02/06/2026
I frequently receive questions about transferring an existing liquor license to a new premises, often based on the misconception that purchasing an existing license eliminates the need to comply with City requirements for alcohol service.
It is important to clarify that buying an existing liquor license—or a beer and wine license—does not waive or bypass City approval requirements. If the proposed location is not already approved by the City for alcohol service, the new operator will still be required to obtain the appropriate land-use entitlement, such as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
In other words, regardless of whether the license is newly issued or transferred from an existing business, the City must approve the site you are proposing to operate from. If the location has not been previously entitled for alcohol sales, a Conditional Use Permit will be required to legally operate.
In most cases, the only situation where a Conditional Use Permit may be avoided is when the liquor license being transferred is already associated with the same premises and is coming from the previous tenant at that location.