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Liquor Retailers & Other Liquor Licenses

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Liquor Retailer
On-Sale (Outside of City Limits)
On-Sale (Within City Limits)
Package Off-Sale Liquor License
Malt Beverage On and Off-Sale and South Dakota Wine Retailers
On-Sale Convention Facility Liquor License
On-Sale Liquor License for Publicly Operated Airports
Wine On and Off-Sale Retailer License
Supplier
Transportation Company License
Wholesalers License
Special Alcoholic Beverage License

Hunting Preserves Facility On-Sale License
Additional Alcohol Resources
Alcohol Online Forms

 


Liquor Retailer

 

On-Sale (Outside of City Limits)

Anyone selling alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and spirits, for customers to consume on the licensed premises must purchase this license. Contact your local county auditor for the availability of licenses, the cost and what the local process is for obtaining a license.

See Applicable Laws

Click Here To Apply

On-Sale (Within City Limits)

Anyone selling alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and spirits, for customers to consume on the licensed premises must purchase a Retail On-Sale Liquor License. Contact your local finance officer for the availability of licenses, the cost and what the local process is for obtaining a license.

See Applicable Laws

Click Here To Apply

Package Off-Sale Liquor License

Anyone selling alcoholic beverages by the package for consumers to consume off of the licensed premises must purchase a Package Off-Sale Liquor license. These licenses may only be issued for use in an incorporated city, town, community improvement district, or county. Contact your local finance officer or county auditor for availability of licenses, the cost and what the local process is for obtaining a license.

Fee Schedule

0-500 Population
(Cities of the 3rd Class)
500-5,000 Population
(Cities of the 2nd Class)
5,000+ Population
(Cities of the 1st Class)
Not less than $300
Renewal: May not exceed $500
Not less than $300
Renewal: May not exceed $500
Not less than $300
Renewal: May not exceed $500

 

Click Here To Apply

Malt Beverage On and Off-Sale and South Dakota Wine Retailers

Anyone who will be selling malt beverages or wine produced by a South Dakota farm winery for consumption on or off the premises is required to purchase this license for $300, payable to your local governing body. To apply, contact your local finance officer if the business will be located within the city limits or your local county auditor if the business will be located outside the city limits.

Click Here To Apply

On-Sale Convention Facility Liquor License

Contact your local finance officer for the availability of alcohol licenses, the cost and what the local process is for obtaining a license. Examples of Convention Facility On-Sale Liquor Businesses:

  • Hotels or motels with convention facilities serving alcoholic beverages.

Click Here To Apply

On-Sale Liquor License for Publicly Operated Airports

Contact your local finance officer for the availability of alcohol licenses, the cost and what the local process is for obtaining a license.

Click Here To Apply

Wine On and Off-Sale Retailer License

Contact your local finance officer if the business will be located within the city limits or your local county auditor if the business will be located outside the city limits.

Additional Retailer License Forms

Click Here To Apply

Supplier

Wholesalers pay all taxes on alcohol received from suppliers. The Department encourages suppliers to review the codified laws and administrative rules that apply to alcohol sales in this state. Please email SpecialT@state.sd.us if you have any questions about this information. Any supplier wishing to sell alcoholic beverages in the State of South Dakota must complete the following requirements:

Transportation Company License

Any common carrier or operator of a private vehicle transporting or accepting for transportation any alcoholic beverage must apply for this license. This does not include carriers in interstate commerce where the shipment originates outside of the state and is destined to a point outside of the state.

 

How to Apply

  1. Click on the “Apply” button below
  2. Start a new application without creating an account.
  3. Select your business type.
  4. Select your alcohol license (New or Renewal)
  5. Complete your application.
  6. Pay for your application.

Apply NOW

 

Renewals

Businesses who hold a transporters license will receive a courtesy email reminder prior to the license expiring with instructions on how to renew.

 

Wholesalers License

Anyone selling wine, spirits, and malt beverages to retailers must purchase the Liquor Wholesalers License. The fee for a wholesalers license is $5,000, payable to the Department of Revenue. A surety bond form (PDF) in the amount of $50,000 is also required. A wholesaler who only sells malt beverages to retailers may obtain a malt beverage wholesaler license. The fee is $400.

How to Apply

  1. Click on the “Apply” button below
  2. Start a new application without creating an account.
  3. Select your business type.
  4. Select your alcohol license (New or Renewal)
  5. Complete your application.
  6. Pay for your application.

Apply NOW

Renewals

Businesses who hold a wholesaler license will receive a courtesy email reminder prior to the license expiring letting them know that it is time to renew their license.  Businesses can then log in to our online Filing and Tax Payment portal and select the RENEW link.

Additional Wholesaler Forms

Special Alcoholic Beverage Licenses

State law allows specific organizations the ability to sell and serve alcoholic beverages during special events. These licenses are issued by the city or county where the event is held. An eligible organization interested in holding a special event and selling or serving alcohol should contact the local governing body where the event is to be held. For additional information on the types of licenses, who is eligible, and the privileges with each of these licenses please see our Special Alcoholic Beverage License Tax Fact (PDF). Organizations that qualify include:

  • Civic
  • Charitable
  • Educational
  • Fraternal
  • Veterans
  • Certain businesses with a permanent alcoholic beverage license

Click Here To Apply

Hunting Preserves Facility On-Sale License

Counties may issue a hunting preserve facility on-sale license. The annual hunting preserve facility on-sale license is $500. Contact your local county auditor for the availability of licenses and the local process is for obtaining a license. 

 

Requirements

  • The licensee may only sell alcoholic beverages during the shooting preserve season from Sept 1 to March 31.
  • May only sell for onsite consumption.
  • May only sell to a guest as part of a hunting or shooting rental package for use of the shooting preserve’s facility and services.
  • May not offer alcoholic beverages for retail sales to the general public.
  • The facility must have:
    • Lodging accommodations
    • Equipment and seating for the preparation and service of food for consumption on the premises.
  • Must have the following in order to apply:
    • Lodging License from the Department of Health
    • Private Shooting Preserve Permit from the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks

Click Here To Apply

Additional Alcohol Resources

Alcohol Tax Online Forms

Alcohol Laws & Regulations

See legal age restrictions, serving hours and other laws governing businesses with sale of alcohol in South Dakota.

Alcohol For Individuals

Information laws, regulations and South Dakota supplier information for individuals.