Bulletin 25-04: Updates to liquor licensing process for private corporations

Publication date: September 18, 2025

Who's impacted

These changes apply to the following licences: 

  • Agent
  • Catering
  • Food Primary
  • Licensee Retail Store
  • Liquor Primary 
  • Manufacturer
  • Rural Licensee Retail Store
  • Wine Store and Special Wine Store

What's changing

Reporting requirements for private corporations

The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) is making changes to simplify liquor licensing for private corporations and speed up application timelines.  
 
Private corporations are now no longer required to report internal or external share transfers (TSE/TSI), except for Manufacturer and Agent licences. This means licensees will not need to submit complex legal entity structures showing every individual shareholder – reducing paperwork, focusing oversight where it matters most, and helping the LCRB make licensing decisions faster.
 
Instead of requiring detailed shareholder information, the LCRB will now only collect information on directors and officers of private corporations for all liquor application types, except manufacturers and agents. 
 
When applying for a new liquor licence or transfer, all directors and officers of private corporations must now submit a criminal record check and personal history summary form. Private corporations must also now report any changes to their directors or officers (except for Manufacturer and Agent licences). 
 
These changes will result in: 
  • Streamlined applications – fewer documents required, with tied house relationships now reported directly through the new online application located on the licensing portal
  • Simplified requirements – criminal record checks and personal history summaries only required for directors and officers
  • Less reporting – no need to track every shareholder change or provide supporting documents
Please continue reading for the full details about these changes. 

What's staying the same

Manufacturer and Agent licences

Private corporations that are applying for a Manufacturer and/or Agent licence, licence transfer, or approval of new shareholders will continue to submit Criminal Record Checks and Personal History Summary forms for all shareholders holding 10% or more voting interest.
Manufacturer and Agent licensees will continue to report external and internal transfers of shares (TSE/TSI).

If a licensee holds both a Manufacturer/Agent licence and any other liquor licence type, they must report both external/internal transfers of shares and changes to directors/officers. 

What’s new in the licensing portal 

Tied house rules and new, streamlined online application

Generally, tied house relationships between licensees (specifically liquor primary, food primary, private liquor/wine store, or the business location of a caterer) and manufacturers or agents are prohibited under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act. “Tied house” refers to a relationship between a manufacturer/agent and another licensee, if the relationship puts the licensee in the position of being likely to promote the sale of that manufacturer’s/agent’s liquor products over another manufacturer. A tied house relationship may result in the licensee benefitting more when they sell the liquor of that manufacturer or agent.

Directors and officers of a private corporation are now included when determining if a tied house relationship exists. 

To support these changes, applicants and licensees can now report tied house associations through the Permanent Change to a Licensee application in the liquor and cannabis licensing portal. 

New online Legal Entity Review process

Under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act the general manager has the authority to determine whether a licensee or applicant is fit and proper (i.e., suitable) to hold a licence. This includes the ability to request documentation from a licensee to assess their legal entity such as their corporate structure.

To support this authority, the branch is introducing a new Legal Entity Review process. This process will be managed through the liquor and cannabis licensing portal allowing:

  • The LCRB to initiate a review of a licensee’s corporate structure
  • Licensees to securely submit requested documents online

Once initiated by LCRB staff, a Legal Entity Review request appears in the licensee/applicant's portal dashboard and they receive a letter with instructions on next steps. After the documents are submitted and LCRB staff complete the Legal Entity Review, the licensee/applicant receives an Outcome Letter notifying them if action is necessary to comply with their licence requirements. 

Helpful information

These changes improve LCRB's oversight of tied house associations by listing all possible associations between a Manufacturer/Agent and other licensed establishments establishments. In addition, the online applications for tied house reporting and the legal entity review modernize the liquor licensing process and increase operational efficiency. 

Learn more about these changes in the: 

Disclaimer

Bulletins are for general information and may not apply to all situations. Bulletins do not constitute legal advice nor are they a comprehensive statement of the legal obligations that arise under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, regulations, or any other applicable laws.

When interpreting and applying the information contained in the Bulletins, you are encouraged to seek advice from your professional advisors as appropriate in the circumstances.

 

Contact information

For questions, email: 

Liquor policy and communications
LCRBLiquorPolicy@gov.bc.ca