Renew a liquor licence
On this page:
- Before you start
- To renew your liquor licence
- Renewal fee calculations
- Renewal signatures
- Late renewal process
Each year, you must renew your liquor licence and pay a licence fee. The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) emails you reminders 60 days before your liquor licence expires. This notification includes the due date and a link to the liquor and cannabis licensing portal.
You can renew your licence from 60 days before the expiry date to 30 days after the expiry date. Late fees apply for any liquor licence renewed after the expiry date.
Before you start
You'll need:
- Your BCeID username and password
To renew your liquor licence
Each licence type has a different process. Check which is the right process for your licence type.
Online
With the liquor and cannabis licensing portal
This process is for the following licence types:
- Catering
- Manufacturer
- UBrew/UVin
- Wine store/special wine store
- Licensee retail store
- Rural licensee retail store
- Food primary
- Liquor primary
- Agent
Instructions
- Register for a Business BCeID
- Remember your username and password as it is needed each year
- Login to the liquor and cannabis licensing portal
- Submit and pay
- Download your new liquor licence
Renewal fee calculations
Food Primary, Liquor Primary, Licensee Retail Store, Rural Licensee Retail Store, Catering licences
Renewal fees are calculated based on the amount of liquor the licensee has bought from the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) or other outlets designated by the LDB in the 12-month period that ends six months before the expiry of the licence.
*Purchases between licences, as authorized by the licence's term and condition, are excluded from the calculation.
LDB purchases | Licence fee |
---|---|
$12,500 or less | $ 250 |
Over $ 12,500 and up to $ 20,000 | $ 500 |
Over $ 20,000 and up to $ 45,000 | $ 825 |
Over $ 45,000 and up to $100,000 | $1,100 |
Over $100,000 and up to $500,000 | $1,400 |
Over $500,000 and up to $1,000,000 | $1,700 |
Over $1,000,001 and up to $2,000,000 | $2,000 |
Over $2,000,000 | $2,200 |
Manufacturer licences
Wineries
If you produce less than 135,000 litres,
- Renewal fee is $550 per year
If you produce more than 135,000 litres,
- Renewal fee is $1,100 per year
Breweries
If production is less than 9,167 hectolitres,
- Renewal fee is $1,100 per year
If production is more than 9,167 hectolitres,
- Annual renewal fee is calculated at 12 cents per hectolitre produced
Distilleries
Renewal fee is $1,100 per year
UBrew and UVin licences
Renewal fee is $750 per year
- The addition of endorsements on a licence may increase your renewal fee
Wine Stores and Special Wine Stores
Renewal fees are calculated based on the amount of liquor the licensee has sold* in the 12-month period that ends six months before the expiry of the licence.
*Sales between licences, as authorized by the licence's term and condition, are excluded from the calculation.
Renewal signatures
An authorized signatory of the licensee must complete and sign a licence renewal. The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) relies on the licensee/applicant to ensure that the individual who signs the form is authorized to do so. Typically, an authorized signatory will be as follows:
- If the licensee is a sole proprietor, the individual themselves
- If the licensee is a corporation, a duly authorized signatory who will usually be an officer or, in some cases, a director
- If the licensee is a general partnership, one of the partners
- If the licensee is a limited partnership, the general partner of the partnership
- If the licensee is a society, a director or a senior manager (as defined in the Societies Act)
Late renewal process
30-Day late period
You can still renew your B.C. liquor licence up to 30 days after it has expired. Submit the completed renewal application form with your renewal fee and pay a $200 late fee.
- Agent licences pay a $50 late fee
Reinstatement period
If the 30-day late renewal period has passed, your licence can be reinstated up to 12 months from expiry.
To reinstate your licence (Except Agent)
- You will have to pay your renewal fee and a $550 reinstatement fee
To reinstate an Agent licence
- You will have to pay your $200 renewal fee and a $50 late fee