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Liquor Licensing Pilot Project
The LCB Liquor Licensing unit is currently working on a pilot project to reduce the time it currently takes to issue licenses. We have received feedback from the industry that the current license processing timelines are too long. We are hoping that these efforts will provide better customer service for our applicants and licensees. We are sharing this information with you so that you are aware of what we are doing to meet these needs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, processing timelines increased significantly due to work and supply chain limitations. Now that business has returned to a more normal cadence, we will be reviewing our time frames to better support our applicants.
Our current average processing time is 70 days. Our goal is to reduce that time to an average of 45 days, starting May 15, 2023.
As we begin this process, we will start with beer/wine restaurants and taverns to learn more about the impacts of these changes and how to best implement them. Four Licensing Specialists have offered to work on the pilot.
The liquor team is expected to contact licensees within two days of assignment and complete the initial interview within the first week. Supervisors will send applicants an email to let them know that we have received their application, introduce them to their Licensing Specialist, and inform them of the timeframes.
What does this mean for you?
- Licenses will be issued more quickly.
- Timelines for licensees to return documents will be shortened from 14 to seven days. Licensees can expect that the Licensing Specialist will review their documents within seven days.
- If additional documents or corrections are necessary, the specialist will notify the licensee, and they will have an additional seven days to return those documents.
- Applicants will be expected to be ready to operate within the 45 days. If they are in the process of significant construction or remodeling, they will be asked to reapply when they are ready to complete the process.
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