing from a Florida-licensed liquor license broker if your county is already at quota.
Can you serve alcohol without a liquor license?
No, not for a public-facing business. Selling alcohol without the required license is illegal in every U.S. state and can carry criminal penalties plus civil liability. Narrow exceptions exist for private non-commercial gatherings and certain one-day nonprofit permits, but no normal bar or restaurant operation is exempt.
What's the difference between a Type 48 and a Type 47 license in California?
A Type 47 is an on-sale general license for a bona fide eating place that must serve meals and allows minors on the premises. A Type 48 is the bar/nightclub license, has no food-service requirement, but legally must exclude anyone under 21 from the premises entirely.
Is a Type 48 license transferable to a new owner?
Yes. Type 48 licenses are routinely sold and transferred between owners, especially in quota-restricted counties where it's the primary way to acquire one. The transfer still requires filing with California ABC, a public notice period, and an ABC investigation before the new owner is approved.
How long does it take to get a Type 48 license transferred?
Budget at least two to four months for an uncontested transfer once you have a seller lined up, covering ABC's 30-day public posting period plus investigation time. Contested transfers, protests, or local conditional use permit requirements can add months. Confirm current processing timelines with your local ABC district office.
Sources
- California Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, License Types: Type 48 is on-sale general public premises; Type 47 requires a bona fide eating place with kitchen facilities
- California Business and Professions Code Section 25658.5: Persons under 21 must be denied access to certain on-sale general public premises
- California ABC, License Fees Schedule: State original issuance fees and transfer fee amounts for on-sale general licenses
- California Business and Professions Code Section 23817: County quota formula for on-sale general licenses based on population
- Florida Statutes Chapter 561, Section 561.20: Florida quota license formula of one license per population unit set by statute
- California Business and Professions Code Section 23300: It is unlawful to sell alcoholic beverages without a license issued by the department
- American Bar Association, Bar Admissions Basics: Bar exam eligibility generally requires graduation from an ABA-accredited law school plus character and fitness review