Special Licenses and Permits

A special occasion license allows a bona fide nonprofit organization to sell liquor at a specific time, date and place. Examples of events include fundraising dinners, gala events, auctions, and wine tastings. 

Note: It is against the law to allow a third party (i.e.: promoter) to run an event on your behalf in exchange for a percentage of the profits. Allowing a third party to collect part of the proceeds or take a cut of the proceeds could prevent your nonprofit from getting future Special Occasion Licenses.    

Special Occasion Licenses

• Cost: $60 per day, per location 
• Apply and pay for this license on LCB’s Portal. 
• Allows sales of spirits, beer and wine by individual serving for on-premises consumption. 
• The local authority (e.g. mayor or county executive) will be notified of your application and have the opportunity to weigh in on the application. 
• Organizations are limited to 12 single-day events per calendar year. 
• Special occasion licensees may not advertise or sell alcohol below cost. 
• You may buy spirits from a domestic (in-state) Spirits Distributor, Spirits Retailer licensee, Craft Distillery, or Distillery. You may also buy spirits from a U.S. distillery holding a Spirits Out-of-State Certificate of Approval (COA) in Washington to ship spirits directly to licensed retailers. Beer or wine may be bought wholesale or retail. 

Resources

• Special Occasion License FAQ

What does the permit cost?  

Banquet permits cost $10 per day for an event (e.g. three-day events cost $30). You will need an email address and a credit or debit card to complete the permit process on the LCB Portal. We will send you an email with your permit attached. If you do not find the email in your email inbox, check your “junk” or “spam” folders before contacting the LCB Licensing Customer Service for support. Please make sure your web browser is updated for our online payment system's security requirements.  

Important information about banquet permits 

• All banquet permit sales are final.  
• No refunds will be issued.  
• Banquet permits are available to for-profit businesses, societies, organizations, and individuals.  
• Retail liquor licensees may not obtain banquet permits.  
• Attendance must be by invitation only.  
• The event may not be open or advertised to the public.  
• Liquor must be free of charge or brought by guests attending the event. No separate or additional charge may be made for liquor, and donations may not be accepted.  
• The event may not be for business promotion(s).  
• Liquor must be purchased from a retail store at full retail price.  
• Package deals are allowed. For example, the cost of dinner, liquor, and entertainment are bundled into one price. To ensure guests get an equal share, tickets exchangeable for drinks may be issued as part of the package price. No profit may be made from the packaged deals.  
• Rental facilities or halls may require a banquet permit.  
• You must get any required permits from your local authorities before you host an event in a public place.   

A banquet permit is not required when all of the following apply:  

• The event is hosted by an individual, not an organization or business;  
• Guests are not charged for admission or anything provided at the function (e.g. ice, setup, food, cups, hors d’oeuvres, etc.); 
• "Charge" includes donations, dues, fees, or other payments; 
• The event would normally be held in the individual’s private home, but is so large that a separate facility is needed to accommodate it; 
• The facility where the event is held is closed to the general public during the event and does not have a liquor license; and 
• There is no business purpose for the event or any financial gain.   

What does the LCB do with my banquet permit?  
When you apply and pay for your banquet permit online, an email copy of it is sent to your local liquor enforcement office. LCB officers can visit events, and you must sign and post a copy of your permit at the location where you will be serving the alcohol at your event.  

A raffle permit allows a bona fide nonprofit organization to raffle liquor to its members at a specified date and place.

• Cost: $10 for a single event or $25 for an annual permit.
•  Allows the raffle of bottles of liquor or baskets that include liquor. 
• Tickets may only be sold to members of the nonprofit organization. 
• Organizations may not sell more than $5,000 worth of raffle tickets in a calendar year. 
• The nonprofit must buy the alcohol at retail price, or it must be donated by a private individual. 
• Apply online on the LCB Portal. 

Soju Endorsement Requirements

• Licensees must hold a spirit, beer, and wine restaurant license. 
• Soju can be served by the bottle only to tables of two or more persons 21 years of age or older. 
• A soju bottle may not be more than 375 milliliters, and may not be more than 24% alcohol by volume. 
• Empty bottles of soju may stay on the customers’ table until the customers have left the restaurant. 
• Customers can remove any unused portion of soju that was bought for consumption with a meal after recapping it in its original container. 
• Employees serving soju by the bottle must hold a Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST) permit and complete the LCB-provided soju training.
  • MAST permits and soju training records must be available for inspection when requested by the LCB. 
• Soju training must be taken every five years.
  • Responsible Soju Sales and Service Training Guide and Acknowledgment of Understanding - English
  • Responsible Soju Sales and Service Training Guide and Acknowledgment of Understanding - Korean
• The legislation for a Soju Endorsement is available here.
   

Application and Fees

Apply online on the LCB Portal. 

If you have any questions, please call our Customer Service at (360) 664-1600 or for help in Korean (한국어 서비스) call (360) 664-1728. 

Individuals/families moving into Washington State, including military moves, must get a Household Move Permit which authorizes the shipment of alcoholic beverages into the state. Only alcoholic beverages for personal use can be shipped to an individual in Washington as part of a household move. They must be shipped at the same time as your household goods; however they may be shipped separately.

Only alcoholic beverages for personal use can be shipped to an individual in Washington as part of a household move. They must be shipped at the same time as household goods, but they may be shipped separately.  

Imported beverages may only be for personal/household use – not for selling or other commercial uses. Individuals and families moving into Washington will get a one-time exemption from paying state liquor taxes or fees.  

• Click this link to apply for a Household Move Permit (online application produces a permit that will be emailed when the application is completed). 
• Please print two copies of your permit, sign them, then provide one signed copy to the shipping or moving company for clearing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The other signed copy is for your records. Any federal taxes and duties from CBP are separate from the state requirements.  

More Information on Household Moves is found here. 

The LCB authorizes farmers markets that wish to allow Washington wineries and breweries to sell product of their own production for off-premises consumption, and endorses qualified in-state wineries and breweries who wish to sell their product at a farmers market.

Farmers Market Authorization

Authorizes a qualified farmers market to have Washington wineries and breweries sell products of their own production for off-premises consumption.

• Cost: free
• A farmers market must get authorization from LCB to allow a Washington winery or brewery to sell bottled wine or beer for off-premises consumption. 
• Must provide a map showing all booths, stalls, or other designated locations where bottled wine or beer may be sold during the application process. 
• The LCB will post a public notice for 14 days at your market. 
• The local government authority and any schools, churches, or public institutions within 500 feet of the market will be notified and will have 20 days to respond with concerns or objections. 
• The farmers market must meet the following qualifications to have wineries or breweries sell its products (RCW 66.24.170, RCW 66.24.240, and RCW 66.24.244 subsection 5):
  • The market must sponsor a regular assembly of vendors at a defined location, for the purpose of promoting the sale of agricultural products grown or produced in Washington directly to consumers.
  • The market must have at least five participating vendors that are farmers selling their own agricultural products.
  • "Farmer" means a person who sells, with or without processing, agricultural products raised on land he/she owns or leases in Washington or in a county that borders the state.
  • The total combined gross annual sales of vendors that are farmers must exceed the total combined gross annual sales of vendors who are processors or resellers.
  • A "processor" means a person who sells processed food personally prepared on land he or she owns or leases in Washington or in a county that borders the state. A "reseller" means a person who buys agricultural products from a farmer and resells the products directly to consumers.
  • The total combined gross annual sales of vendors who are farmers, processors, or resellers must exceed the total combined gross annual sales of all other vendors.
  • The market may not have vendors that sell imported items or secondhand items or who are franchisees.

Farmers Market Endorsement

Allows qualified in-state wineries, breweries, and microbreweries to sell and provide sample product of their own production at an LCB-authorized farmers market. Qualifications and allowances below: 

• Cost: $75 a year
• For qualified Washington wineries, breweries, and microbreweries: 
• Allows you to sell your own bottled wine or beer at an authorized farmers market for off-premises consumption. 
• Allows you to provide samples of your own bottled wine or beer at an authorized farmers market: 
  • Each sample must be two ounces or less, up to a total of two ounces per customer per day. 
     
• For each month you plan to sell your beer or wine at a farmers market, you must provide the LCB with a list of the markets you will sell at during the following month, and the dates and times you plan to sell. 
• Qualifications: 
  • Wineries and microbreweries must be located in Washington State and have a valid Washington domestic winery or microbrewery license (a “microbrewery” produces less than 60,000 barrels of beer a year). 
  • In-state domestic breweries (breweries that produce 60,000 barrels of beer a year or more) may apply if they meet the qualification for the reduced tax rate in RCW 66.24.290. 
  • Wine sold at an authorized farmers markets must be made entirely from grapes grown in a recognized Washington region or from other agricultural products grown in the state.  
  • Beer sold at a farmers market must be produced in Washington. 
     
• Wineries and breweries may not store wine or beer at a farmers market beyond the hours they offer bottled wine or beer for sale, and they may not act as a distributor from the market location. 
• This endorsement is part of a winery or brewery license, and endorsement holders have the responsibility to follow all liquor laws and rules. Violations are grounds for the LCB to take away endorsement and to take administrative action against the license of a winery, microbrewery, or brewery. 

A Local Wine Association is a retail license for nonprofit societies or organizations formed for the purpose of encouraging consumer education of and promoting the economic development for a designated area of the Washington state wine industry.  

Local Wine Association License requirements:  

• Licensees may buy or receive donations of wine from wineries licensed in Washington State (domestic wineries) and certificate of approval holders to use for promotional or marketing purposes.  
• Events and marketing programs run by the licensee may be held on the premise of a domestic winery or a domestic winery’s additional location.  
  • The wine industry association licensee and domestic winery licensee must separately account for their own sales.  
  • Domestic winery licensees are exempt from RCW 66.28.305 when making retail sales at these events, allowing them to make or receive financial advances.  
• The LCB must be notified at least 45 days before an event or marketing program.  
• Licensees may host up to 12 events annually (each calendar year).  
• Licensees may also apply for special occasions licenses.  

If you currently hold a wine association license and want to notify to LCB of an upcoming event, please go to the LCB Portal and log into your account.