California ABC license types explained

On-Sale Beer & Wine - Eating Place (type 41)

On-sale beer and wine for a bona fide eating place. The classic new restaurant license: a kitchen, a dining room, beer and wine but no spirits. Venue mix in our data: restaurant 99%, hotel 0.4%, brewery or winery 0.2%.

1,059 filings in 90 days (34% of ABC filings), 391 of them ownership changes. Most active: San Francisco (79), Los Angeles (53), San Diego (48). Recent examples: Wagya Factory (Rancho Cucamonga), Amara's (Antioch), Giovanns Pizza (San Jose).

On-Sale General - Eating Place (type 47)

On-sale general for a bona fide eating place: a full bar inside a restaurant. Usually the bigger build-outs, and a sign the operator is spending. Venue mix in our data: restaurant 94%, hotel 4%, brewery or winery 2%.

597 filings in 90 days (19% of ABC filings), 316 of them ownership changes. Most active: Los Angeles (39), San Francisco (37), San Diego (31). Recent examples: Mountain View Cinema 16 (Mountain View), Mountain View Cinema 16 (Mountain View), Northgate Gonzalez #2 (LA Habra).

Off-Sale Beer & Wine (type 20)

Off-sale beer and wine: a store selling beer and wine to take away. Convenience stores, gas stations, small markets. Venue mix in our data: store 100%.

395 filings in 90 days (13% of ABC filings), 212 of them ownership changes. Most active: Los Angeles (21), Napa (18), Bakersfield (9). Recent examples: Miller Family Wine Company (Santa Maria), Tehachapi 76 & Road Runner Food Store (Tehachapi), A&M Yosemite Market (Stockton).

Off-Sale General (type 21)

Off-sale general: beer, wine and spirits to take away. Liquor stores, supermarkets, larger markets. Venue mix in our data: store 100%.

337 filings in 90 days (11% of ABC filings), 235 of them ownership changes. Most active: Los Angeles (23), San Francisco (19), Sacramento (13). Recent examples: City Food & Deli (Sacramento), Slo Ranch Market (San Luis Obispo), Stater Bros Markets 79 (Lake Elsinore).

Winegrower (type 02)

Winegrower: wineries, frequently with a tasting room. Venue mix in our data: brewery or winery 100%.

237 filings in 90 days (8% of ABC filings), 21 of them ownership changes. Most active: Napa (43), Saint Helena (22), Paso Robles (22). Recent examples: Fluent Wine Co (Saint Helena), Napa Sonoma Supply (American Canyon), Tangle Ranch Vineyard (Calistoga).

Temporary Retail Permit (operating during a transfer) (type 30)

Venue mix in our data: restaurant 62%, store 21%, bar 11%.

183 filings in 90 days (6% of ABC filings), 157 of them ownership changes. Most active: Los Angeles (17), San Diego (14), San Jose (6). Recent examples: 7-Eleven #29003C (Huntington Beach), The Cathedral (Pomona), Salt & Lime (Walnut Creek).

On-Sale General - Public Premises (type 48)

On-sale general, public premises: bars, cocktail lounges and nightclubs. No minors, food optional. Venue mix in our data: bar 98%, brewery or winery 2%.

62 filings in 90 days (2% of ABC filings), 39 of them ownership changes. Most active: San Francisco (5), Los Angeles (4), Sacramento (3). Recent examples: TBD (El Centro), Stadium Bar (Inglewood), Casa Blanca (Bakersfield).

Caterer's Permit (type 58)

Caterer's permit, held alongside an on-sale license, to pour at catered events away from the premises. Venue mix in our data: caterer 100%.

35 filings in 90 days (1% of ABC filings), 22 of them ownership changes. Most active: Los Angeles (6), San Diego (2), Skyforest (1). Recent examples: R & B Mixing Co. (Skyforest), Break Room (San Francisco), Wedgewood Wedding And Catering (San Clemente).

Small Beer Manufacturer (type 23)

Small beer manufacturer: breweries and brewpubs making beer on site, often with a taproom. Venue mix in our data: brewery or winery 100%.

34 filings in 90 days (1% of ABC filings), 14 of them ownership changes. Most active: Anaheim (2), Westlake Village (2), Santa Rosa (2). Recent examples: Paskenta Mad River Brewing (Corning), Catkin Brewery (Anaheim), South Of Shaw Beer Company-Peacock (Clovis).

ABC license type 82 (winery)

Venue mix in our data: brewery or winery 100%.

33 filings in 90 days (1% of ABC filings). Most active: Salem (2), Prosser (2), Portland (2). Recent examples: Eads Family Vineyards LLC (Houston), Rehnborg Farm (Salem), Tirriddis Sparkling Wines (Prosser).

On-Sale Beer (type 40)

On-sale beer: beer only, drunk on site. Small taverns and beer bars. Venue mix in our data: bar 97%, brewery or winery 3%.

29 filings in 90 days (1% of ABC filings), 9 of them ownership changes. Most active: Grass Valley (2), Santa Barbara (1), Long Beach (1). Recent examples: Fairways Indoor Golf (Grass Valley), Goldie's Art Bar (Grass Valley), Turn Zero Sim Racing (Encinitas).

On-Sale Beer & Wine - Public Premises (type 42)

On-sale beer and wine, public premises. Wine bars and beer bars where food is not the main business and minors are not allowed. Venue mix in our data: bar 83%, hotel 12%, brewery or winery 4%.

24 filings in 90 days (1% of ABC filings), 10 of them ownership changes. Most active: San Francisco (2), Truckee (2), Escondido (2). Recent examples: Vino & Vibe Ripon (Ripon), McKays Tavern LLC (Santa Clara), Robles Lounge (Los Angeles).

On-Sale General - Restrictive Service (type 70)

On-sale general, restrictive service: hotels and similar premises serving registered guests. Venue mix in our data: hotel 100%.

22 filings in 90 days (1% of ABC filings), 10 of them ownership changes. Most active: Palo Alto (2), San Diego (2), Milpitas (1). Recent examples: Homewood Suites Palo Alto (Palo Alto), Aiden Hotel Downtown Sacramento (Sacramento), Hampton Inn & Suites Lodi (Lodi).

Limited Off-Sale - Wine (type 85)

Venue mix in our data: store 100%.

14 filings in 90 days (0.4% of ABC filings). Most active: Los Angeles (3), Napa (2), Valencia (1). Recent examples: Infinity Restorations LLC (Valencia), Carnaby & Vine LLC (Sun Valley), Von D'Or (Los Angeles).

ABC license type 54 (on-sale, vessel)

Venue mix in our data: other 100%.

11 filings in 90 days (0.4% of ABC filings). Most active: San Diego (2), Long Beach (1), Sacramento (1). Recent examples: Dream On (Long Beach), Capitol Commodore (Sacramento), Big Bear Tiki Tours (Big Bear Lake).

Craft Distiller (type 74)

Venue mix in our data: brewery or winery 100%.

11 filings in 90 days (0.4% of ABC filings). Most active: San Diego (3), San Luis Obispo (1), El Segundo (1). Recent examples: Slo Fish Co. (San Luis Obispo), 619 Spirits North Park (San Diego), Inspirada Brands (San Diego).

On-Sale General - Music Venue (type 90)

Venue mix in our data: bar 100%.

10 filings in 90 days (0.3% of ABC filings), 2 of them ownership changes. Most active: San Francisco (4), Santa Rosa (1), Los Angeles (1). Recent examples: Fairytale Cocktails (Santa Rosa), The Grand On State (Santa Barbara), Hidden Frequency (San Francisco).

Add-on certificates

Filed together with a main license, never alone. They change what the venue can do, which changes what it buys.

• Beer and Wine Wholesaler (17), on 66 filings.
• Beer and Wine Importer (09), on 43 filings.
• Portable Bar License (68), on 28 filings. Portable bar license: lets an on-sale licensee run a portable bar at events on its own premises.
• Instructional Tasting License (86), on 20 filings. Instructional tasting license: lets a store hold supervised tastings.
• Controlled Access Cabinet Permit (66), on 14 filings.
• Distilled Spirits Importer (12), on 13 filings.
• Distilled Spirits Wholesaler (18), on 9 filings.
• ABC license type 93 (winegrower add-on) (93), on 8 filings.