Late Hour Liquor License Application Process
Businesses with a Consumption or Tavern License wishing to remain open beyond the regular time of closing may obtain a Late Hour Liquor License if they meet certain criteria and follow the application process outlined below.
Hours of Operation
The closing hour under a standard Consumption or Tavern liquor license is 2 am, Monday through Saturday, and 3 am on Sunday. With a Late Hour Liquor License, those establishments are permitted to remain open until 4 am Monday through Saturday and 5 am on Sunday. The legal opening time for all liquor establishments is 7 am, Monday through Saturday, and 11 am Sunday. Restaurants (or Tavern licensees with a Retail Food License) can begin selling liquor at 9 am on Sunday.
Application Process
In order to apply for a Late Hour Liquor License, applicants must first hold an incidental-consumption on premises or tavern liquor license.
If 50 or more legal voters reside within a distance of 500 feet from the licensed premises the applicant is required to send written notice to all legal registered voters within 500 feet of the licensed premises. The applicant must send notices via certified mail with a return receipt requested. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection can provide a sample notice.
The applicant is required to submit an affidavit stating that the local voters have been notified and that written notice has been provided to the local alderman informing him/her of the late hour application. A sign containing notice of the Late Hour Liquor License application must also be posted in a secured place conspicuous from the public way.
If there are more than 50 registered voters residing within 500 ft. of the applicant's premises, the applicant must obtain and file a petition, signed by a majority of the legal voters registered within the affected area, giving consent to the business to file a Late Hour Liquor License application. The license application must be submitted within sixty (60) days of the date the petition was signed by the first legal voter.