Arizona Liquor License Guide: Series 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12, Costs and the City Recommendation Step

If you plan to sell alcohol in Arizona, the license series you choose drives your costs, your timeline, and whether you can buy your way in or have to wait for a city to recommend you. This guide covers the five series most small operators look at: Series 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12. It explains what each one allows, what it costs, how the application moves through the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC), and the city recommendation step that catches many applicants off guard.

Informational note: This is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Liquor licensing involves state statute, DLLC rules, and local zoning and licensing ordinances. Talk to a liquor licensing attorney and a CPA before you sign a purchase agreement or lease. Confirm current fees with DLLC and your city clerk before you budget.

Start With the Business Structure, Not the Liquor License

Arizona has no general state business license. The Arizona Corporation Commission handles entity formation, and the Department of Revenue handles the Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license. A liquor license sits on top of those steps, and most cities add their own business license requirement.

Before you apply, form your entity. An LLC files Articles of Organization (Form L010) with the Arizona Corporation Commission for a $50 filing fee. A for-profit corporation files Articles of Incorporation with a Certificate of Disclosure for $60. You can start at the Corporation Commission corporations page. If your trade name differs from your entity name, it is registered with the Arizona Secretary of State, not the Corporation Commission.

Most licensees also need a TPT license from the Department of Revenue at $12 per location. Find the details at the Department of Revenue TPT license page.

Which Series Fits Your Business

Each series grants a different privilege. Some are quota licenses, which means the state limits how many can exist in a given area. Others are not. Use this table to narrow your options before you spend money on a search.

Series	License type	What it allows	Quota license?	Annual renewal, about
6	Bar	On-premises sale of spirituous liquor	Yes	$250
7	Beer and wine bar	On-premises sale of beer and wine	Yes	$175
9	Liquor store	Off-premises sale of spirituous liquor	Yes	$120
10	Beer and wine store	Off-premises sale of beer and wine	Not stated here, confirm with DLLC	$120
12	Restaurant	On-premises sale in a restaurant that earns at least 40% of gross revenue from food	No	$585

Renewal figures include surcharges and are approximate. They are not a substitute for the amount on your DLLC invoice.

Arizona Liquor License Cost

The state cost for a new Arizona liquor license has two parts, plus recurring and transfer fees:

• Application fee: $100, listed on the DLLC licensing FAQ.
• Issuance fee: $1,500 for Series 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12, set by ARS 4-209(B).
• Annual renewal: about $250 for Series 6, $175 for Series 7, $120 for Series 9 and 10, and $585 for Series 12, including surcharges.
• Two-year renewal: renewal can run for two years. Ask DLLC how the fee is calculated for a two-year term before you assume it doubles or discounts.
• Transfer from person to person: $300.

City and local fees are separate from these state figures. A Mesa page lists different totals than the state figures above, so do not assume one set of numbers covers your location. Ask your city clerk for the full local fee schedule and check it against DLLC.

Quota licenses carry one more cost that is not a government fee: the purchase price. Series 6, 7 and 9 licenses are bought from a current holder on the open market or obtained through a lottery under ARS 4-206.01. The price is set by the market, so budget for it separately from the state fees.

Quota Licenses: Series 6, 7 and 9

Series 6 (bar), Series 7 (beer and wine bar) and Series 9 (liquor store) are quota licenses. You cannot simply apply for one and expect approval on the same terms as a non-quota license. Under ARS 4-206.01, you acquire these licenses either by buying an existing one from its holder or by winning one through a lottery.

Quota status changes your planning. A purchase can take months to close, and the license transfer carries its own fee. Ask your broker or attorney to verify the license record with DLLC before you pay anything. The DLLC license lookup, covered below, is the fastest way to check a license's status.

Series 12: The Non-Quota Restaurant License

Series 12 (restaurant) is not a quota license. The trade-off is the food requirement: the restaurant must earn at least 40% of gross revenue from food. If your concept is a bar with a small kitchen, a Series 12 will not fit, and you should look at Series 6 or 7 instead. Plan your menu and point-of-sale reporting around that 40% floor from day one, since your records will be the evidence if DLLC asks.

The Arizona Liquor License Application, Step by Step

1. Choose your series and location. Confirm the address works for the series with your city zoning office before you commit money.
2. Form your entity and obtain your TPT license. Use the Corporation Commission for entity documents and the Department of Revenue for the TPT license.
3. File the application with DLLC. Pay the $100 application fee. Arizona city applications are filed with DLLC, not directly with the city.
4. DLLC sends the application to the city or county clerk. The clerk posts the application for 20 days.
5. The governing body makes a recommendation. The city or county governing body recommends whether DLLC should approve the license. ARS 4-201 sets a 60-day window for that recommendation.
6. DLLC issues the license. Pay the $1,500 issuance fee as DLLC directs and confirm the timing with the agency.

The City Recommendation Step

This is the step applicants underestimate. DLLC does not decide your application in a vacuum. It depends on the city or county clerk to post your application and on the governing body to recommend it. Under ARS 4-201, the posting lasts 20 days and the recommendation is due within 60 days.

A few practical steps reduce the risk of delay:

• Call the city clerk before you file. Ask how the clerk handles liquor applications, who on staff tracks them, and when the governing body meets.
• Know the posting dates. Once DLLC sends the application, the 20-day posting clock starts. Track it on both the city and DLLC side.
• Prepare for questions. The governing body may ask about hours, parking, noise, and your plan for the premises. Have written answers ready.
• Calendar the 60-day window. If the recommendation does not arrive in time, ask DLLC and the clerk what the next step is rather than waiting silently.

Cities also have their own business license requirements on top of the state license, so the city step is not the end of local paperwork. Build those requirements into the same timeline.

Arizona Liquor License Lookup

The DLLC maintains a public license search. Use it to look up an existing license by its number, name, or address. Check the license status and holder before you negotiate a quota purchase or sign a lease that assumes an existing license is in place. If the record does not match what the seller describes, stop and confirm with DLLC before you pay.

Where to Confirm Current Figures

• Department of Liquor Licenses and Control: license fees, application forms, the license lookup, and posting and recommendation timing.
• Your city or county clerk: local fees, posting logistics, and the governing body's schedule. Cities differ, so do not assume a neighboring city's numbers apply.
• Arizona Corporation Commission: Arizona Business Center filings for LLC and corporation documents.
• Arizona Department of Revenue: the Department of Revenue site for the TPT license and income tax questions.

The fees in this guide are state figures as of October 2026. Treat local fees, quota prices, and renewal totals as estimates until your clerk and DLLC confirm them in writing.

Next Steps

Pick the series that matches your menu and your floor plan. Form the entity, get the TPT license in motion, and call your city clerk before you file. Budget for the $100 application fee, the $1,500 issuance fee, local charges, and the purchase price if you are buying a quota license. If your deal involves a quota purchase, a restaurant food ratio, or an existing license, have a liquor attorney review the paperwork before you commit.

Reminder: This content is informational only and is not legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified attorney and CPA for your situation.