Liquor License FAQs
Who is required to get a liquor license?
Any person who sells liquor in Arizona must apply for a liquor license at
the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (the "Dept. of
Liquor"). A liquor license application must be filed for any new liquor
establishment (a "new license") or for any change in ownership or location
of an existing license (a "person transfer" or "location transfer").
Who governs the issuance of a liquor license?
Liquor licenses are governed by Arizona state law. Thus, the Dept. of Liquor
and the State Liquor Board have the ultimate authority over the issuance of
liquor licenses in Arizona.
The seven-member State Liquor Board is appointed by the governor. The liquor
board usually does not get involved in the issuance of "uncontested" liquor
licenses. However, the State Liquor Board will conduct a hearing on a
license application if the Mesa City Council objects to approval of the
license.
What are the requirements for obtaining a liquor license?
The City of Mesa follows all State of Arizona requirements. Please see
the Arizona Department of Liquor
Licenses and Control Web site or call (602) 542-5141 for more
information on license requirements and qualifications. To see the
types of licenses and the State fees go to
http://www.azliquor.gov/.
What are the City of Mesa liquor licensing fees?
| LIQUOR LICENSE |
|
| Application Fee (all series) |
$100 |
| |
|
| Issuance Fee |
|
| Series 1 - 4, 8 and 13 |
$2,000 |
| Series 6, 7 |
$2,000 |
| Series 9, 10, 11, 12 |
$2,000 |
| Series 14 |
$2,000 |
| |
|
| Annual Fee due Dec 31 of each year |
|
| Series 1 - 4, 8 and 13 |
$500 |
| Series 6, 7, 9, 10 and 14 |
$550 |
| |
|
| Late Fee |
20% of renewal fee |
| |
|
| SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE |
|
| Application Fee |
$25 |
How can I speak for or against a liquor license?
Any person who resides or who owns or leases property within one mile of the
applicant's premises may submit written comments or petitions to the City
stating whether they are for or against the application within the 20-day
posting period. No arguments shall be filed or accepted by the City
thereafter. Written comments or petitions should be mailed, faxed, or sent
by
e-mail to the City of Mesa
Licensing Office.
In addition, any person - no matter where he/she lives - who wishes to speak
before the Mesa City Council concerning a liquor license application may do
so at a public hearing. The City Council holds a public hearing on each
application immediately prior to voting on whether to recommend approval or
denial of the application to the State Liquor Board.
What is an Extension of Premises?
An Extension of Premises is an extension of the existing area occupied by
the licensee and can be either permanent or temporary.
ARS 4-207.01; Rule R19-1-311 "No licensee shall change or alter the
physical arrangement of his licensed premises so as to include greater space
or the use of different or additional entrances, without having first
submitted a diagram of the proposed alterations for prior approval. (This
includes outdoor patio tables within the boundaries of the licensee's
property.) The diagram must be submitted for approval for a temporary, as
well as a permanent extension of premises."
The State application is submitted to the city where the business is
located. Upon approval by the city, the application must be taken to the
Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control for their approval.
What is a Special Event Liquor License?
A Special Event Liquor License allows a charitable, civic, fraternal,
political or religious organization to sell and serve spirituous liquor for
consumption only on the premises where the spirituous liquor is sold, and
only for the period authorized on the license. This is a temporary license.
The applicant for a special event liquor license must complete a state
application and file the application with the city where the special event
is to take place.
The application will be reviewed by the City Council and a recommendation of
approval or denial will be made to the State. The State will make the final
decision. Qualifying organizations will be granted a special event license
for no more than ten (10) days in a calendar year. Events must be held on
consecutive days and at the same location or additional licenses will be
required. The license is automatically terminated upon closing of the last
day of the event or the expiration of the license, whichever occurs first.
The qualified organization must receive at least twenty-five percent (25%)
of the gross revenues of the special events. A person selling spirituous
liquor under a special event license must purchase the spirituous liquor
from the holder of a license authorized to sell off-sale; except that, in
the case of a non-profit organization which has obtained a special event
license for the purpose of charitable fund raising activities, a person may
receive the spirituous liquor from a wholesaler as a donation.