Tennessee 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 Liquor-by-the-drink license fee plus an inventory/privilege tax; roughly $300–$1,000+ in state fees plus local beer permit.
Bottom line: issuing body is the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC); the license most bars/restaurants need is the Liquor-by-the-Drink (LBD) license for on-premises spirits + a local beer permit; typical timeline About 4–8 weeks once local authorization is in place; state fee $300–$1,000.
High-level overview of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) 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 | Liquor-by-the-drink license fee plus an inventory/privilege tax; roughly $300–$1,000+ in state fees plus local beer permit |
| License type (bar/restaurant) | Liquor-by-the-Drink (LBD) license for on-premises spirits + a local beer permit |
| Quota state? | No — open issue |
| Typical timeline | About 4–8 weeks once local authorization is in place |
Tennessee is non-quota at the state level for liquor-by-the-drink, but the LOCAL government must first authorize liquor-by-the-drink (by referendum), and cities run their own permits.
Note: the agency, quota status, and license type for Tennessee are verified against the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC); 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 Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) 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 Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) →
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 Tennessee board.
Tennessee separates BEER (local beer boards) from LIQUOR/WINE (state TABC), and liquor-by-the-drink must be locally authorized by referendum — two parallel tracks for a full bar.
See the full per-step requirements: Tennessee liquor license requirements → · Cost detail: Tennessee liquor license cost →
Apply to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). The license most bars and restaurants need is the Liquor-by-the-Drink (LBD) license for on-premises spirits + a local beer permit. Tennessee issues these on application — there is no statewide cap. Expect roughly About 4–8 weeks once local authorization is in place from a complete application to issuance.
The state application/license fee is Liquor-by-the-drink license fee plus an inventory/privilege tax; roughly $300–$1,000+ in state fees plus local beer permit. Tennessee is non-quota, so there's no large secondary-market premium — your main costs are the state fee plus local approvals.
Typically About 4–8 weeks once local authorization is in place from a complete application, per the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) process — longer if there's a public-notice/protest period or local council approval. Tennessee separates BEER (local beer boards) from LIQUOR/WINE (state TABC), and liquor-by-the-drink must be locally authorized by referendum — two parallel tracks for a full bar.
Usually both. The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) issues the state license (Liquor-by-the-Drink (LBD) license for on-premises spirits + a local beer permit); 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 Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) (Tennessee'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 Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) before you apply. This is informational regulatory content, not legal advice; for a transfer or contested application consult a licensed attorney or licensing consultant.