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Liquor Licensing FAQs

General Overview of the Licensing Process 
To find out who you will work with, how long it will take and how to begin the process, contact the local OLCC office where your licensed business will be located.  Click here for office contact information. 

Important Update: Local Government Recommendation Requirement

What is changing?
Effective immediately, we are accepting applications with either:

  • valid proof of submission of the OLCC Liquor License Application to the local government, or
  • the final recommendation from the local government


What is valid proof of submission from the local government?
Each local government processes applications in a unique way per its city or county ordinances. Your proof of submission MUST include these key pieces of information:

  • Date the local government received the application
  • Trade Name of the business
  • Premises street address (where the business will be located)
  • Name of the local government (city or county name)
  • That the submission is for a Liquor License


How do I submit my application to the OLCC?
Once you receive proof of submission from your local government, you may submit that proof along with your complete application to: OLCC.LiquorLicenseApplication@Oregon.gov

NOTE: For tracking purposes, please submit all materials at the same time, in the same email.


How do I find my local government?
To find the correct local government for your application, we recommend searching the internet for “Your City or County” + OLCC Liquor License. This will typically return a search result that will help guide you to the appropriate office in your jurisdiction.

Common departments for processing LGB recommendations include Planning & Development, Civic Life, or the Sheriff’s Office; however, each local government is different.

Liquor License Applicants within the City of Portland, click here: City of Portland.


What types of applications need a recommendation from the local government?
Local government recommendation is clearly explained on the Liquor License Application. This is a four-page application that is used for many situations, including, but not limited to New Outlets, Change of Ownership, and Change of Location.

Other license actions and Out-of-State permits do not require recommendation from the local government. If you do not see any requirement for local government recommendation on your application, you can ignore these instructions.


Do not pay the license fee at the time you apply for the license.

The license fee will be collected if the OLCC is able to issue a Temporary Letter of Authority to Operate and/or when the OLCC issues your final license.​

OLCC Liquor License Fees​​

A Temporary Letter of Authority to Operate is an authority issued by the OLCC to an applicant for a liquor license.  The authority allows the applicant to immediately start exercising the privileges of the license while the OLCC completes its investigation.  The authority is not an actual license. 

Only one Temporary Letter of Authority may be issued, it may not exceed 180 days, and it may not be extended.  The fee is not refundable.

An applicant must first have its application packet accepted by the OLCC.  Then the applicant must meet eligibility requirements set by the OLCC in order to receive a Temporary Letter of Authority to Operate.

The OLCC does not require applicants to receive a Temporary Letter of Authority to Operate.​


As part of the application process you must submit an OLCC Individual History form and disclose your background and the OLCC will run a background check. 
 
DUIIs, drug or felony convictions and misdemeanor criminal activity are things the OLCC will look at, but they may or may not make you ineligible for a license.  Some of the other considerations are:  the amount of criminal activity in your past, how long it has been since you got the convictions, whether you've had alcohol or drug treatment and whether you told OLCC about the arrests and convictions.   In any case, you are required to answer questions about your background.  This issue becomes more serious if you make false statements or don't fully disclose your history. 
 
You can call and talk to a license investigator about your history, but they will only be able to give you their best guess. License decisions about an applicant with a criminal background are considered on a case by case basis.

It is possible that the history of problems and violations at the business will affect your application.
 
To find out about the history of problems and violations at the business, contact your local OLCC office. 

In Oregon, distilled spirits (hard liquor) by the bottle are sold only in retail liquor stores. The State owns the distilled spirits in each store.

Independent contractors (liquor store operators) are responsible for the stores' daily operations. Liquor store operators and their employees are part of a small business operation and are not state employees. Store operators are appointed by the OLCC. The process for becoming a store operator is open and competitive to those who meet the qualifications.
 
More about Oregon Liquor Stores and Distilled Spirits

If you are planning a wedding and thinking about serving alcohol, you may be wondering if you need a liquor license.

You don't need a liquor license if you are serving alcohol, but not accepting payment or donations for it. A license is required if you will serve alcohol to your guests who will pay or donate money for their drink.

If you are using a caterer, make sure that they have a liquor license if your guests will be paying for their alcoholic beverages.


For more information, please contact your local OLCC office.