About liquor license actions
Summary
It typically takes 45 to 60 days in Washington state to get a liquor license. In this section of EveryBlock, you can find out about actions relating to liquor licenses near you.
The Washington State Liquor Control Board provides information about recent liquor license applications, approvals and moves to discontinue licenses. Each action record includes the date the action occurred and the affected location. You can find out about what the establishment does — microbrewery, beer and wine specialty shop, grocery stores, etc. — and where the application is in the process (new application, approved or discontinued).
Finally, each record has an event type, which indicates what the applicant is trying to accomplish. This can include getting a license at a location that hasn't been licensed before, changing the name that a licensed business operates under or asking for permission to expand into new business areas. A good example is an establishment that wants to add off-premise wine sales.
Source
The data comes from the Liquor License New Applications, Approvals, and Discontinuances by City or County page of the Washington State Liquor Control Board. The board's site is updated each day and we at EveryBlock look for new actions each day.
How does the process work and how can I get involved?
The Liquor Control Board outlines the state's licensing process in the Applying for a Liquor License guide. About two weeks after an entity applies for a license in Washington, liquor control representatives contact the applicant. The applicant is asked for more information, and, after it is provided, state officials contact authorities in the affected city or county.
Local officials have 20 days to respond or object to the application. If the business is applying for a new license, a change of location of wants to change the types of services it provides, local liquor enforcement officials post a public notice at the site, and the notice must be displayed for 14 days.
Citizens have until the end of the licensing process to comment. The Liquor Control Board takes all protest and support letters into consideration when deciding to approve or deny a license.
Local officials also check the neighborhood for nearby public and private schools and churches. The Liquor Control Board is required to notify any of these locations within 500 feet of the proposed business and get comment from them. State law allows public schools within 500 feet of the premises to veto a license.
In addition to issues related to such factors, licenses can be denied because of questionable sources of funds, an applicant's criminal background and a series of violations that show a disregard for liquor laws and rules.
Licenses can be discontinued by the license holder or by the liquor license board for such reasons as repeat violations, failure to pay taxes or objections from local authorities.
