California Liquor Lottery 2026: ABC Priority License Drawing Dates, Fees & How to Apply
Once each year, California opens a narrow window for businesses to compete for brand new general liquor licenses in counties where population growth has outpaced existing license availability. Business owners call it the liquor lottery (more on that in a moment). The state calls it the Priority Registration Drawing. Either way, the 2026 window is now set.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has authorized new on-sale general and off-sale general licenses across 32 counties for the 2026 liquor license lottery. Applications will be accepted only during September 14-25, 2026. Priority drawings, held where more people apply than there are licenses available, take place the week of October 26, 2026.
Two application fees apply:
- New original general license: $19,840
- Intercounty transfer of a general license: $7,515
Both fees must be paid by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order at the time of filing.
One clarification before anything else. Entering the liquor lottery does not automatically mean there will be a drawing. If the number of qualified applicants in a county is equal to or below the number of available licenses in that category, every applicant proceeds without a competitive drawing.
This guide walks through the rules, the fees, the county-by-county allocations, and what happens after a successful priority position is issued.
What Is the California ABC Priority Drawing?
Beer and wine licenses in California are generally available year-round. General licenses are different. A general license authorizes the retail sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits, and the number of general licenses in each county is capped based on the county population.
Each year, ABC evaluates whether population growth in a given county has created room for additional general licenses. When it has, the department opens a limited authorization for new original licenses and intercounty transfers, priced at a fixed application fee and awarded through the priority process.
Applicants file during the annual filing window. If demand within a county exceeds available licenses in that category, ABC holds a random priority drawing to establish ranking. A winning priority position is not the license itself. It is the right to submit a formal, premises-specific application within 90 days.
Why People Call It the California Liquor License Lottery
“Liquor license lottery” is informal terminology that business owners, restaurant developers, and even local news outlets use for the same process. ABC’s official name is the Priority Registration Drawing, and the governing form is ABC-521.
Same process, different label. Whether you searched for “California liquor license lottery,” “ABC priority drawing,” or “how to get a general liquor license in California,” you’re looking at the same annual filing cycle.
Which Liquor Licenses Are Available Through the Priority Drawing?
Only certain general license types are obtainable through the priority process. Per ABC’s licensing rules, these include:
- Type 21: Off-Sale General (liquor stores, retail off-premises consumption)
- Type 47: On-Sale General Eating Place (bona fide restaurants)
- Type 48: On-Sale General Public Premises (bars, taverns, no food requirement)
- Type 57: Special On-Sale General (clubs meeting specific criteria)
- Type 75: On-Sale General Brewpub
Not every license type is available in every eligible county each year. A county may have a large allocation for new on-sale general licenses and zero authorization for off-sale general, or the reverse. This is why checking your specific county before doing anything else is the single most important step.
How Many New California Liquor Licenses Are Available in 2026?
ABC published the statewide 2026 allocation table on August 17, 2026. Thirty-two counties are eligible for at least one category of new original or intercounty transfer general license this year.
Here is the full statewide breakdown.
| County | New On-Sale | New Off-Sale | Intercounty On-Sale | Intercounty Off-Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 14 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| Colusa | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Contra Costa | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| El Dorado* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fresno | 25 | 3 | 25 | 0 |
| Imperial | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Kern | 25 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
| Kings | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Lassen | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Los Angeles | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Madera | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Merced | 9 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| Nevada | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Orange | 0 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| Placer* | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Riverside | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Sacramento | 25 | 25 | 3 | 25 |
| San Benito | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| San Bernardino | 25 | 13 | 25 | 0 |
| San Diego | 9 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| San Joaquin | 25 | 8 | 25 | 0 |
| San Luis Obispo | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| San Mateo | 0 | 25 | 0 | 20 |
| Santa Clara | 10 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| Shasta | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Solano | 18 | 4 | 18 | 0 |
| Stanislaus | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sutter | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Tehama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tulare | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Yolo | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Yuba | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
*El Dorado and Placer counties have additional special-legislation on-sale general licenses governed by separate statutory provisions. See ABC-523 instructions for details.
If a county isn’t on this list, ABC did not authorize any new priority licenses in that county for 2026. The only route to a general license in a non-authorized county is purchasing an existing one on the private market.
Riverside County
Riverside County has one of the largest 2026 allocations in the state:
- 25 new on-sale general
- 25 new off-sale general
- 25 intercounty on-sale transfers
- 25 intercounty off-sale transfers
That is 100 total license opportunities across all four categories, tied with Los Angeles and Contra Costa for the widest availability in California this year.
Imperial County
Imperial County shows how dramatically supply can vary between neighboring regions:
- 6 new on-sale general
- 0 new off-sale general
- 6 intercounty on-sale transfers
- 0 intercounty off-sale transfers
No new off-sale general opportunities in Imperial this year, and only 12 total on-sale slots between original issuance and intercounty transfer.
Orange County
Orange County has an unusual 2026 allocation worth flagging:
- 0 new on-sale general
- 25 new off-sale general
- 0 intercounty on-sale transfers
- 25 intercounty off-sale transfers
A business seeking a new Type 47 or Type 48 opportunity in Orange County has no 2026 priority route. The only path to an on-sale general license in Orange County this year is buying an existing license from a current holder on the private market.
Los Angeles County
- 25 new on-sale general
- 25 new off-sale general
- 25 intercounty on-sale transfers
- 25 intercounty off-sale transfers
Los Angeles has maximum allocation across all four categories, matching Riverside and Contra Costa.
San Diego County
- 9 new on-sale general
- 25 new off-sale general
- 0 intercounty on-sale transfers
- 25 intercounty off-sale transfers
Meaningful off-sale opportunity in San Diego this year, but on-sale is limited to just 9 new original licenses and no intercounty transfers.
San Bernardino County
- 25 new on-sale general
- 13 new off-sale general
- 25 intercounty on-sale transfers
- 0 intercounty off-sale transfers
Strong 2026 allocation for on-sale general in San Bernardino, with off-sale limited to new originals only.
When Is the 2026 California Priority License Application Period?
September 14, 2026 through September 25, 2026.
That is a two-week window. In-person filings are accepted at ABC district offices Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mailed applications must be postmarked no later than September 25, 2026.
ABC actively encourages early filing. The reason is practical. District offices see a rush at the tail end of the window, and applicants who wait until the final day risk being turned away if they arrive after 5 p.m. or lack a document.
Can You Apply After September 25?
No.
The priority filing window is annual and firm. Late applications are disqualified from participating in that year’s drawing. The next opportunity to file for a priority license in most counties is roughly September 2027.
One narrow exception exists. If a successful drawing participant later withdraws or is disqualified, ABC contacts the next applicant in priority order. That applicant then has 30 days to repay the priority fee and 60 more days to file the formal application. This only applies to people who already filed in the current cycle.
When Is the 2026 California Liquor License Drawing?
The week of October 26, 2026.
ABC will publish additional drawing details, including specific times for each county and instructions for attending the virtual drawing via Zoom, on October 19, 2026.
The drawings are held virtually rather than in person. Applicants can monitor the ABC website or subscribe to ABC’s email notifications for the exact drawing schedule closer to the date.
Does Every County Have a Drawing?
No.
A drawing is only held when the number of qualified priority applicants in a specific county-and-license-category combination exceeds the licenses available. If Imperial County has 6 new on-sale general licenses authorized and only 4 people file for them, all 4 applicants are notified of their eligibility to move forward without any competitive drawing.
Drawings tend to happen in larger, more competitive counties, where the number of applicants routinely exceeds ABC’s allocation. Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Orange County drawings are among the most consistently oversubscribed.
How Much Does It Cost to Enter the 2026 Priority Drawing?
Two fee tiers apply depending on what you are applying for.
New Original General License
$19,840 application fee.
This fee applies to Type 21, 47, 48, 57, and 75 applications for brand new original general licenses within counties where new allocations are available. Payment must be submitted with the application by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order, made payable to Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Intercounty Transfer
$7,515 priority application fee.
This lower fee applies when moving an existing general license from one county to another (an intercounty transfer). Payment methods are identical: certified check, cashier’s check, or money order.
Intercounty transfer priority is a separate category. An applicant seeking a new original license and an intercounty transfer of the same type in the same county may file both applications during the same window.
Is the $19,840 the Total Cost of the Liquor License?
No.
The $19,840 is the priority application fee only. If the applicant is selected and proceeds to the formal application stage, additional costs still apply, including:
- Annual license fees
- Fingerprint and background check fees
- Local land use and conditional use permit (CUP) costs
- Zoning compliance and premises modifications
- Escrow costs, if applicable
- Legal, filing, or consulting fees
- Any other ABC application-related expenses
Just as important, the priority fee should not be confused with the secondary-market price of buying an existing Type 47 or Type 48 license from a current holder. Those private-market prices vary widely by county and can range from tens of thousands to well over $100,000, depending on demand and license type.
Do You Get the $19,840 Back if You Don’t Win?
Generally, yes.
Unsuccessful priority drawing participants are automatically refunded their application fee, minus a $100 service charge, within 90 to 120 days after the drawing. No separate refund request is required for unsuccessful applicants. ABC issues the refund automatically.
One exception applies. Under Government Code § 12419.5, if the applicant owes money to a California taxing agency, that agency may make a claim against the priority application fee. If so, the amount owed is deducted from the refund before it is issued.
What Happens to an Unsuccessful Applicant’s Priority Ranking?
Here is a detail most casual guides miss.
Unsuccessful drawing participants keep their assigned priority ranking on the current year’s list until August 1 of the following year. If a successful applicant ahead of them is later disqualified or withdraws before August 1, the next-ranked applicant is contacted, has 30 days to repay the fee, and then 60 days to file the formal application.
For 2026 applicants, this carryover extends through August 1, 2027. Practically, it means an unsuccessful applicant retains a secondary opportunity for up to nine months without needing to reapply.
Who Is Eligible to Participate?
To submit a valid ABC-521 priority application, an applicant must meet several baseline requirements:
- The county and license category being applied for must be authorized for 2026
- The application must be complete and timely
- All ownership disclosure requirements must be satisfied
- The correct application fee must be paid by certified funds
- The applicant must not have a disqualifying interest in another priority application for the same license type and transaction in the same county
Every person or entity with an ownership interest in the applicant or the intended business must be disclosed on the application. This includes partners, corporate officers, directors, LLC managers and members, and trust beneficiaries.
California Residency Requirement
If a drawing is required, the applicant must have been a California resident for at least 90 days prior to the drawing date.
Individuals establish residency through documents like a California driver’s license, voter registration, or utility bills. For corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships, residency begins on the date the entity’s formation document is filed with the California Secretary of State. Out-of-state entities establish residency from the date they registered with the Secretary of State to do business in California.
Failure to prove 90-day residency at the time of the drawing results in disqualification.
What Is ABC Form 521?
ABC-521 is the Priority License Application used for the standard original and intercounty transfer general-license priority process. This is the form to submit for a Type 21, 47, 48, 57, or 75 priority application in an eligible county.
Two related forms should not be confused with ABC-521:
- ABC-522: Used for Type 87 Neighborhood-Restricted Special On-Sale General applications in Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties
- ABC-523: Used for special legislation on-sale general priority licenses in counties like El Dorado, Placer, and San Francisco, where availability is set by statute rather than population ratios
If you’re applying for a standard general license in an eligible county, ABC-521 is your form.
How to Complete an ABC-521 Priority License Application
The ABC-521 form itself is not complicated, but small errors are catastrophic. Every field matters. Here is the practical sequence.
Step 1: Select the County
Confirm your desired county appears on the 2026 eligible county list and that the specific license category you need is authorized there. Applying in a county that has no allocation for your license type is an automatic disqualification.
Step 2: Select Original or Intercounty Transfer
An original license is a brand new authorization. An intercounty transfer moves an existing general license from one California county to another. Each has its own fee and its own eligibility rules.
Step 3: Select On-Sale or Off-Sale General
On-sale means alcohol consumed on the premises (restaurants, bars, brewpubs). Off-sale means alcohol sold for consumption elsewhere (retail stores). The category you select controls which license types are available to you.
Step 4: Enter the Applicant’s Exact Legal Ownership Information
Sole owner, general partnership, limited partnership, corporation, non-profit, LLC, or trust. The applicant name on the form must exactly match legal registration documents.
Step 5: Include the Correct Ownership Attachment
Anything other than a sole owner requires an additional attachment:
- ABC-521-ATT-B: General Partnership
- ABC-521-ATT-C: Limited Partnership
- ABC-521-ATT-D: Corporations and Non-Profits
- ABC-521-ATT-E: Limited Liability Company
- ABC-521-ATT-F: Trusts
Every person or entity with an interest in the applicant must be listed on the appropriate attachment.
Step 6: Include the Correct Application Fee
$19,840 for a new original general license. $7,515 for an intercounty transfer. Payment must be certified check, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to Alcoholic Beverage Control. Personal checks are not accepted.
Step 7: File During September 14-25, 2026
In person at any ABC district office (they will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) or by mail postmarked no later than September 25, 2026. September 26 is too late.
What Happens if ABC-521 Is Filled Out Incorrectly?
An incomplete or untimely priority application is disqualified.
That is the exact ABC standard. Not “returned for correction.” Not “flagged for follow-up.” Disqualified. The applicant loses their opportunity to participate in that year’s priority drawing for the county and category they applied for.
For context, a $19,840 cashier’s check sits behind that application. If the form is disqualified for a missing ownership attachment or an incomplete officer/shareholder disclosure, the applicant is refunded (minus the $100 service charge) but has forfeited their annual filing opportunity. The next chance to apply for that same category in that same county is roughly September 2027.
Professionally prepared applications are common for this process. The upside of doing it right is one filing window. The downside of doing it wrong is a full year of waiting.
What Happens if You Win the Priority Drawing?
Winning a priority position is a significant milestone, but it is not the same as being issued a liquor license.
Successful applicants receive notification of their priority position and have 90 days to file a formal application for a specific premises. The formal application triggers the standard ABC investigation process, and issuance still depends on:
- Premises eligibility and location suitability
- Local zoning approval and any required conditional use permit (CUP)
- Individual applicant qualification and background check
- Any public protests filed against the application
- ABC investigation findings
- Operating condition negotiations
- Local jurisdiction approvals (city or county)
The formal application also requires proof of a two-year right of tenancy at the applied-for premises before license issuance. This can be a rental agreement, lease, or grant deed. Because the tenancy requirement runs from the date the license is issued (not the date of the formal application), it’s smart to structure any lease commitments so they are contingent on license issuance.
For on-sale general priority applicants, the formal application also requires designating the intended operation as one of: a bona fide public eating place (Type 47), a public premises (Type 48, requires demonstrating unmet public demand), a qualifying club (Type 57), or a brewpub restaurant (Type 75).
Priority Drawing vs. Buying an Existing Liquor License
There are two principal paths to a general liquor license in California. The priority drawing is one of them.
Priority Drawing Route
- Fixed state application fee ($19,840 for new original)
- One annual filing opportunity per county
- Random selection if oversubscribed
- Uncertainty about winning a position
- Requires two-year tenancy proof before issuance
- Restricted from resale for two years after issuance (five years for intercounty priority licenses)
Private-Market Transfer Route
- Purchase an existing license from a current holder within the same county
- Market price varies dramatically by county and license type
- Available any time; not tied to an annual window
- Certainty of acquisition once seller and buyer agree
- Standard ABC transfer process still applies
- No two-year resale restriction on ordinary transferred licenses
Neither route is universally better. A restaurant developer with a five-figure budget and time to wait may find the priority process ideal. A hospitality group under pressure to open in six months may find that buying an existing license, even at a high market premium, is the only realistic option.
Should You Apply for the 2026 California Priority Drawing?
The priority process fits some situations well and others poorly.
When the priority route makes sense:
- Your target county has an allocation in the license category you need
- You are planning a qualifying restaurant, bar, brewpub, or retail liquor business
- You can afford to have $19,840 tied up for 90-120 days if unsuccessful
- Your business timeline can accommodate a 3-6 month window between filing and premises approval
- You are prepared to complete the formal application if selected
- You have or can secure a qualifying premises with two-year tenancy
When the priority route probably won’t solve your problem:
- The license category you need isn’t authorized in your county for 2026
- You need an operating license within the next 60-90 days
- Your intended premises or business model won’t meet ABC’s qualification standards
- You are assuming that winning the drawing eliminates ordinary ABC and local approval requirements
Getting Help With a California Priority License Application
The value of professional preparation on an ABC-521 filing is straightforward math.
The application fee is $19,840. The filing window is 12 calendar days. Incomplete applications are disqualified with no correction opportunity. Missing a single ownership attachment or misstating an entity name means losing your annual filing opportunity entirely.
Preparation service fee: $200.
That fee covers correct form selection, complete ownership disclosure, verification of county eligibility for the specific license category, correct fee amount and payment format, and timely filing during the September 14-25 window. Given the size of the application fee sitting behind the paperwork and the annual nature of the filing opportunity, professional preparation is inexpensive insurance.
Need help filing before September 25? Contact GGS Licensing.
2026 California Priority Drawing FAQ
What is the California liquor license lottery?
The “liquor license lottery” is the informal name for California’s annual Priority Registration Drawing, run by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. ABC awards a limited number of new general liquor licenses each year in counties where population growth allows, and holds a random drawing in counties where more people apply than licenses are available.
When can I apply for the 2026 ABC priority drawing?
September 14 through September 25, 2026. Applications must be filed in person by 5 p.m. on September 25 or postmarked by mail no later than September 25.
When is the 2026 liquor license drawing?
The week of October 26, 2026. ABC will publish the specific times and Zoom instructions for each county drawing on October 19, 2026.
How much does the priority application cost?
$19,840 for a new original general license. $7,515 for an intercounty transfer of a general license. Payment must be by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order.
Is the $19,840 application fee refundable?
Yes, for unsuccessful drawing participants. The refund is automatic, minus a $100 service charge, and is issued within 90-120 days of the drawing.
How many liquor licenses are available in Riverside County in 2026?
Riverside County has 25 new on-sale general, 25 new off-sale general, 25 intercounty on-sale transfers, and 25 intercounty off-sale transfers authorized for 2026.
How many are available in Imperial County?
Imperial County has 6 new on-sale general and 6 intercounty on-sale general transfers authorized for 2026. No new or intercounty off-sale general licenses are available in Imperial this year.
Are new Type 47 or Type 48 licenses available in Orange County in 2026?
No. Orange County has zero authorization for new on-sale general licenses or intercounty on-sale transfers in the 2026 priority process. Orange County’s 2026 allocation is limited to off-sale general (25 new original and 25 intercounty transfer).
What is ABC Form 521?
ABC-521 is the Priority License Application form used for the standard original and intercounty transfer general-license priority process. It is a different form from ABC-522 (Type 87 licenses) and ABC-523 (special legislation licenses).
What happens if my ABC-521 application is incomplete?
An incomplete priority application is disqualified from participating in that year’s drawing. The applicant is refunded the application fee (minus the $100 service charge) but loses the annual filing opportunity for that county and license category.
Do I need a location before entering the priority drawing?
No. A specific premises is not required at the priority application stage. Successful applicants have 90 days after being notified of a priority position to identify and file a formal application for a specific location.
Do I need to be a California resident?
Yes, if a drawing is required. Applicants must have been California residents for at least 90 days before the drawing date. For entities, residency starts on the date of registration with the California Secretary of State.
What happens after I win the drawing?
You receive notification of your priority position and have 90 days to file a formal, premises-specific application. That formal application triggers ABC’s standard investigation process, including background checks, zoning verification, and any public protests.
Does winning guarantee ABC will issue my license?
No. A winning priority position gives you the right to submit a formal application. Actual license issuance still depends on premises eligibility, local zoning approval, applicant qualification, background checks, ABC investigation, and any protests or operating conditions.
Can I buy an existing liquor license instead?
Yes. The other route to obtaining a general liquor license in California is purchasing an existing license from a current holder in the same county. Private-market prices vary widely by county and license type.
The Filing-Window Bottom Line
The 2026 California ABC priority drawing gives businesses in 32 counties one annual shot at a brand new general liquor license at a fixed state application fee. Filing runs September 14-25, 2026. Drawings, if needed, take place the week of October 26, 2026.
The rules are unforgiving. The fee is significant. The opportunity comes once a year.
Businesses considering a Type 21, 47, 48, 57, or 75 license in an eligible California county should verify their specific county-and-category allocation, gather ownership documentation, secure the certified funds for the application fee, and file well before the September 25 deadline.
