How to Get a Liquor License in Georgia

Georgia makes you get two licenses, not one

Most states have a single licensing authority for alcohol. Georgia does not. You need both a state license from the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR), Alcohol and Tobacco Division, and a separate local license from your city or county. They are different applications, different fees, different renewal dates, and different enforcement agencies. You cannot operate with just one.

A restaurant owner in Savannah told me he assumed the state license covered everything. He opened, started serving, and got a visit from a city code enforcement officer within the first week. The city fined him $1,000 and told him to stop pouring until the local license was approved. It took three more weeks. Three weeks of lost revenue because he did not know there were two separate licenses.

Step one: check whether your county is wet, dry, or moist

Georgia is a local-option state. That means each county and municipality votes on whether to allow alcohol sales at all. Before you do anything else, you need to confirm that your specific location permits the type of sales you want.

Wet: Full alcohol sales permitted — beer, wine, and liquor, both on-premises (bars, restaurants) and off-premises (package stores).
Dry: No alcohol sales of any kind. Period. There are still a handful of dry counties in Georgia, mostly in rural south and central Georgia.
Moist: Some alcohol sales allowed, but with restrictions. A county might allow beer and wine but not liquor. Or it might allow package sales but not by-the-drink. Or a city within a dry county might have voted itself wet independently.

As of 2026, about 120 of Georgia's 159 counties allow some form of alcohol sales. But the rules vary enormously. Cobb County and Fulton County (Atlanta metro) are fully wet. Some smaller counties allow beer and wine only. A few allow sales only in incorporated cities within the county, not in unincorporated areas.

The DOR maintains an online lookup tool for local-option status, but the most reliable way to confirm is to call your county's governing authority or your city clerk's office directly. Rules change — counties and cities hold referendums periodically.

State license types and fees

The Georgia DOR Alcohol and Tobacco Division issues state licenses. Here are the categories most bar, restaurant, brewery, and winery owners need:

License Type	Description	Annual Fee
Retail Consumption Dealer — Distilled Spirits	Serve liquor by the drink (bars, restaurants)	$1,000
Retail Consumption Dealer — Malt Beverages	Serve beer by the drink	$500
Retail Consumption Dealer — Wine	Serve wine by the drink	$500
Retail Package Dealer — Distilled Spirits	Sell liquor in sealed packages (liquor stores)	$1,000
Retail Package Dealer — Malt Beverages	Sell beer in sealed packages	$500
Retail Package Dealer — Wine	Sell wine in sealed packages	$500
Manufacturer — Malt Beverages (Brewery)	Brew and sell beer	$1,000
Farm Winery	Produce and sell wine from Georgia-grown fruit	$500

If your bar or restaurant wants to serve beer, wine, and liquor, you need all three Retail Consumption Dealer licenses — one for each category. That is $2,000 per year just in state fees. Beer and wine only? That is $1,000.

For a deeper breakdown of Georgia liquor license costs, see our Georgia liquor license cost guide.

Local license fees: the expensive layer

The state fees are predictable. The local fees are where things get expensive and unpredictable. Each city and county sets its own license fees, and the range is enormous.

City of Atlanta: Pouring license (distilled spirits) costs $5,000 per year. Beer and wine pouring is $1,500 to $2,500. Package store licenses are even higher.
Savannah: On-premises liquor license runs about $5,000 annually.
Smaller cities and unincorporated county areas: Fees can be as low as $500 to $1,500 per year.

In Atlanta, a full-service bar serving beer, wine, and liquor will pay roughly $5,000 to the city plus $2,000 to the state — $7,000 per year in licensing fees alone, before you buy a single bottle.

Some local jurisdictions also charge a one-time application or investigation fee on top of the annual license fee. In Atlanta, the investigation fee for a new alcohol license is $1,200.

The application process step by step

Here is the typical timeline for a new alcohol license in Georgia:

Confirm local-option status — verify your specific address allows the type of alcohol sales you want. Call the city or county clerk. (1 day)
Apply for the local license first — most jurisdictions require you to obtain or at least apply for the local license before the state will process your state application. You will typically need to submit a floor plan, proof of lease or ownership, and personal background information for all owners with 20% or more interest. (1 to 2 weeks to compile)
Post public notice — many Georgia municipalities require you to post a public notice in the local newspaper announcing your intent to sell alcohol at your location. This must run for a specified period (often two to four consecutive weeks). Nearby residents and businesses can file objections. (2 to 4 weeks)
Local background check and inspection — the local licensing authority runs background checks on all owners and managers, and inspects the premises. Some jurisdictions use their own police department for this. (2 to 6 weeks)
Local license issued — if there are no objections and you pass the background check and inspection, the local authority issues your license. (Total local timeline: 6 to 12 weeks)
Apply for the state license — submit your application to the Georgia DOR Alcohol and Tobacco Division. You will need a copy of your local license (or proof of approval), your federal Employer Identification Number, and payment for the state fees. (1 week to compile and submit)
State review and approval — the DOR processes the application. Georgia's state process is relatively fast once the local license is in hand. (2 to 4 weeks)

Total realistic timeline: 2 to 4 months from first application to both licenses in hand. If there are public objections or your premises needs modifications, add another month or two.

Background check requirements

Georgia takes the background investigation seriously. Both the state and local authority will review your history. Key disqualifiers:

Felony conviction within the past 10 years
Any conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude (fraud, theft, etc.)
Any prior alcohol license revocation in any state
Failure to pay state or local taxes
Providing false information on the application — this alone is grounds for permanent denial

All owners, officers, directors, and anyone with a financial interest of 20% or more must undergo the background check. In some jurisdictions, managers who will supervise alcohol service must also be checked.

Distance restrictions

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Section 3-3-21) sets minimum distances between alcohol-licensed establishments and certain protected areas:

Churches: 300 feet from the front door of the establishment to the nearest property line of the church
Schools and school grounds: 300 feet, measured the same way
College campuses: 300 feet
Alcohol treatment centers: 300 feet

However — and this is important — local jurisdictions can reduce or increase these distances by ordinance. Atlanta, for example, has reduced the distance requirement in several commercial districts. Some rural counties enforce stricter distances. You must check both the state minimums and your local ordinances.

If you sign a lease and then discover your building is 280 feet from a church, you may have no recourse. Measure before you commit.

Sunday sales rules

Georgia did not allow Sunday alcohol sales at all until 2011, when the state passed a referendum allowing local jurisdictions to authorize them. Today, most wet jurisdictions in metro Atlanta and other urban areas have voted to allow Sunday sales, but it is not universal.

Where Sunday sales are allowed:

On-premises (restaurants and bars): Typically permitted from 12:30 PM to midnight. The exact hours vary by municipality.
Package sales (liquor stores): Typically 12:30 PM to 11:30 PM, but again, local rules vary.
Brunch pouring permits: Some jurisdictions allow earlier Sunday service (as early as 11:00 AM) for restaurants with a specific brunch permit. In Atlanta, this costs an additional $1,800 per year.

Your local license will specify whether Sunday sales are included. If they are not, you cannot serve alcohol on Sundays regardless of what the state license says. And if your city holds a referendum to allow Sunday sales after you get your license, you typically need to apply for an amendment.

Penalties for operating without a license

Selling alcohol without a valid Georgia license is a misdemeanor under O.C.G.A. Section 3-3-29, but the penalties add up fast:

Criminal penalty: Misdemeanor conviction, up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 per offense. Each day of unlicensed operation can be charged as a separate offense.
Local penalties: Your city or county can impose additional fines, typically $500 to $5,000 per violation, and can padlock your premises.
License revocation: If you hold a license for one location and are caught operating without a license at another, the DOR can revoke all your licenses statewide.
Tax penalties: Georgia imposes an excise tax on alcohol sales. Operating without a license means you were not collecting or remitting these taxes. The DOR will assess back taxes, penalties (up to 25% of the amount owed), and interest.
Civil liability: If an unlicensed establishment serves a patron who later causes harm (e.g., a DUI accident), the lack of a license can be used as evidence of negligence in a civil lawsuit. Georgia's dram shop laws are limited, but operating without a license strips away many of the protections licensed establishments enjoy.

The Georgia DOR and local code enforcement agencies conduct compliance checks, and they act on tips. A competitor, a neighbor, or a fired employee filing a complaint is how most unlicensed operations get caught.

Renewal and expiration

Both state and local licenses must be renewed annually. The renewal dates are different:

State licenses: Expire on December 31 of each year. Renewal applications must be submitted to the DOR by mid-November to avoid a lapse. The DOR sends renewal notices, but missing one does not extend your deadline.
Local licenses: Renewal dates vary by jurisdiction. Atlanta licenses run on a calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Other cities may use a different fiscal year or anniversary-based renewal.

If either license lapses, you must stop serving alcohol immediately. Operating with an expired license carries the same penalties as operating without one. There is no grace period under Georgia law.

A bar owner in Marietta told me he renewed his state license on time but forgot the local one. He was serving with only half his required licensing for six weeks before a routine inspection caught it. The city fined him $2,500 and suspended his local license for 30 days. That is a month of lost alcohol revenue because he tracked one renewal date but not the other.

For more on the consequences of lapsed licenses, see our expired license guide.

Brewery and winery licenses in Georgia

Georgia reformed its brewery laws significantly in 2017, allowing breweries to sell directly to consumers on-site for the first time. Here is what you need to know:

Breweries need a Manufacturer license from the DOR ($1,000/year) plus a local license. Georgia breweries can sell up to 3,000 barrels per year directly to consumers in their taproom. Above that threshold, you must sell through a licensed distributor. Taproom sales are limited to 36 ounces per person per day for on-site consumption.
Farm wineries need a Farm Winery license from the DOR ($500/year). You must use at least 40% Georgia-grown fruit in your wine. Farm wineries can sell directly to consumers, operate tasting rooms, and ship to Georgia addresses.
Brewpubs operate under a hybrid arrangement — you need both a Manufacturer license and a Retail Consumption Dealer license. The brewpub can brew on-site and sell directly to customers as part of the restaurant operation.

The 2017 reform was a major shift. Before it, Georgia breweries could only give away samples and sell "tours" that happened to include beer. The direct-sales model is relatively new, and some local jurisdictions are still catching up with their ordinances. Confirm that your local government has adopted the state-level changes before assuming you can sell pints in your taproom.

Other permits you need alongside your alcohol license

The alcohol license is the centerpiece, but Georgia bars and restaurants need several other permits:

Business license: From your city or county. Called an "Occupation Tax Certificate" in most Georgia jurisdictions. Fees are based on gross receipts or number of employees. Typically $50 to $400 per year for a small business.
Food service permit: From your county health department. Required if you serve any food. Georgia follows the FDA Food Code, and you will face a pre-opening inspection plus at least one annual unannounced inspection. A critical violation can shut you down on the spot.
Fire safety inspection: From your local fire marshal. Covers occupancy limits, exit routes, fire suppression, and alarm systems. Required before opening and periodically thereafter.
Certificate of Occupancy: From your local building department. Confirms the space is zoned and built for your intended use. See our Certificate of Occupancy guide.
Sign permit: From your local planning or zoning department. Georgia municipalities regulate exterior signage heavily, especially in historic districts.
Sales tax registration: From the Georgia DOR. You must register to collect state sales tax (4%) plus any local option sales tax (1% to 4% depending on county).
Music/entertainment license: If you have live music, DJs, or even a jukebox playing copyrighted music, you need licenses from BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC. This is not a government permit, but the fines for unlicensed public performance of copyrighted music can reach $30,000 per song.

For the full list based on your specific city and business type, use the free permit checker.

Tips from Georgia bar and restaurant owners

Check wet/dry status at the address level, not the county level. A city within a dry county can be wet if it held its own referendum. An unincorporated area of a wet county might have different rules than the nearest city. Call the clerk.
Apply for local first. The state will not process your application without evidence of local approval. Do not waste time submitting to the DOR before you have your local license or at least a letter of approval in hand.
Budget for both layers of fees. The $2,000 state fee for full liquor service is just the start. Add $5,000 or more for a city like Atlanta or Savannah. First-year total licensing costs of $7,000 to $10,000 are normal for a full-service bar in metro Atlanta.
Measure the distance to churches and schools yourself. Do not rely on the landlord's assurance. Walk it with a measuring wheel or use a GIS tool. If you are on the boundary, get a surveyor's certification. An objection based on distance after you have already invested in buildout is a disaster.
Track both renewal dates. State and local licenses expire on different schedules. A lapse in either one means you stop serving. Two separate reminders, two separate renewal processes. The PermitDue dashboard tracks both in one place.
Do not assume Sunday sales are allowed. Even in the Atlanta metro, some jurisdictions have not passed the Sunday referendum. And if they have, the hours may not be what you expect. Check before you print your brunch menu.

Get your full Georgia permit checklist

Use the free permit checker to see every permit your Georgia bar, restaurant, brewery, or winery needs. Enter your city, pick your business type, and get the full list with links to the actual agencies, estimated costs, and processing timelines.

Georgia's two-tier licensing system — state plus local — means twice the paperwork, twice the fees, and twice the renewal deadlines. In a state where your county's wet/dry status can change your entire business plan, and where a single expired local license can shut down your bar for a month, there is no room for guesswork. The PermitDue dashboard tracks every license from both levels of government and sends reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before expiration. When the state renewal is in November and the city renewal is in January, those are two deadlines you cannot afford to confuse.