2026 Priority Drawing
New Liquor Licenses Available
Once a year, California ABC releases a limited number of new full liquor licenses through its Priority Registration Drawing.
For restaurants, bars and retailers in counties where licenses are scarce (and expensive on the secondary market), it can be a very good opportunity.
Applications are open September 14–25, 2026.
What Licenses Are We Talking About?
ABC calls these “General” licenses — essentially, licenses that include beer, wine & spirits.
The most common are:
Type 47 – On-Sale General / Restaurant
Beer, wine and distilled spirits for restaurants.
Type 48 – On-Sale General / Bar
Beer, wine and distilled spirits for bars and nightclubs.
Type 21 – Off-Sale General / Retail
Beer, wine and distilled spirits for off-premises consumption, like a bottle shop or grocery store.
Depending on the business, other General license types may also be available.
2026 License Availability
ABC has authorized new On-Sale and Off-Sale General licenses in 32 California counties this year.
There are also opportunities to transfer existing General licenses between counties in certain areas. If that’s what you’re looking for, give me a call — I spared everyone the second chart.
San Francisco Gets Its Own Drawing(s)
San Francisco has two special opportunities this year:
5 Type 87 Neighborhood Restricted Licenses
These full liquor licenses are available to qualifying restaurants in specific “fringe” San Francisco census tracts. They allow beer, wine and distilled spirits but are geographically restricted and generally cannot be transferred outside the designated areas.
10 Downtown Hospitality Zone Licenses
Ten additional full liquor licenses are available for qualifying restaurants within San Francisco’s designated Downtown Hospitality Zone. These licenses stay within the zone and have special transfer and resale restrictions.
If you’re opening a restaurant in San Francisco and trying to understand your options, we should probably talk.
Cost + Timing
ABC Priority Application Fee: $19,840
If you aren’t selected, ABC refunds the fee minus a $100 service charge. Successful applicants have 90 days to file the formal application for their premises.
Proper Pour Co. Priority Application Fee: $500 flat
I’ll prepare and file the Priority application, track the process and guide you through next steps if you’re awarded a license. The fee will be deducted from any permanent license app you end up applying for.
Interested? Reach out before September 1 and we’ll determine whether Priority makes sense for your project.
