Georgia is a non-quota / open-issue state: you apply to the state for a new license rather than buying one on a secondary market. The application/license fee is State license ~$100 + local license fees that range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Bottom line: issuing body is the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division; the license most bars/restaurants need is the State Retail Consumption Dealer license + a local alcohol license; typical timeline 60–90 days, driven mostly by the local approval process; state fee $100.
High-level overview of the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division process — your exact path depends on license type, city/county, and whether you're applying new vs. transferring an existing license.
| State application / license fee | State license ~$100 + local license fees that range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars |
| License type (bar/restaurant) | State Retail Consumption Dealer license + a local alcohol license |
| Quota state? | No — open issue |
| Typical timeline | 60–90 days, driven mostly by the local approval process |
Georgia is dual-licensed and non-quota at the state level, but the LOCAL (city/county) license is the gating one — many jurisdictions limit licenses by distance rules and zoning rather than a hard count.
Note: the agency, quota status, and license type for Georgia are verified against the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division; the fee figure is general guidance — confirm the exact current fee on the board's published schedule before you budget.
A liquor-license consultant / expediter handles the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division application, public notice, background packet, and (in quota states) the transfer paperwork — typically $2,000–$10,000 depending on complexity. Worth it if you're on a build timeline and can't afford a rejected application.
Start at the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division →
Tip for the owner: set AFFILIATE_LIQUOR_PRO_URL to a licensing-consultant lead-gen/affiliate link to monetize this CTA. Until then it points to the official Georgia board.
Georgia historically restricted Sunday sales by local referendum ('brunch bill') — confirm the local hours and Sunday rules for your jurisdiction.
See the full per-step requirements: Georgia liquor license requirements → · Cost detail: Georgia liquor license cost →
Apply to the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division. The license most bars and restaurants need is the State Retail Consumption Dealer license + a local alcohol license. Georgia issues these on application — there is no statewide cap. Expect roughly 60–90 days, driven mostly by the local approval process from a complete application to issuance.
The state application/license fee is State license ~$100 + local license fees that range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Georgia is non-quota, so there's no large secondary-market premium — your main costs are the state fee plus local approvals.
Typically 60–90 days, driven mostly by the local approval process from a complete application, per the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division process — longer if there's a public-notice/protest period or local council approval. Georgia historically restricted Sunday sales by local referendum ('brunch bill') — confirm the local hours and Sunday rules for your jurisdiction.
Usually both. The Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division issues the state license (State Retail Consumption Dealer license + a local alcohol license); your city or county typically requires a separate local permit, zoning sign-off, or council approval. Confirm local requirements with your city before you apply to the state.
Looking in California instead? LiquorDesk also tracks surrendered & transfer-pending California liquor licenses by county, live from the CA ABC export — often a faster route than a new quota license.
Regulatory facts on this page are from the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division (Georgia's official alcohol-licensing authority). Verified against the board's published material on 2026-06-22. Fees, quotas and rules change — always confirm the current figures with the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol & Tobacco Division before you apply. This is informational regulatory content, not legal advice; for a transfer or contested application consult a licensed attorney or licensing consultant.