A guide from Truewell Business Loans in Kennewick, Washington on Washington State liquor license applications. It summarizes the Liquor and Cannabis Board's published steps as of 2026-10-24; confirm every rule and fee with the board before relying on it.
Which Washington License Type Fits: Restaurant, Tavern or Grocery
The Liquor and Cannabis Board sorts liquor licenses into retail (restaurants, theaters, nightclubs, grocery stores and similar) and non-retail (wineries, breweries, distributors). Its retail license and fee page lists these annual fees for common retail types:
| License | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Restaurant beer or wine (each) | $300 |
| Restaurant beer and wine | $600 |
| Restaurant spirits, beer and wine, less than 50% dedicated dining area | $2,700 |
| Restaurant spirits, beer and wine, 50% or more dedicated dining area | $2,200 |
| Restaurant spirits, beer and wine, service bar only | $1,400 |
| Tavern beer and wine | $600 |
| Grocery store beer and wine | $550 |
| Grocery store spirits, beer and wine | $2,000 |
A restaurant offering beer and wine must also offer minimum food service, per the board. The license type follows the menu and the floor plan, so settle both before applying.
The dining-area split matters for a spirits license because it changes the fee by $500 a year, and it can change the layout. A restaurant planning a larger bar should decide the floor plan with the license in mind, since a plan that tips below half dedicated dining area moves the license to the higher fee band.
Applying Through Business Licensing Service, About 90 Days Out
Applications go online through the state's Business Licensing Service, in its liquor licenses section, per the board's Apply for a Liquor License page. The board suggests applying about 90 days before the planned opening, and notes that applications sent too early may be withdrawn. Some license types also need federal registration with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
Once submitted, the application goes to the board. Under the published licensing process, a licensing specialist contacts the applicant, schedules a telephone interview about the business plans, and asks for documents such as the business structure, financing information, the lease, floor plans and criminal history statements.
Local Authority Notice, Schools and Churches Within 500 Feet
The board notifies the local authority, here the City of Kennewick, which has 20 days to respond, or 60 days in an alcohol impact area. The board also checks for public and private schools and churches within 500 feet of the business and notifies them. Retail applicants complete an online briefing, and an approved applicant receives a letter that serves as a 30-day license until the license arrives on the business license.
Those notice periods are part of the timeline a funding request should plan around: rent and payroll may start before the license allows alcohol sales.
Build the notice periods into the opening budget. If the city takes its full 20 days to respond and the board then completes its review and briefing, the restaurant may be open for food before it can pour. Working capital sized to those weeks, rather than to the full opening budget, keeps the request in proportion.
Source of Funds: Why a Loan Shows Up in the Liquor Application
Under Preparing for Your Application, the board asks applicants to describe the intent of the business, its owners, the costs of opening, the source or sources of funding and the expected opening date. It also verifies that the business has exclusive rights to the property, such as a lease or deed, and expects local zoning and building permits to be confirmed with the city or county.
A loan or equipment financing is a funding source the application will ask about. Keep the loan documents, the lender's name and the amounts together so the answers match what the board sees in the financing information.
Washington State Liquor License Cost: Records Restaurateurs Keep Ready
The license fee is only one cost of opening a bar program. A restaurant also budgets for the bar build-out, glassware, coolers, POS changes, opening inventory of beer, wine and spirits, and staff training. Keep a single sheet that lists each cost and how it is paid: cash, an equipment loan for the coolers, a term loan for the build-out.
- The lease or deed for the premises
- The floor plan showing dining and bar areas
- Opening cost estimates and quotes
- Loan or financing documents for any borrowed funds
- Business formation documents and owner information
Washington State Liquor License Renewal Before Restaurant Owners Apply
Annual fees renew through the state's business licensing system, and current licensees manage endorsement changes, check application status, submit documents and pay fees through the board's online portal. A restaurant applying for funding with a license already in place should have the license number and the renewal date ready, since a partner may confirm both.
Washington State Liquor License Lookup and the Funding File
Partners and landlords may look up a business's license status. Before applying for funding, check that the license is active, that the legal name matches the bank account and the lease, and that any change of ownership or location has been filed. A mismatch between the license and the business named in a loan request is one of the first questions a partner will raise.
The restaurant page and the grocery page cover the funding side. Call (509) 214-2160 with the opening budget.
By Truewell Business Loans · Updated
