Permits
Portal status information is found here.
More information and user guides are available on the Portal Resources page.
On July 27, 2025 Senate Bill 5786 goes into effect, increasing liquor licensing fees. Learn more about SB5786 here.
Alcohol permits cover many types of activities. They can be issued to businesses and individual people. Below is a list of permits available now. Go to the LCB Portal when you are ready to apply.
The Office or Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA) handbook has details about most of the common permits in the state, with timelines, and links to regulatory agencies statewide.
Did you know that the LCB, along with other state agencies track the number of permits and processing times to help us better serve you?
Class 1, 2, or 6 Permit: Ethyl Alcohol Permit
Alcohol Permits – for the purchase of ethyl alcohol not used for consumption.
- Permit 1 - used by a physician, dentist or a person in charge of an institution like hospitals.
- Permit 2 - used by an individual or business for scientific pursuit or mechanical/manufacturing business purposes, such as boat cleaning.
- Permit 6 - used by a person operating a drug store to be sold on the prescription of a physician.
Processing Time
7 - 14 calendar days
Class 4 Permit: Serve Employees & Guests
Permit for businesses that do not hold a liquor license to serve employees or invited guests at no charge, such as retirement facilities or large corporate companies.
Processing Time
30 - 45 calendar days
Class 5 Permit: Import for Manufacture
To import alcohol or other materials to be used in the manufacture of liquor, or other products - such as a winery, distillery or companies that manufacture food products containing alcohol of less than 1%.
Processing Time
7 - 14 calendar days
Class 8 Permit: Trade Show Event
Liquor service without charge or donation at a trade association event.
Processing Time
10 - 15 calendar days
Class 9 Permit: Trade Show Reception/Meal
Liquor donation by a manufacturer, importer or wholesaler for a trade association meal or reception event.
Processing Time
10 - 15 calendar days
Class 10 Permit: International Trade Event
Liquor service without charge or donation at an international trade fair, show or exposition.
Processing Time
10 - 15 calendar days
Class 11 Permit: Bed & Breakfast
Bed and Breakfast lodging facilities – allows an overnight lodging facility (from one – eight units) that serve breakfast to donate or serve beer or wine without charge to overnight guests for consumption on the premise, such as a small hotel or similar facility.
Processing Time
30 - 45 calendar days
Class 15 Permit: Alcohol Tasting
For alcohol tasting (not consuming) by people who are at least 18 years old who are enrolled as a student in a class that is part of a culinary, wine technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology related degree program at a community, technical college, regional or state university, such as educational training as part of the class curriculum in a community, technical college, regional or state university.
Processing Time
7 - 14 calendar days
Class 16 Permit: Day Spa
Allows Day Spas to offer one complimentary 6 oz. glass of wine or 12 oz. beer to customers who are at least 21 years old, such as a spa that offers at least three of the following four types of beauty services: hair care, nail care, skin care or body care (massage, wraps, waxing, etc.).
Processing Time
7 - 14 calendar days
Class 17 Permit: Nonprofit Private Wine Auction
A permit that allows a nonprofit organization to sell wine through a private auction that is not open to the public.
Processing Time
10 - 15 calendar days
Class 18, 19, or 20 Special Permit: Winery, Distillery, or Brewery
Allows a licensed Washington winery, distillery, or brewery to be present at a private event not open to the general public at a specified place and date for the purpose of tasting and selling alcohol of its own production for off-premises consumption.
Processing Time
10 calendar days
Class 21 Permit: Short-Term Rental Operator
Allows a short-term rental operator to provide a complimentary bottle of wine to rental guests who are at least 21 years old. A single permit applies to all rental properties owned or operated by the short-term rental operator and identified in the permit application, such as an overnight accommodation rented out by an operator on a short-term basis, including but not limited to, homes, rooms, condominiums or cabins.
Processing Time
7 - 14 calendar days
Permit to Raffle Alcohol
To raffle alcohol that has been purchased at retail or donated by a private person, such as an organization that is a state-registered charitable or nonprofit organization, organized primarily for purposes other than conducting raffles.
Processing Time
7 - 14 calendar days