complete renewal application before the expiration of your current license period, you
will receive either: 1) a new license certificate for the next licensing period; 2) a letter
explaining why your application was denied; or 3) a letter from the SLA allowing you
to sell alcoholic beverages while your application is being reviewed.
If your application is not complete, or you do not file it before the expiration of the cur-
rent license period, you will not be able to sell alcoholic beverages once your current
license expires unless and until the SLA renews the license. If you have an on-premises
license, you cannot allow your customers to bring their own alcoholic beverages into
your establishment during this period of time. You are also prohibited from giving away
alcoholic beverages to your customers during this time.
If you have an on-premises beer, wine or liquor license in New York City, you must
notify your Community Board of your intent to renew your license. 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 renewal application, using either: certified mail; an over-
night delivery service; or personal delivery to the Community Board.
It is important that you report in your renewal application any changes of information,
such as a change in your residential address or any arrests or convictions that have
not already been reported to the SLA. Please keep in mind, however, that if the change
requires SLA approval, merely including it in the renewal application is not sufficient.
You must obtain the necessary approval for the change.
HOW MANY BARS CAN YOU OPERATE
IN YOUR PREMISES?
If you have an on-premises beer, wine or liquor license, you may operate one “stand-
up” bar for the sale of alcoholic beverages directly to patrons. Your license also entitles
you to operate one “service bar”, from which wait staff can obtain alcoholic beverages
to serve to patrons seated at tables. You may also apply to obtain approval to operate
no more than two additional stand-up bars in your premises. The cost for each addi-
tional bar is the same as your license fee.
If you are licensed as a hotel, restaurant or not-for-profit club, you may use temporary
stand-up bars without any additional approval or fee in ballrooms, meeting rooms or
private dining rooms during private events where the general public is not admitted.
If your establishment has an occupancy of at least 1000 persons, or if you operate a
theatre or concert hall, you may apply for more than two additional stand-up bars. The
cost of each bar is the same as your license fee.
DO YOU HAVE TO SERVE FOOD
AT YOUR ON-PREMISES ESTABLISHMENT?
If you are licensed as a restaurant, you must have suitable kitchen facilities to prepare
and serve a full menu of food commonly served at various hours of the day. If you have
a hotel license, there must be a restaurant in your building available to your guests,
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