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Liquor license for sale in California
California is a quota state for full-liquor licenses, so a Type 47 or Type 48 in a built-out county is a tradeable asset, not a form you file. Beer/wine licenses (Type 41, Type 20) are not quota-limited and cost only state fees.
License types & what they trade for
| License | Use | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Type 47 On-Sale General — Eating Place | Restaurant, full bar (beer, wine, spirits). Bona-fide eating place required. | $60k–$500k resale (county-dependent) |
| Type 48 On-Sale General — Public Premises | Bar / nightclub / tavern, 21-and-over, no food requirement. | $80k–$450k resale |
| Type 21 Off-Sale General | Liquor store — packaged beer, wine and spirits to go. | $40k–$350k resale |
| Type 41 On-Sale Beer & Wine — Eating Place | Restaurant, beer and wine only. | ~$1,000–$3,000 state fees (no resale needed) |
| Type 20 Off-Sale Beer & Wine | Convenience / grocery — packaged beer and wine. | ~$1,000 state fees (no resale needed) |
Resale figures are market estimates and move with demand. Verify current availability on the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) registry.
By county / market
- Los Angeles County — Largest market; Type 47 resale commonly $150k–$500k. CUP from the city/county is the gating step, not the license itself.
- San Diego County — Coastal demand keeps Type 47/48 in the $120k–$400k band; beach-area premises carry a premium.
- Orange County — High-demand suburban county; Type 47 commonly $150k–$450k.
- Kern County — Inland county — general-license resale is materially cheaper than the coast; check current ABC quota before buying.
- San Francisco County — Extreme scarcity; full-liquor licenses among the priciest in the state.
Next steps
Read the step-by-step how-to-buy guide for California, the California cost breakdown, and how buyers finance a license.
FAQ
How much does a liquor license cost in California?
Resale price is set by county scarcity, not the state fee. The annual ABC application fee for a general license (when a county is under quota or in the priority drawing) is roughly $15,000–$17,000 — a fraction of the open-market resale price in a built-out county.
Can you buy a liquor license in California?
Yes. California caps general licenses, so they trade on a secondary market. California is a quota state for full-liquor licenses, so a Type 47 or Type 48 in a built-out county is a tradeable asset, not a form you file. Beer/wine licenses (Type 41, Type 20) are not quota-limited and cost only state fees.
How do you transfer a liquor license in California?
A Type 47/48/21 may transfer to a new owner (person-to-person) and, with ABC approval and county quota room, to a new premises within the same county. Inter-county transfer of a general license is tightly restricted. Every transfer runs through ABC escrow + the 30-day premises posting.