Washington Liquor License Guide: LCB License Types and 2025 Fees ($2,200 Restaurant, $550 Grocery, $150 Brewery)
Washington Liquor License Guide: LCB License Types and 2025 Fees ($2,200 Restaurant, $550 Grocery, $150 Brewery)
If you want to sell beer, wine or spirits in Washington, you need a license from the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) before you pour the first drink. If you are searching for a washington bar license, know that the state has no single license by that name. Bars, taverns, restaurants, nightclubs, grocers and producers each hold a specific LCB license type, and the fee depends on which type you choose. This guide covers those types, the fees set by the 2025 law change, and the steps that come before and after your LCB application.
This is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Liquor rules and fees change, so confirm current figures with the LCB before you sign a lease or set a budget.
Who Needs an LCB License
Any business that sells or serves alcohol, or makes it for sale, needs an LCB license for that activity. A restaurant serving wine with dinner, a bar with a service counter, a grocery store selling beer and wine, and a brewery with a taproom each fall under different license categories. Producers such as breweries, wineries and distilleries hold production licenses, which are separate from the retail licenses that let you sell to the public.
Liquor licensing sits alongside your general business setup. Most operators also need a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) from the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service (BLS), because a restaurant or bar sells taxable goods and usually needs city endorsements. The steps section below explains how the two fit together.
LCB License Types and 2025 Fees
The fees below took effect on July 27, 2025, under 2SSB 5786 (Laws of 2025, ch. 343). The changes were not uniform across license types, so check the specific category rather than assuming a single percentage increase.
| License type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New retail application | $112.50 | Application fee for a new retail license |
| Spirits, beer and wine restaurant | $2,200 | At least 50 percent of the premises is dedicated dining |
| Spirits, beer and wine restaurant | $2,700 | Less than 50 percent dedicated dining |
| Spirits, beer and wine restaurant | $1,400 | Service bar only |
| Tavern or beer and wine restaurant | $300 | Beer or wine |
| Tavern or beer and wine restaurant | $600 | Beer and wine |
| Grocery store | $550 | Per store |
| Combination spirits, beer and wine | $2,000 | Big-box retailer with 10,000 square feet of enclosed retail space |
| Nightclub | $2,500 | Subject to the statewide cap |
| Microbrewery | $150 | Under 60,000 barrels |
| Domestic winery | $150 | Under 250,000 liters |
| Craft distillery | $150 | 150,000 gallons or less, using mostly Washington-grown inputs |
| Distillery | $2,100 | Any distillery that does not qualify as a craft distillery |
| Special occasion license | $90 | Per day |
Annual renewal fees and other LCB charges are not listed here. Confirm them on the LCB's current fee schedule before you budget.
Choosing the Right Restaurant Category
For most restaurant operators, the biggest decision is how much of the premises is dedicated to dining. A spirits, beer and wine restaurant where at least 50 percent of the space is dedicated dining pays $2,200. If less than half is dining space, the fee is $2,700. A restaurant that operates only a service bar pays $1,400, but confirm with the LCB how it defines a service bar for your layout before you rely on that category.
Beer and wine operators have a cheaper path. A tavern or beer and wine restaurant license costs $300 for beer or wine, or $600 for both. Pick the category that matches your floor plan and sales mix, and confirm it with the LCB before you file.
What Changed on July 27, 2025
Beyond the fee schedule, the 2025 law changed several operating rules. The new retail application fee is $112.50. Restaurant liquor delivery ended on July 1, 2025, so restaurants can no longer deliver alcohol to customers. Takeout is still allowed. A restaurant that wants to sell alcohol to go needs a takeout endorsement under RCW 66.24.710, which is free.
The Statewide Cap on Restaurant and Nightclub Licenses
Spirits, beer and wine restaurant licenses and nightclub licenses are capped at one per 1,200 residents statewide, under RCW 66.24.420 and RCW 66.24.010. At a state population of roughly 8.18 million, the cap works out to about 6,800 licenses in total. Because the cap applies statewide, availability depends on how many of these licenses already exist. Ask the LCB about availability before you commit to a lease or a purchase price.
Steps to Apply for a Washington Liquor License
- Choose and confirm your license type. Match the category to your dining share, bar setup and product mix, as described above.
- Form your business entity. An LLC files a Certificate of Formation with Initial Report through the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) at https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov/. The filing fee is $180. Corporations file Articles of Incorporation with Initial Report for the same $180. Expedited service is $100 per business entity, generally processed within three business days. Sole proprietors and general partnerships do not file with the Secretary of State. Every business must also designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Washington. PO Boxes and private mailbox addresses are not accepted.
- Register with the Business Licensing Service. Corporations, LLCs, LLPs and partnerships must file with the Secretary of State before submitting the Business License Application at https://dor.wa.gov/open-business/apply-business-license. The processing fee to open a business is $50, plus any endorsement fees. Online applications take about 10 business days, and 2 to 3 weeks longer when city or state endorsements need approval. Mailed applications can take up to six weeks.
- Register any trade name. If your restaurant or bar will operate under a name other than your legal name, register it through the Business Licensing Service at https://dor.wa.gov/manage-business/grow-business/register-trade-names. The fee is $5 for each trade name, plus the BLS processing fee. Trade names are not registered with the Secretary of State or the county.
- Secure your location and local review. Confirm zoning and land use with your city or county before you sign a lease. The local government has 20 days to object to a new license, so build that review into your timeline.
- File with the LCB. Submit your application and fee. LCB processing averaged 53 days in fiscal year 2025. Plan your opening date with a buffer on top of that figure, because your application may take longer.
- Keep your filings current. An LLC annual report costs $70 and is due by the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed, every year. It may be filed up to 180 days early. A late filing carries a delinquency fee, for a total of $95.
Other Costs to Budget
| Item | Cost | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation with Initial Report (LLC) | $180 | Secretary of State |
| Expedited service | $100 per business entity | Secretary of State |
| Name reservation (180 days) | $30 | Secretary of State |
| LLC annual report | $70 ($95 if late) | Secretary of State |
| Business License Application processing fee | $50 to open | Department of Revenue |
| Trade name registration | $5 per trade name | Department of Revenue |
| State sales tax rate | 6.5% | Department of Revenue |
Washington has no corporate income tax and no personal income tax. Instead, most businesses pay the state business and occupation (B&O) tax, a gross receipts tax with no deduction for labor, materials or other costs. About 54 cities add their own B&O tax, which the Department of Revenue does not administer, so check with your city. A CPA can help you match your food and beverage sales to the correct B&O classification.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a category that does not match how you operate. The dining percentage and bar setup drive the fee, so settle them before you file.
- Signing a lease before checking availability. The statewide cap on restaurant and nightclub licenses and the 20-day local objection window can delay an opening you have already committed to.
- Assuming an LLC filing is enough. The Secretary of State filing creates the entity, but the BLS application is what issues your UBI and endorsements.
- Assuming takeout is covered by your license. Restaurant delivery ended July 1, 2025. Takeout requires the RCW 66.24.710 endorsement.
- Operating under an unregistered name. If customers see a name that differs from your legal name, register the trade name before opening.
Where to Confirm Current Requirements
- Liquor and Cannabis Board: the current fee schedule, application forms and license availability. Find the LCB through the state of Washington website.
- Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division: https://www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities, with business searches at https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov/#/BusinessSearch
- Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service: https://dor.wa.gov/
- Washington Small Business Development Center: free planning help at https://wsbdc.org/
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Seattle District: https://www.sba.gov/district/seattle
This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Liquor licensing involves local approvals, lease terms and fee schedules that change. For complex situations, such as buying an existing licensed business, operating more than one location, or structuring ownership, consult a Washington attorney who handles liquor licensing and a CPA for tax questions.