Application Process

1. Submit a completed application with all required documentation by the deadline. (See below tab for submission deadlines.)
2. A City Clerk Department staff member will reach out to you via email with an invoice and deadline for the $400 application fee and the Background Investigation fees for each applicant ($91 per person listed under ownership).
3. Once both fee types are paid, the application will then be reviewed by applicable departments. A City Clerk Department staff member will contact you via email with any questions the review team may have during the review process. If you do not receive an email, it means your application is in process and being reviewed.
   • If approved to be placed on a meeting agenda, you will receive an email with the meeting date, time, and location so you can be prepared to attend or have someone attend on your behalf.
4. A public notice will be posted in a local newspaper 7-10 days before the Liquor Commission Hearing, and notices will be mailed to the surrounding area.
5. The Application will appear on a Liquor Commission Agenda. Attendance is required by at least one representative to answer any questions the Commission may have.
   • After the Liquor Commission, you will receive an email (generally within one week) notifying you of your license application status. This email will list any additional documents or information you should be aware of, and include the City Council meeting date your item will appear at.
6. The Application will appear on a City Council Agenda for final review. Attendance at this meeting is not required, but if you would like to attend or watch virtually (www.cityblm.org/live), you are welcome to. Note that the item will appear on the Consent Agenda. If the Council does not require more discussion about the item, you will not hear the specific item called. The Consent Agenda is approved in one motion. If the Consent Agenda is approved and your item was not called, your item is approved.
7. Following the Council Meeting, a City Clerk Department staff member will contact you via email within one week of approval or denial.

Please be advised that in order for a submission to be considered complete, the application must be completely filled out and all required attachments submitted by linking them to the submitted application. If any of the below information or requirements are not submitted/met, the application may be delayed to the next applicable Liquor Commission Meeting to allow time for the applicant to correct or submit items.

NOTE: If anything is missing, owed, or not submitted correctly, the applicant will receive an email with information on what is missing so they can work to correct the issues.

Required Documents for Submission

• List of Owners, Partners, Officers, etc.
  • Must include all of the following for each:
    • Full Legal Name (as it appears on their Government-Issued ID);
    • Personal Email Address;
    • Date of Birth;
    • Personal Address (including City, State, and Zip Code); and
    • Percentage of Ownership/Stock.
• Premises Verification (Lease) - If the premises is owned, we will check internally, so no documents are required to be submitted.
  • If the licensed location is not owned by the licensee, an active Lease Agreement is required to be on file at all times and must include:
    • Name of Entity or Person(s) under Ownership;
    • Full Establishment Address (including applicable suite or unit #s); and
    • Term Dates.
• If the applicant is an LLC or a Corporation
  • Articles of Incorporation (Corporation) or Articles of Organization (LLC)
• Financial Statement
  • For New Businesses, the Owner's Personal Assets & Liabilities
  • For Current Businesses, the Business's Assets & Liabilities
• Computer Generated Site./Floor Plan
  • Must show exits, entrances, restrooms, and any other identifying features of the premises; and
  • Must include the ENTIRE premises you wish to be included in the Liquor License, if approved.

FOR CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP ONLY:

Letter Detailing any Changes (if applicable for changes in ownership, redefinition of premises, etc.)

• For change in ownership, the letter must include names and percentage owned for each listed under current ownership and proposed, a statement showing how the change qualifies under the Change in Ownership definition in Ch 6 Section 1 of the City Code, a description of what will change, or a note that operations will not change, and it must be signed by the current and proposed ownership.

Required In Order to be Considered for Review
Please do not attach documents to show proof of the items below. They are checked internally and you will be contacted if anythign additional is required to be submitted.

• If the applicant is an LLC or a Corporation
  • Must be in Good Standing with the State of IL
• All Applicable Tax Forms must be Submitted Online - Local Tax Information can be found by clicking this link. Types of Tax Forms that may be required are:
  • Food/Beverage Tax - Required for all liquor licensees
  • Packaged Liquor Tax - Required for licensees who apply for Packaged (P) alcohol
  • Amusement Tax Forms - Required for establishments that will offer events where amusement is exhibitive in nature, meaning it is viewed in exchange for payment of a fee or charge.
    • Includes Cover Charges or Tickets sold
• The applicant/property must not owe anything outstanding to the City of Bloomington
  • This includes tax amounts or forms of any type, utility billing amounts, legal fees, general billing amounts, or any amounts or reports due to the Development Services Department for Backflow Device testing or Cross-Connection Surveys.
• $400 Application Fee Paid - We do not take online payments at this time. The applicant will receive an email within one week after the submission deadline passes. The email will have details on how to pay the fee. The fee must be paid by the deadline provided in the email in order to be considered for review. 

Required Before a License Can Be Issued

• Certificate of Liability Insurance (not Policy Declarations)
  • The Certificate must include all of the following:
    • Applicant’s name as the insured (i.e., if the applicant is a corporation, the corporation’s name must be listed);
    • DBA/Assumed Name, if applicable;
    • Address of the establishment that will sell/serve;
    • Dates of coverage (start and end) and coverage limits;
    • The City of Bloomington is listed as an Additional Insured (can be listed in the Description Box); and
    • The City of Bloomington, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington, IL 61701, is listed as the Certificate Holder (bottom left of the Certificate).
• Surety Bond in the Amount of $2,000
  • The Bond must include:
    • Entity/Individual Name;
    • DBA/Assumed Name, if applicable;
    • Establishment Address;
    • Bond Number;
    • Term Dates; and
    • The City of Bloomington, 115 E. Washington St. Bloomington, IL 61701, should be listed as Obligee.
• Inspections - A license cannot be issued unless both of the Departments listed below sign off
  • Development Services Department - Can be contacted at (309) 434-2509 Ext. 2 and then Option #3 to find out what inspections are required for your location.
  • McLean County Health Department - Can be contacted at (309) 888-5450
• BASSET Certifications - A List of those who are BASSET Certified must be provided (Must include the General Manager)
  • The list must include:
    • Name;
    • Title;
    • Certificate Number; and
    • Date Certified.

Note that the actual certificates do not need to be submitted, but should be held on site in the event the City or State requests them during inspections.

All Primary Liquor License applicants require a mandatory background investigation. The investigation will encompass state, federal, and local background checks and may include fingerprinting, if deemed necessary. The applicant shall be responsible for all investigation fees incurred. Applications will not proceed until this requirement is fulfilled.

Please be advised that the processing of background investigation reports may take up to one month, depending on the volume of results. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their portion of the process as soon as possible to prevent any delays in the application review. 

Within 2 business days of submission of the application, the applicant will receive an email with the invoice information for the background investigation. Once paid, each individual owner, office, manager, etc. will receive an email from SRA Screening, the City’s background investigation company, with details on how to complete the required background investigation.

Liquor Commission Meetings are held on the second Tuesdays of every month at 4:00 p.m. in the Government Center Boardroom, located at 115 E. Washington St., 4th Floor, Room #400.

*Deadlines for Submissions are 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.   

**Liquor Commission and City Council Meeting Dates are not guaranteed.

Before license application review can begin, the applicant must pay the following Application and Background Investigation Fees:

Application Fee: $400*
Investigation Fee (per person listed under ownership): $91

*The application fee for BYOB and FM license types is $100

If approved, each entity is required to pay the following annual license fee based on the approved classification of license:

Bring Your Own Beverage & Farmer's Market

• Restaurant License (BYOB-1): $250
• Non-Restaurant/Complimentary Service License (BYOB-2): $100
• Farmer's Market (FM): $100

Clubs (CA/CB), Entertainment (EA/EB), Restaurant (RA/RB) & Tavern (TA/TB)

• All Types: $2,700
• Beer & Wine Only: $900

 Gas Station Grocery Convenience Store (GPA/GPB) & Packaged Sales (PA/PB)

• All Types: $1,300*
• Beer & Wine Only: $1,000**

*No fee is associated if licensee holds a CA, EA, RA, or TA License
**No fee is associated if licensee holds a CA, EA, RA, or TA License
**Fee is $300 if licensee holds a CB, EB, RB, or TB License

Motel/Hotel Room Minibars (MA/MB)

• All Types: $1,300
• Beer & Wine Only: $850

Packaged Sales, On or Off Premises (PAP/PBP)

• All Types: $2,200
• Beer & Wine Only: $1,200

Sunday Sales (S)

Both All Types and Beer & Wine Only: $600*

*No fee is associated if licensee holds a CA or CB License

Note that for an applicant's first license with the City Clerk Department, the license fee will be prorated based on the number of days remaining in the active term following approval.

The following classifications have their own separate applications, which can be found on the License & Permits page under Liquor:

Non-Profit (NPA/NPB)

• Application Fee: N/A
• Both All Types and Beer & Wine Only: $100 for the first event day, and $50 per additional consecutive event day, up to $500 total

Secondary Premises (SA/SB) - This application is only available to current Primary Liquor Licensees

• Application Fee: N/A
• Both All Types and Beer & Wine Only: $100 for the first event day, and $50 per additional consecutive event day, up to $500 total

Catering (W) - This application is only available to Liquor License Holders located outside of Bloomington

• Annual Application Fee: $100
• Both All Types and Beer & Wine Only: $100 per Event