COVID-19 Relief for Liquor Licensees Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
On February 28, 2021, Governor Inslee signed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB 5272) into law. This law waives annual renewal fees for 12 months (April 1, 2021 to March 30, 2022) for the following liquor license types:
- distillers, distill/rectify, fruit/wine distillery, craft distillery;
- distillery/craft distillery tasting room;
- domestic wineries;
- domestic breweries;
- microbreweries;
- beer/wine restaurant;
- tavern;
- snack bar;
- spirits/beer/wine restaurant;
- nonprofit arts;
- motel;
- sports entertainment facility;
- public house;
- hotel;
- spirits/beer/wine nightclub;
- beer/wine theater;
- spirits/beer/wine theater;
- senior center; and
- caterers
Additionally, licensees that temporarily closed between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, and did not pay a renewal fee during that time, will not have to pay an additional fee in order to become an active licensee again.
This relief is not available for liquor licensees whose license was suspended by the WSLCB for health and safety violations of state COVID-19 violations, or for liquor licensees who received an order of restraint or citation from the Department of Labor & Industries for allowing an employee to work where business activity was prohibited in violation of an emergency proclamation by the Governor.
Please contact Licensing Customer Service at the WSLCB for questions about the above information: (360) 664-1600 – Option 1, or at customerservicelicensing@lcb.wa.gov.
Finally, please note that a business owner, you may have other renewal fees that are due to the Department of Revenue’s Business Licensing Services (BLS). The WSLCB encourages you to respond to BLS if they contact you about those renewal fees to avoid any late fees or license expirations. For any questions about BLS fees, please contact them at 360-705-6741.
###
|
