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What License Do I Need?

1936 Stroh Brewery License - Header Image for Renewal Page

What License Do I Need?

What License Does Your Business Need?

The licenses listed on this webpage are the most common licenses issued by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC).  For a list of all licenses and permits, please see the Brief Description of All Licenses and Permits.  For specific information on available license types, please visit the MLCC's Frequently Asked Questions webpages:

You may also contact the MLCC Licensing Division for more information on licensing options:

 lara-mlcc-licensing-information@michigan.gov

 1-866-813-0011, option #4

Retailer Licenses

A retailer license is required for a business to sell or serve alcoholic beverages to a customer.  Except for a Brewpub license, a business with a retailer license does not make or distribute any of the alcoholic beverages it sells or serves to customers.

Off-Premises Retailer

Off-premises retailer licenses are for businesses that sell alcoholic beverages to go.

On-Premises Retailer

On-premises retailer licenses are for businesses that sell and alcoholic beverages to customers to consume at the business location.

  • Bar

    License you will need:

     Class C

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits products to customers for consumption on the licensed premises

    -OR-

     Tavern

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products only to customers for consumption on the licensed premises

    Additional licenses that can be issued with a Class C or Tavern license:

     Brewpub

    • Needed to manufacture, sell, and serve beer made by the licensee to customers to go or for consumption on the premises
    • Requires the business to hold a Class C or Tavern license

     Specially Designated Merchant (SDM)

    • Needed to sell beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products to go

     

  • Restaurant

    License you will need:

     Class C

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits products to customers for consumption on the licensed premises

    -OR-

     Tavern

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products only to customers for consumption on the licensed premises

    Additional licenses that can be issued with a Class C or Tavern license:

     Brewpub

    • Needed to manufacture, sell, and serve beer made by the licensee to customers to go or for consumption on the premises
    • Requires the business to hold a Class C or Tavern license

     Specially Designated Merchant (SDM)

    • Needed to sell beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products to go

     

  • Hotel

    License you will need:

     B-Hotel

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits products to customers for consumption on the licensed premises

    -OR-

     A-Hotel

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products only to customers for consumption on the licensed premises

    Additional license that can be issued with a B-Hotel or A-Hotel license:

     Specially Designated Merchant (SDM)

    • Needed to sell beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products to go

     

  • Golf Course

    License you will need:

     Class C

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits products to customers for consumption on the licensed premises

    -OR-

     Tavern

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products only to customers for consumption on the licensed premises

    Additional license that can be issued with a Class C or Tavern license:

     Specially Designated Merchant (SDM)

    • Needed to sell beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products to go

     

  • Fraternal or Veterans' Organization

    License you will need:

     Club

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, and spirits products to members of the organization for consumption on the licensed premises.

    Additional license that can be issued with a Club license:

     Specially Designated Merchant (SDM)

    • Needed to sell beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products to go to members of the organization

     

  • Nonprofit Organization Events

    License you will need:

     Special License

    • Needed to sell and serve beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, or spirits products to event participants for consumption on the licensed premises
    • Each license good for one day
    • A nonprofit organization may be issued up to 12 Special Licenses each calendar year

Manufacturer Licenses

A manufacturer license is required for a business to make alcoholic beverages in Michigan.  A manufacturer license may sell and serve the alcoholic beverages it makes to customers in an approved tasting room.

  • Beer Manufacturing

    License you will need to manufacture beer in Michigan:

     Micro Brewer

    • Needed to manufacture 60,000 barrels of beer or fewer annually.

    -OR-

     Brewer

    • Needed to manufacture more than 60,000 barrels of beer annually.

     

     You will also need an On-Premises Tasting Room Permit to sell and serve your beer to customers on your licensed brewery premises.

  • Wine Manufacturing

    License you will need to manufacture wine in Michigan:

     Small Wine Maker

    • Needed to manufacture 50,000 gallons of wine or fewer annually.

    -OR-

     Wine Maker

    • Needed to manufacture more than 50,000 gallons of wine annually.

     

     You will need one of the following approved tasting room options to sell and serve your wine to customers:

    • On-Premises Tasting Room Permit - Required to sell and serve your wine to customers on the licensed winery premises.
    • Off-Premises Tasting Room License - Required to sell and serve your wine to customers at a location off the licensed winery premises.
    • Joint Off-Premises Tasting Room License - Required to sell and serve your wine to customers at a location off the licensed winery premises along with other wineries that also hold a Joint Off-Premises Tasting Room License at the same location.

  • Spirits Manufacturing

    License you will need to manufacture spirits in Michigan:

     Small Distiller

    • Needed to manufacture 60,000 gallons of spirits or fewer annually.

    -OR-

     Distiller

    • Needed to manufacture more than 60,000 gallons of spirits annually.

     

     You will need one of the following approved tasting room options to sell and serve your spirits to customers:

    • On-Premises Tasting Room Permit - Required to sell and serve your spirits to customers on the licensed distillery premises.
    • Off-Premises Tasting Room License - Required to sell and serve your spirits to customers at a location off the licensed distillery premises.
    • Joint Off-Premises Tasting Room License - Required to sell and serve your spirits to customers at a location off the licensed winery premises along with other distilleries that also hold a Joint Off-Premises Tasting Room License at the same location.

  • Mixed Spirit Drink Manufacturing

    License you will need to manufacture mixed spirit drink products in Michigan:

     Mixed Spirit Drink Manufacturer

    • Needed to manufacture mixed spirit drink products.

     

     You will also need an On-Premises Tasting Room Permit to sell and serve your mixed spirit drink products to customers on your licensed premises.

Supplier Licenses

A supplier license is required for a business that imports beer, wine, mixed spirit drink, or spirits products that were manufactured outside of Michigan.  These licenses may be issued to a business located in Michigan or in another state.

  • Beer Supplier

    License you will need to import beer into Michigan that was not made in Michigan:

     Outstate Seller of Beer

    • Needed to import beer that was not made in Michigan, including nonalcoholic beer, to Wholesaler licensees that will distribute it to retailer licensees in Michigan.

    -OR-

     

     Outstate Self-Distributor

    • Needed for an out-of-state brewery to self-distribute beer that it made in another state, including nonalcoholic beer, to retailer licensees in Michigan.

  • Wine Supplier

    License you will need to import wine into Michigan that was not made in Michigan:

     Outstate Seller of Wine

    • Needed to import wine that was not made in Michigan to Wholesaler licensees that will distribute it to retailer licensees in Michigan.

    -OR-

     

     Outstate Self-Distributor

    • Needed for an out-of-state winery to self-distribute wine that it made in another state to retailer licensees in Michigan.

  • Spirits Supplier

    License you will need to import spirits into Michigan that was not made in Michigan:

     Vendor of Spirits

    • Needed to import spirits products that were not made in Michigan to be distributed to retailer licensees by the Commission through Authorized Distribution Agents (ADAs).

    -OR-

     

     Outstate Self-Distributor

    • Needed for an out-of-state distillery to self-distribute spirits products that it made in another state to retailer licensees in Michigan.

  • Mixed Spirit Drink Supplier

    License you will need to import mixed spirit drink products into Michigan that were not made in Michigan:

     Outstate Seller of Mixed Spirit Drink

    • Needed to import mixed spirit drink products that were not made in Michigan to Wholesaler licensees that will distribute them to retailer licensees in Michigan.

    -OR-

     

     Outstate Self-Distributor

    • Needed for an out-of-state distillery to self-distribute mixed spirit drink products that it made in another state to retailer licensees in Michigan.

Wholesaler License

A Wholesaler license is required for a business to distribute beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products to retailer licensees in Michigan.

  • Wholesaler

    License you will need to sell and distribute to retailer licensees:

     Wholesaler

    • Needed to distribute beer, wine, or mixed spirit drink products to retailer licensees in Michigan.

    Additional license that can be issued to a Wholesaler licensee:

     Warehouser

    • May be issued to a Wholesaler licensee at a different location from where its Wholesaler licensee is issued to be used for storage and delivery of beer, wine, and mixed spirit drink products.

Broker & Salesperson Licenses

A Broker or Salesperson license is required for a business or an individual that sells, delivers, promotes, or otherwise assists in the sale of alcoholic liquor by a manufacturer, supplier, or Wholesaler licensee.

  • Broker

     Broker License

    • Needed for a business that promotes alcoholic liquor products for a manufacturer, supplier, or Wholesaler licensee.
    • Employs individuals that hold Salesperson licenses.

  • Individual Salesperson

     Salesperson License

    • Needed for an individual that sells, delivers, promotes, or otherwise assists in the sale of alcoholic liquor products.
    • Individuals may work for a Broker licensee, manufacturer, supplier, or Wholesaler licensee.