Change Your License

Once you have a license, you may have to file other applications with the Liquor Authority to change your license or licensed premises. There are some situations that require you to obtain approval of the SLA in advance. There are other situations that do not require SLA approval, but you must notify the SLA so that your licensing record is accurate and complete. 

Other applications that you may need to file with the Liquor Authority include:

• Alterations - major changes or renovations to your licensed premises;
• Class Changes - changing the type of business being licensed;
• Corporate Changes - changing the corporate structure of your licensed business;
• Endorsement - name changes of licensed principals or partnership changes;
• Method of Operation Changes - changes in the way your licensed business is run; and
• Removals - moving the location of your business.

If you are making any renovations to your licensed premises, you may need to notify, or obtain the approval of, the SLA before going forward with the changes. A minor alteration is anything that costs less than $10,000 that does not “materially affect the character of the premises or the physical structure that existed at the time of licensing.” You must notify the SLA in advance of minor alterations but you do not need to obtain the SLA’s approval. 

If you are making a substantial alteration to the licensed premises, you must file an application in advance and obtain the SLA’s approval before making changes. Substantial alterations include adding or eliminating space (including outside areas) from the licensed premises; changes that reduce visibility; changes to interior that materially affect the character of premises; relocating the entrance; enlarging or relocating the bar; converting a room for food/beverage service; installing a bandstand, stage, dance floor; and sealing off or creating a public entrance or window.

If you have an on-premises beer, wine or liquor license in New York City, you must notify your Community Board before you apply for a substantial alteration. The notice must be in writing, using the form provided by the Authority. This must be done thirty days before you file the alteration application, using either: certified mail; an overnight delivery service; or personal delivery to the Community Board.

You do not need to notify the SLA, or obtain approval, for renovations such as painting, carpeting, replacement of electrical, plumbing, refrigeration, air conditioning and heating fixtures and equipment, replacement of booths with tables and chairs, or vice versa.

On-premises licensees must also request permission from the SLA to add additional bars where alcoholic beverages are sold. Additional bars can be seasonal, with prorated fees.

If you wish to change the type of business you are licensed for, you must submit a class change application. For example, if you applied as a restaurant but now wish to operate as a tavern or nightclub, that is a change in the type of business being licensed.

Retailers and wholesalers can change their license classes. 

For example: 

• Off-premises beer licensees can convert to an off-premises beer/wine product license, 
• Off-premises beer/wine product licensees can convert to an off-premises beer only license.

Brewers can also apply for a change in class from a brewer license to a farm brewer license. 

All other class changes must submit an application for a new license.

If you're an on-premises applicant, you must notify your Municipality or Community Board at least 30 days prior to filing the application with the SLA. The notice must be in writing, using the form approved and provided by the Authority. This must be done thirty days before you file the alteration application, using either: certified mail; an overnight delivery service; or personal delivery.

If your license has been issued in the name of a corporation or limited liability company, you must obtain the approval of the SLA prior to: 

• Adding or removing an officer or director of the corporation; or 
• Adding or removing a managing member of a limited liability company.

In addition, you must also obtain the approval of the SLA before there is a change in the stockholders of the corporation or the members of the limited liability company, or any change in the stock held by an existing stockholder (of the corporation) or the ownership interest of an existing member (of the limited liability company) has in the business. No approval is needed if there are ten or more stockholders or members and: the change involves less than 10% of the stock or ownership interest; and none of the existing stockholders or members with less than a 10% interest have their interest increased to 10% or more.

If you have an on-premises license in New York City, you must notify your Community Board before filing an application to make a corporate change if you are making a “substantial corporate change.” The notice must be in writing, using the form approved and provided by the Authority. This must be done thirty days before you file the corporate change application, using either: certified mail; an overnight delivery service; or personal delivery to your municipality. For a corporation, a “substantial corporate change” means a change of 80% or more of the officers and/or directors, or a transfer of 80% or more of stock of the corporation, or an existing stockholder obtaining 80% or more of the stock of such corporation. For a limited liability company, a “substantial corporate change” means a change of 80% or more of the managing members of the company, or a transfer of 80% or more of ownership interest in the company, or an existing member obtaining a cumulative of 80% or more of the ownership interest in the company.

If your name has changed due to marriage, divorce, or any other reason, you must file an endorsement application so that the SLA’s records can be updated. If you hold a license in your individual name, the SLA will allow you to change the licensee to a corporation or limited liability company using an endorsement application. You can only use this application if you remain the sole owner of the business.

You must also file an endorsement application with the SLA for changes or endorsements to existing licenses, including:

• Address corrections on the license certificate
• Death of a licensee (individual or partner)
• Court appointments of a representative
• Dissolution of Partnership, or the addition of a partner
• Amend the corporate name of the licensed premise when there is no change in ownership or corporate entity

When you submitted your application, you provided the SLA with information regarding how you would operate your business. For example, if you are an on-premises licensee, you may have advised the SLA that you would be open during certain hours and would have background music without any dancing. This is referred to as your method of operation. You may not change your method of operation without applying to the SLA for approval.

Please note that your method of operation is different than the type of business that the SLA approved when you obtained your license. For example, if you applied as a restaurant but now wish to operate as a tavern or nightclub this is not a change in the method of operation. This is a change in the type of business being licensed and requires a new license application.

You may not move your licensed business to another location without obtaining the SLA’s approval. If you move without getting the approval you will be subject to disciplinary action by the SLA.

If you're an on-premises applicant, you must notify your municipality or Community Board of your plans to move to a new location. The notice must be in writing, using the form approved and provided by the Authority. This must be done thirty days before you file the removal application, using either: certified mail; an overnight delivery service; or personal delivery.

Please note that a removal application is much like an application for a brand new license. While you are already licensed, the SLA must determine whether a license can, or should, be issued for your new location. Do not move until the SLA has issued you a temporary retail permit or a license certificate for the new location.