Obtaining a Liquor License Miami-Dade County

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Liquor License. If you want to run a business or event where alcohol is sold, it’s important to consider getting your Miami-Dade County beer and wine license or liquor license. The process may be complicated and involves a lot of steps, but it is still essential to educate yourself on the requirements in order for the application process to be successful. Those who are concerned about the process hitting a standstill or the license application being rejected, or who simply do not have the time for this level of paperwork, can contact a third-party service, such as Beverage License Specialists, to complete the application on their behalf.

Beginning the License Application Process in Miami Dade County

Each municipal jurisdiction (cities and counties) within Florida may have their own specific liquor license regulations and requirements which may necessitate additional applications being filed within the municipality having jurisdiction over your intended location. As you begin the application process, you’ll need several forms of documentation to obtain a liquor license. These forms are consistent on the state level, so they will work for each county that you are seeking to operate. Before starting an application, make sure you have the following pieces of documentation:

Full-service bars and restaurants
Packaged beer and wine for off-premises consumption
Consumption on-premises for beer and wine only
Caterers
Culinary education programs
Hotels and motels
Transportation establishments such as railroads, boats, buses, airplanes or other passenger vessels
Event centers and performing arts facilities
Lodges, fraternal order groups, athletic clubs and golf clubs
Specialty and temporary permits

Types of Liquor Licenses Available in Miami-Dade County

There are many types of beer and wine and liquor licenses available, so it’s important to know the differences between each type of license. If you accidentally file the wrong application, your application may be denied and you may have to start the process over again from the beginning. This can delay the process, so it is worth learning about each type of license available, along with the associated fees:

1COP – allows for the sale of beer only for on-premise consumption at a bar or restaurant for an annual fee of $280
1APS – allows for the sale of beer only for package sales/off-premise consumption for an annual fee of $140
2COP – allows for the sale of beer and wine for on-premise consumption at a bar or restaurant for an annual fee of $392
2APS – allows for the sale of beer and wine for package sales/off-premise consumption for an annual fee of $196
3PS – allows for the sale of beer, wine, and spirits at a package liquor store/off-premise consumption for an annual fee of $1,365
4COP – allows for the sale of beer, wine, and spirits for on-premise consumption at a bar or restaurant for an annual fee of $1,820

In addition, in order to obtain issuance of a temporary beer & wine license or liquor license as fast as possible, there are additional fees required by the DABT. The temporary license fees are as follows:

New 1APS is $100
New 2APS is $100
New 1COP is $100
New 2COP is $100
New 3PS is $341.25
New 4COP is $455

In Miami-Dade County, you may also qualify for a 4COP/SFS, formerly known as an SRX license. These licenses allow your restaurant to serve beer, wine, and spirits as long as the following conditions are met:

You run a bona fide restaurant
Depending upon the municipality, you will need to have a minimum of 2,500-4,000 square feet of space
Again depending upon the specific municipality, you must be able to serve 150-200 patrons at a time
At least 51 percent or greater of your gross sales must be derived from the sale of food and non-alcoholic beverages

Completing the Liquor License Application

When you are applying for a beer and wine license or liquor license, Florida has specific requirements that must be met. Most of these are mandatory, and fulfilling each step is critical to having your application processed quickly. While each step depends on the type of license you are applying for, there are a few common elements you are likely going to need to provide:

Fingerprinting
Information about yourself as well as other officers, directors, and shareholders
Any arrest history if you or any other applicant has a criminal record
Social Security information for all applicants
Your Florida document registration number
Your company’s federal employer’s identification number
A floor plan sketch of your business space
Sales & Use tax registration with the Florida Dep. of Revenue
Zoning approval from the municipality you are seeking to operate in

Depending on the type of establishment you are running, you may also need to get approval from the following agencies:

Divisions of Hotels and Restaurants, for businesses that prepare and serve food such as bars and restaurants
Department of Health, for businesses that do not prepare food

Failure to provide all of the information requested could result in the denial of your application. To ensure the highest likelihood that your application will be approved with no questions asked, it may be best to hire a third-party service to help you every step of the way.

Are you still early in the process? Click here to view our blog, which answers a lot of common questions!

New Florida Liquor License Application Process

Complete Application

First, you need to fill out an application.

District Office Review

Once you’ve completed the extensive list of application materials required for the first step, you’ll need to wait for the district office to review your application.

On-site Inspection

Once your alcoholic beverage license initial materials are accepted, processed, and license issued, an on-site inspection may be required to ensure your location is in compliance with the State requirements.

Get a Team to Support the Process

It’s important to have a professional team like Beverage License Specialists engaged to facilitate and monitor the licensing process for you. Click here to view the services we offer.

Or click here to read our About Us page!

How Beverage License Specialists Can Help Get You Licensed

Obtaining a Miami-Dade County liquor license or beer and wine license can be complicated. If this information seems overwhelming, confusing, or simply too much work, there are ways to obtain a license without stress. We have over 30 years of experience making sure that clients like you obtain the licensing you to need to keep your business flourishing.

If you’re looking to apply for a beer and wine license or liquor license, contact us at Beverage License Specialists to help you with your application.

We make sure that the right forms are filed, are sensitive to grand openings and deadlines, and ensure any follow-ups with officials from the city, county or the state are performed in a timely way. Give us a call at 954-908-6012 at or contact us online to learn more today.

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