Whether you’re planning on opening a bar, adding liquor sales to your restaurant, or purchasing an existing bar, alcohol permit regulations in the Windy City are notoriously complex.
To obtain a liquor license, establishments must navigate a complex maze of local and state-level permits and applications.
As a business owner, you’ve already got enough on your plate. Getting help from a liquor licensing law firm like Hays Firm takes the pressure out of the application process, and lets you stay focused on making your bar or restaurant stand out.
Today, we’ll give you an overview of the liquor licensing process, and show you how getting professional legal assistance facilitates the application process, so you can focus on the rest of your business.
Who Controls Liquor Licensing in Chicago?
Gaining a liquor license in Chicago requires approval from both local and state levels of government. The process often involves obtaining licensing applications from:
- The City of Chicago or other municipality; and
- The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC)
If your planned location is within Chicago city limits you’ll need to apply for a license directly from the City. If your location is in the suburbs, then you must apply for a license with the town where you business will be located.
In either case, permitting is also required at the state level, and is controlled by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. This application involves its own set of application requirements, and is typically submitted after you’ve been approved for a local license.
Each authority’s application process is different, and being approved by one doesn’t mean that you’ll be approved by the other.
Complicating matters further, these agencies don’t interact with each other, leaving applicants with a significant amount of paperwork and red tape to contend with.
Working alongside a liquor licensing law firm familiar with Chicago, the suburbs, and State of Illinois Liquor Control Commission ensures you’ll have the help of someone who fully understands the requirements of each authority, and allows you to stay focused on other aspects of your business.
The Liquor Licensing Application Process in Chicago
So what does the licensing process actually involve? Let’s break it down step by step:
1. Pre-Application Planning
Before beginning your application, you must first understand your eligibility.
Chicago has strict zoning and distancing rules designed to keep liquor sales away from close proximity to churches, schools, and residential areas. If your planned establishment is too close to any of these areas, you may not be eligible for a liquor license.
In addition, you’ll need to know exactly what type of liquor license you require. At a high level, liquor licenses in Illinois fall into several different categories.
- Retail licenses are for those who sell alcoholic beverages directly to the public.
- Manufacturer’s liquor licenses are for establishments that brew or distill their own beverages.
- Distributor/importer liquor licenses are required for those who sell alcohol in bulk to other businesses or retailers.
Beyond that, there are other license types such as on-premises consumption, packaged goods, and tavern licenses.
Understanding your eligibility and the types of licenses you need is the cornerstone of the liquor licensing process. Getting help from a liquor license consulting service can help you determine whether or not you meet the eligibility requirements, as well as what type of license you need. This help is vital in identifying potential red flags before beginning your application.
2. Filing and Review
Once you’ve determined that you’re eligible for a liquor license, you can begin the application process.
You’ll first need to apply for a liquor license from either the City of Chicago or Cook County. There are a variety of requirements including:
- Providing detailed ownership information
- Submitting to background checks for owners
- Posting a public notice
- Departmental inspections including Health, Zoning, and Fire
- Review by the local Liquor Commission
Once you’ve obtained your local liquor license, you can apply for a license from the ILCC, but approval from your local jurisdiction first is key.
If you file with the state first, you may face unexpected delays and wasted filing fees, as the state only considers licenses that have already been approved at the local level.
A liquor license lawyer can help you gather and prepare the documentation needed cleanly and without error. They will also coordinate filings so each application is submitted at the appropriate time, streamlining the process for you.
How a Liquor License Lawyer Facilitates the Process
With so many moving parts in Chicago and Illinois alcohol permit regulations, it’s easy for business owners to make a simple error or omission in their application that can create weeks or months of delays.
Working with a liquor license lawyer brings several distinct advantages:
Early Liquor License Application Help
Obtaining a liquor license is about more than preparing paperwork. An alcohol licensing attorney can help you think strategically about obtaining your liquor license.
Early in the process, a liquor license lawyer will help you:
- Evaluate your location’s zoning
- Advise you on the types of licenses you will need
- Gather needed documents
- Ensure applications are filled correctly and without error
Getting early liquor license application help avoids common mistakes, like filing for the wrong license type, and ensures the application process goes smoothly.
Management of the Application Process
The liquor license application process is highly procedural. Missing a single deadline or making an error on your application can result in weeks of delays, or potentially even a denial of permit.
Rather than take chances juggling the lengthy application process along with your other responsibilities, a liquor license lawyer can:
- Manage communication with regulatory agencies
- Coordinate inspections
- Respond to questions or objections on your behalf
If it is your first time owning a bar and restaurant business, a licensing attorney’s help is especially valuable. Their deep understanding of city, county, and state regulatory requirements is essential to successfully completing the complex application process.
Even for those who’ve applied for a liquor license before, the process tends to move forward faster when applications are handled professionally by experts who understand the process and expectations.
Navigating Objections
Before you can be approved for a Chicago liquor license, a public notice must be posted. However, a public notice invites scrutiny from the community. Neighbors or local businesses can object, and concerns may require a hearing or special conditions being placed on your establishment.
An attorney specializing in bar and restaurant licensing can represent your interests during a public hearing, and may even be able to proactively negotiate reasonable conditions for the permit, rather than your application being denied outright.
Ongoing Liquor License Compliance
Being awarded a liquor license is only the beginning of a long relationship with local and state authorities. You’ll need to remain in compliance with local ordinances and stay out of trouble to keep your license.
A liquor license compliance lawyer helps you avoid common compliance issues like:
- Operating after approved hours
- Employee-related violations
- Promotional violations
- Failure to renew your license on time
- Unauthorized ownership changes
Working proactively with a liquor license compliance lawyer gives you access to expert guidance that helps you avoid violations before they occur, and protect you from unnecessary fines and suspensions.
Handling Violations and Suspensions
As hard as we try to avoid violations, they can and do occur. When they do, the consequences can be significant. Citations issued by local or state authorities can result in fines, suspensions, or even your liquor license being revoked.
Attempting to handle a violation on your own leaves you open to making mistakes, such as accidentally making incriminating statements, or missing procedural opportunities that make matters worse.
A lawyer for liquor license suspension or violations can represent you against enforcement actions and negotiate solutions that minimize disruptions to your business.
Why Hays Firm is the Right Choice for Liquor Licensing in Chicago
The liquor licensing process in Chicago is complex, involving multiple agencies, strict procedural requirements, and ongoing compliance obligations. Navigating all this on your own without liquor license application help requires a great deal of time and effort, pulling you away from your other obligations as you get your business off the ground.
Working with Hays Firm as your liquor licensing law firm gives you an immediate advantage.
Since 2008, we have served the Chicagoland area as a trusted legal partner and longtime Chicago liquor licensing law firm. Our core values of excellence, service, respect, integrity and honesty, have helped restaurant, bar, and nightclub owners, distributors, breweries, distilleries, and wineries through the entire liquor licensing process and beyond.
We offer comprehensive help with alcohol permit regulations including:
- Licensing
- Obtaining applications
- Zoning laws
- Application process and inspection
- Personal background checks of owners
- Addressing objections
- Violations and suspensions
- Transfer of liquor licenses
Working with us gives you the peace of mind that your application will be handled professionally, and fully supported when challenges arise.
Before you apply for your liquor license, contact Hays Firm for an initial consultation and let us handle your application process, so you can focus on making your business stand out.
**Disclaimer**
The content of this blog is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
