ABC’s 2024 New General License Authorizations: Counties, Fees, and the Drawing

Updated November 8, 2026. This article was written in mid-August 2024, the day after the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) announced the year’s new general license authorizations. Figures and dates refer to the 2024 cycle. It is general information, not legal or licensing advice.

A rare chance at a new general license

In California, general licenses, which allow the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits, are limited by county population. In many counties, the only way to obtain one is to buy an existing license from another licensee, often at a significant price. Once a year, ABC determines whether population growth allows additional licenses in each county, and if so, it opens a short window for priority applications.

On August 15, 2024, ABC announced the 2024 authorizations for new on-sale general and off-sale general licenses, as well as intercounty transfers. This article summarizes what ABC announced and what restaurant, bar, and store owners considering an application should know.

Which counties are eligible

ABC published a table listing 35 counties with authorizations for new licenses or intercounty transfers. Some examples from the table:

• Los Angeles: 25 new on-sale, 25 new off-sale, 25 intercounty on-sale, and 25 intercounty off-sale.
• Contra Costa and Riverside: 25 in each of the four categories.
• Sacramento: 25 new on-sale, 25 new off-sale, 5 intercounty on-sale, and 25 intercounty off-sale.
• San Diego, Orange, Santa Clara, and Alameda: no new on-sale general licenses, but 25 new off-sale licenses.
• Fresno, Kern, San Bernardino, and San Joaquin: 25 new on-sale licenses each, with varying off-sale and transfer numbers.
• Napa: 10 new on-sale and no off-sale.
• Smaller counties: Lassen and Mariposa each have one new on-sale license; El Dorado, Kings, Nevada, Placer, Shasta, and Sutter each have four.

Owners should check ABC’s full table for their county, since availability varies widely and some counties do not appear at all.

Key dates and fees

According to ABC’s announcement:

• Applications for new original on-sale general and off-sale general licenses will be accepted at local ABC offices from September 9, 2024, through September 20, 2024, in counties where such licenses are available.
• During the same period, priority applications will be accepted for intercounty transfers, as authorized.
• Only one priority application will be accepted from any one applicant per county for each type of license.
• The fee is $18,635 for a new original general license application and $7,060 for a priority application for an intercounty transfer.
• ABC encourages applicants to file early in the filing period to avoid a lengthy wait.

How the drawing works

ABC explains that if the number of applicants in a county for a particular license type is equal to or less than the number of licenses available, all applicants will be notified that they have 90 days to complete a formal application for their specific premises.

If ABC receives more applications than there are licenses, it will hold a virtual drawing. To participate, an applicant must have been a California resident for at least 90 days before the date of the drawing. Successful participants will be notified that they have 90 days to complete a formal application.

Unsuccessful participants will be automatically refunded their application fee, minus a $100 service charge, within 90 to 120 days of the drawing, but keep their priority ranking until August 1 of the following year. ABC notes that refunds for successful participants who later withdraw follow Business and Professions Code sections 23320 and 23959, and that a taxing agency may make a claim against the priority application fee if the applicant owes money to California taxing agencies.

Is a new license right for your business?

New versus transfer

The $18,635 fee for a new license may be far less than the market price of an existing general license in many counties. But winning a drawing is not guaranteed, and the formal application still requires a specific premises and the usual ABC investigation.

Timing

The 90-day window to file a formal application after notification is short. Applicants should have a location identified or be ready to secure one quickly.

Location issues

Formal applications are subject to ABC’s normal review, including zoning, proximity to schools, churches, and other consideration points, and local concerns. A license authorization does not guarantee approval for any particular site.

Intercounty transfers

For owners who already hold a general license in another county, the intercounty transfer category may offer a way to move a license where demand is higher.

Planning for a new licensed business

A new general license brings new obligations. Owners preparing to open should plan for:

• Training. On-premises servers and managers must complete Responsible Beverage Service training. Our guide to RBS deadlines for new hires explains the timing. Off-sale stores can use ABC’s free LEAD training.
• Policies. Write ID, intoxication, and refusal policies before opening, not after the first incident.
• Penalties. Discipline for violations has become more significant. See our SB 498 article.
• Insurance. Liquor liability coverage and training records go hand in hand.

A scenario for a growing restaurant

A family-owned restaurant in Riverside County currently holds a beer and wine license and wants to offer cocktails. The owners review ABC’s table, see 25 new on-sale general licenses authorized for the county, and prepare to file during the September window. They gather documents, confirm their California residency, set aside the fee, and talk with their landlord about the formal application. They also plan RBS training for bartenders who will be making cocktails for the first time.

Preparing before the filing window opens

The September filing window lasts two weeks, and ABC encourages early filing. Applicants who want to be ready on the first day can prepare in August:

• Confirm the county. Check ABC’s table to make sure the license type you want is authorized in your county.
• Decide new or transfer. Determine whether you are applying for a new original license or an intercounty transfer of a license you already hold.
• Arrange payment. The fee must be paid when filing. Plan for $18,635 for a new license or $7,060 for an intercounty transfer priority application.
• Check residency. If a drawing is held, applicants must have been California residents for at least 90 days before the drawing date.
• Get the forms. ABC said additional information and instructions would be posted on its website in the weeks following the announcement. Watch for those materials and follow them exactly.
• Locate your district office. Applications are accepted at local ABC offices, so confirm which office serves your area and its hours.

After the drawing

For winners, the 90-day period to file a formal application moves quickly. A formal application involves the specific premises, ownership details, and the usual ABC investigation. Owners should line up a lease or property, financing, floor plans, and any local permits. Talking with the city or county planning office early can reveal zoning issues before they delay an application.

For unsuccessful participants, ABC’s announcement notes that priority ranking is retained until August 1 of the following year, which can matter if applicants ranked above them do not complete their applications.

Budgeting beyond the fee

The application fee is only one cost. A new licensed premises may involve build-out, equipment, insurance, staff training, and time without revenue while the application is investigated. A realistic budget includes all of these, along with a contingency for delays. Owners should also plan for ongoing costs, such as annual license renewal fees and refresher training for staff.

Who should not rush

A new general license is a serious commitment. Owners who do not yet have a site, financing, or an operating plan may be better served waiting for a future cycle, or continuing with a beer and wine license while they prepare. An unsuccessful drawing entry still costs the $100 service charge, and a winning entry that cannot be turned into a formal application within 90 days is a lost opportunity.

Questions to ask before filing

Before committing the fee, owners can work through a few honest questions with their partners, landlord, and advisers:

• Do we have, or can we quickly secure, a premises that is likely to meet zoning and ABC requirements?
• Can we file a complete formal application within 90 days of being notified?
• What will we do if we are not selected, and can we wait for the next cycle?
• Is a beer and wine license, which is not tied to the annual general license drawing, a better fit for now?
• Who will manage staff training and compliance once the license issues?

Answering these questions in August can prevent rushed decisions in September.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply?

ABC says applications are accepted at local ABC offices during the filing period, in counties where licenses are available.

What happens if I lose the drawing?

ABC says unsuccessful participants receive a refund minus a $100 service charge and keep their priority ranking until August 1 of the following year.

Can I apply more than once in a county?

ABC says only one priority application will be accepted from any one applicant per county for each type of license.

For businesses that decide to apply, early organization pays off. Create a single folder, physical or digital, holding the priority application, proof of payment, residency documents, correspondence from ABC, and notes on the target premises. If notification arrives, that folder becomes the starting point for the formal application. Owners should also mark the 90-day deadline on every partner’s calendar the day notification arrives, since missing it means losing the opportunity. A realistic plan, careful records, and early conversations with the landlord and local planning office give an application its best chance of turning into an open door.

Current context as of November 8, 2026

The numbers, fees, and dates above apply to the 2024 cycle only. ABC announces authorizations annually, and eligible counties, license counts, fees, and dates change from year to year. ABC’s current priority drawing FAQ explains that the application period begins on the second Monday of September each year and lasts at least five business days, that priority winners must file a formal application by the 90th calendar day after notification, and that winning does not guarantee a license will issue. Prospective applicants should check ABC’s current announcements and priority drawing pages rather than relying on 2024 figures.

The bottom line

The 2024 authorizations offer a short window to apply for new general licenses in 35 counties. For businesses that are ready, with a location, funds, and a plan for training and compliance, it may be worth considering. Read ABC’s announcement carefully and file early.

Sources

1. ABC: New Liquor License Authorizations (Aug. 15, 2024)
2. ABC: Priority Drawing FAQ (current note)
3. ABC: RBS Frequently Asked Questions

This article is general information, not legal advice.