Our online renewal portal is no longer accepting applications for those permit holders whose permits expired February 1, 2023. If you have not yet filed an application, you must now file an appeal with the Liquor Control Commission. Visit lcc.ohio.gov/about-appeals for more information on how to file an appeal. If you do NOT file an appeal by April 4, 2023, your permit will be cancelled. 

***The below information is provided as an aide to Ohio’s liquor permit holders, it is NOT intended to be legal advice. This webpage may not cover all scenarios and may not address your specific set of facts. Any specific questions you may have regarding your situation should be directed to your attorney who can best advise you on what you should do, when you need to do it, and how to do it.***

Important February 2023 renewal dates to remember:

• January 3 - Last date for Local Legislative Authorities to postmark their objections.
• January 17 - Last date to renew with Division before 10% penalty fee.
• January 18 – Applications filed must now include a 10% penalty fee.
• February 1 – February 2022-2023 permits expire at midnight.
• March 6 - Last date to renew with us online, in-person, or have your paper applications postmarked.
• April 4 - Last date to file an February 2023-2024 “cancelled failure to renew” (“CFRE”) appeal with the Commission.
• May 3 - Last date to appeal an February 2023-2024 H.B. 231 Tax Non-Renewal Order to the Commission. 

How do I file my renewal application in the online portal?

• If you previously registered to file in the portal, an email will be sent to the same email address that you previously used. Click on the link in that email and file!
• If you have never registered in the portal, sign-up now.
  • Once registered, a link will be sent to your registered email to file your renewal when the portal opens. Check any spam/junk folders if you don’t receive it within 24 hours.
• If you are registered but need help using the renewal portal, watch the video below or visit How to Renew Your Liquor Permit Online.

What permits expire on February 1, 2023?

• Visit the Renewal Districts page (permit holders in the dark red color need to renew by February 1, 2023). Generally, permit holders east of I-71 (except those in northeast Ohio) must renew by February 1, 2023. This includes cities surrounding Columbus, Athens, Canton, Marion, Portsmouth, Youngstown, and Zanesville.
• You need to file a February renewal application if your permit was issued anytime before February 1, 2023.
  • For example, if your permit premises is located in Columbus and it was first issued in 2020, then you should have been filing renewals each February 1st and will also need to renew it by February 1, 2023. 
  • Likewise, if your permit premises is in Columbus and your permit was first issued on November 1, 2022, that permit is only valid until February 1, 2023. Therefore, you will need to file a renewal application by February 1, 2023 to be issued a permit which will be valid until February 1, 2024.

Who has NOT yet filed to renew their liquor permit for February 2023?

Please review the downloadable list of permit holders file to review those permit holder locations that have not yet filed to renew their liquor permit for February 2023-2024. Please understand this list is NOT real time so it may not reflect permit holders who recently filed online or by paper.  Failure to file an application by February 1, 2023 can impact your ability to continue to sell alcoholic beverages at your location.  

What do I need to do upon completing my renewal application in the online portal?

• Save/print your “Receipt" document after checkout. 
  • As a backup, your it is also emailed to the same email you used to register in the portal, so be sure to check any spam/junk folders if you don’t receive it.
  • If you cannot find it, please contact fileinquiry@com.ohio.gov. Include “receipt request” and your permit number in the subject line and a duplicate will be emailed to you.
• If applicable, your receipt will also include "Authority to Operate" ("ATO") language that will allow you to remain open and operating (e.g., selling alcoholic beverages) while we process your renewal application. 
  • You MUST post your ATO in a visible location at your permit premises until your physical permit/operating receipt is sent to you.
• If your permit is currently in closing authority, safekeeping, have an unresolved tax issue affecting your renewal, or you are otherwise not allowed to be open (e.g., a nuisance has been declared at your location), then you can print the receipt document as proof that you filed your renewal application.
  • The receipt document does NOT, in those situations, allow you to operate and will NOT include any operating language. Rather it includes information and contact information on how to resolve the issue that is holding up your renewal.
    • If you want to remove your permit from closing authority or safekeeping you must contact our Investigative Services Section first.

I got a letter to my permit or safekeeping address notifying me to file my renewal application. What should I do?

• While you can file by paper (paper applications will be mailed the week of December 19th to the permit or safekeeping addresses that, at the time of printing, had not yet filed online), we strongly recommend you file online.
• You should NOT file both by paper and online. Thus, if you filed online and have your receipt, discard the paper application. As noted above, it is possible that you filed online after the paper applications were printed but before they were mailed out.
• This will be the last year we mail out paper applications for the February renewal period. If you have not registered in the portal, you will want to do so this year so you don't miss future renewal notifications. 

What is the last date that I can file my renewal application to avoid any penalty fees?

File your renewal application with us by January 17, 2023 to avoid an additional 10% fee per location. 

I filed online and got an ATO that it is valid until the listed expiration date. When do I get my hard copy permit?

If you filed online and received an ATO, you have operating privileges until either the listed expiration date or you receive an Order from us taking disciplinary action against your permit.  

If you file your application by paper, you will receive either a hard copy paper permit or other authority to operate/receipt document in the mail closer to February 1, 2023, which will provide you privileges until February 1, 2024, unless and until you are otherwise notified via an Order that some other negative action was taken against your permit.

• Remember, your current permit or operating document does NOT expire until February 1, 2023. Therefore, you can continue to use it for operating purposes until it expires.

If Taxation notified us that your permit has a tax hold on it you should have received a pre-renewal letter from us and Taxation informing you that your February 2023 renewal is in jeopardy.

• Do NOT ignore that letter. You should immediately contact Taxation at liquorgroup@tax.state.oh.us to resolve your tax issues.
• If your tax issues remain unresolved when you file your February 2023 renewal application, you will:
  • If you file online, get a receipt document that confirms we have your renewal application, but it will NOT provide operating privileges beyond February 1, 2023. We will send you a Tax Non-Renewal Order instead of a hard copy permit closer to the expiration of your permit.
  • If you file by paper, we will send you a Tax Non-Renewal Order.
• The Order will explain what you need to do and by when (see above dates).

I got a letter from Taxation or the Division notifying me that my February 2023 renewal may be in jeopardy for failure to pay taxes. 

• You should immediately contact Taxation at liquorgroup@tax.state.oh.us to resolve your tax issues.
• Keep in mind we have NO information on what you owe or what returns you failed to file.

I do NOT want to renew my permit for February 2023 and beyond. 

If you do not want to keep your permit active, file a CANCELLATION request (fill out the form, sign it, and email it to liquordocs@com.ohio.gov). 

I received a Tax Non-Renewal Order from the Division when I filed my February 2022 renewal application.

If you did NOT resolve your outstanding tax delinquencies with the Ohio Department of Taxation prior to filing your renewal application, you needed to file an appeal with the Ohio Liquor Control Commission (“Commission”) by the date stated in your Order.

• Visit lcc.ohio.gov for more information on how to file an appeal with Commission

You should NOT be selling alcoholic beverages unless:

• You appealed your Tax Non-Renewal Order to the Commission AND received a Stay Order; or
• Taxation has notified us that your prior tax issues have been resolved at which point we will send you a liquor permit or operating receipt by mail.

Regardless of your prior year tax issues, or anything else that may be going on with your permit, you still need to file your February 2023 renewal application if you want to keep your permit active. 

I did NOT file a prior year renewal application by the required date.

Your liquor permit, pursuant to R.C. 4303.271(C), is in a cancelled failure to renew (“CFRE”) status and at this point has likely been cancelled for failing to file a renewal application. To get back to selling alcohol, you should consult a liquor attorney who can best advise you on your options. Regardless, you should NOT be selling alcohol at this point unless you have filed an appeal and received a Stay Order from the Commission.

If you have already filed a CFRE appeal with the Commission and it remains pending, you still must timely file your February 2023 renewal application with us to avoid cancellation.

• Visit lcc.ohio.gov for more information on how to file an appeal with the Commission.
• You must go through this appeal process with the Commission before we can process your February 2023-2024 renewal application.