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Interested in selling alcohol at your business? 

The following are required before you can sell alcohol at your business:

  1. Alcohol approval from the City of Long Beach.
  2. An alcohol license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).

You may apply to both agencies at the same time, but ABC will not issue your license until the required City approval is obtained.

For help with the ABC application, contact the Lakewood/Long Beach District ABC Office.

What Steps Should I Follow to Get Started?

Step One: Check the Zoning Map
Step Two: Proposed Operation
  • Determine the appropriate ABC License Type.
  • Define your operation based on floor plan and intended use.
Step Three: Review Zoning Regulations (Confirm with Planning Staff)
  • Confirm your zoning requirements by reviewing the zoning regulations for your Zoning District and consulting Planning staff.
Learn more about each approval process for alcohol sales:                                     

Conditional Use Permit (CUP)                                       

Certain land uses require individual review and a public hearing before the Planning Commission.

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Conditional Use Permit Exemption (CUPEx)                                 

The City of Long Beach exempts certain alcoholic beverage sales from the CUP requirement, including legal, nonconforming (“grandfathered”) uses.

  • A CUPEx may be ministerially approved for:
    • Restaurants serving alcohol only with meals
      • Fixed bars are not exempt (Section 21.15.1055).
      • Cocktail lounges serving mainly hors d'oeuvres and alcohol are not exempt.
      • Restaurants with over 30% of gross receipts for alcohol sales are not exempt.
    • Florists with accessory alcohol sales
    • Existing legal, nonconforming uses
    • Grocery stores with accessory alcohol sales in certain Title 22 zones
      • At least 70% of floor area for food sales
      • No more than 30% of floor area for alcohol sales
  • Businesses applying for a CUPEx must:
    • File a CUPEx application and provide required submittal materials.

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Alcohol Nuisance Abatement Ordinance (ANAO)                         

The Alcohol Nuisance Abatement Ordinance (ANAO) applies to all legal, non-conforming liquor stores (ABC License Type 21) in the City of Long Beach on the effective date of Chapter 21.57 of the Municipal Code (2013).

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Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing (ABM)                              

Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing (ABM) facilities are used to produce alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and distilled spirits in accordance with a valid alcohol production license from the State of California.

  • An ABM use may include an accessory tasting room as an accessory use.
    • Tasting room may not exceed 30% of the gross floor area (GFA), not including restrooms serving the facility.
    • Food may only be sold ready-to-eat.
    • Full-service kitchens are not permitted in ABM facilities or tasting rooms.
  • ABM operators must:
  • Businesses applying for an ABM use must:

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How Do I File A Complaint About An Alcohol-Related Business?

  • ABC Online Complaint Portal: All complaints about alcohol service are reviewed and investigated by ABC which evaluates the evidence before any action is taken.

  • City of Long Beach Online Complaint Portal: Commercial (business) operation complaints can be filed by contacting BizCare Hotline or email:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Submit the application early to allow enough time for processing. 
  • Make sure all documents are complete and accurate to avoid delays. 
  • Be prepared to coordinate with City Departments for security and safety requirements. 

No, you will need to apply for a Conditional Use Permit. A business with a CUPEx is to follow all requirements to forego a CUP and its associated public hearing process.

  • A CUP requires a public hearing, may take up to six months and has a higher application fee.
  • A CUPEx is reviewed and approved at the staff level and does not require a public hearing.
  • A CUPEx business is agreeing to a preset list of requirements in the application, which allows specific types of businesses to forego the CUP process.
Not necessarily! Do not immediately start selling alcohol after you move in.
  • If the previous tenant had a CUPEx for alcohol sales, you must apply for a new CUPEx and show compliance with exemption requirements.
  • If the previous tenant had no CUP or had a CUPEx for a legal, nonconforming use, and the alcohol license predates zoning rules, you may keep the legal, nonconforming status by:
    • Applying for a CUPEx, and
    • Showing the use has not intensified
  •  If the previous tenant had a CUP and you will continue the same approved use, you must:
    • Apply for an Administrative Land Use Review (ALUR) to demonstrate compliance.

411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.570.LBCD (5223)

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