Welcome! We’re glad you’re interested in obtaining a liquor license in the City of Bloomington. To help guide you through the process, we’ve outlined each step below so you’ll know what to expect from application to final approval.

View our Steps to Obtaining a Liquor License Infographic by clicking here!

Step 1: Submit Application
Submit a completed application and all required documents by the listed deadline.

Step 2: Receive Invoice
A City Clerk staff member will email an invoice for:

1. $400 application fee; and 
2. $91 background check fee per owner/applicant

Step 3: Pay Fees
Once all fees are paid, your application moves into departmental review.

Step 4: Application Review

1. Departments review your application.
   • You will be emailed if additional information or clarification is needed. If you do not receive an email, your application is still under review.

Step 5: Liquor Commission Scheduling
If approved to move forward, you will receive an email with the meeting date, time, and location.

Step 6: Public Notice
A notice is published in a local newspaper 7 days before the hearing and notices are mailed to nearby properties.

Step 7: Liquor Commission Meeting
Your application appears on the agenda. At least one representative is required to attend to answer questions.

Step 8: Post‑Commission Update
Within about one week, you will receive an email with your application status, any remaining requirements, and the City Council meeting date.

Step 9: City Council Meeting
Your application goes to City Council for final approval. Attendance is optional. Items appear on the Consent Agenda and may not be individually called.

Step 10: Final Processing
After City Council approval, you'll receive an email with either:

1. An invoice for the license fee and information for how to pay, or
2. Information regarding what is still owed in order to move forward with obtaining a license. Once all required information is received, you'll receive an invoice for the license fee.

Once the license fee is paid, the license will be emailed to you.

Step 10: Final Processing
Once you hold a City of Bloomington Liquor License, you must use that license to apply for a State of Illinois Liquor License. Once you hold both a Local and State license, you are permitted to sell. serve as your license permits.

To support you during the application process, we’ve provided the documents below. Please review them before submitting a new license application.

•  Classification Cheat Sheet - This document can help applicants identify the liquor license classification that best fits their business plan.

• Application Document Checklist - This document includes a checklist of all items required for your application.

• Financial Statement Form - This Financial Statement Form can be used as a helpful reference for applicants to see what information needs to be submitted.

• Example Certificate of Liquor Liability - This example shows what needs to be included on your Certificate of Liquor Liability (DRAM) when you submit it. Just a heads-up: you won’t need to provide this certificate until after your liquor license has been approved.

• Example Bond - This example shows what needs to be included on your Bond when you submit it. Just a heads-up: you won’t need to provide this certificate until after your liquor license has been approved.

For your application to be considered complete, the form must be fully filled out and all required documents must be attached to the online application. Missing or incomplete items may delay your application to the next available Liquor Commission meeting.
If anything is missing or incorrect, you will receive an email explaining what needs to be corrected.

Required Documents for Submission (must be attached to your application)

• Owner/Manager Information List - Must include for each person:
  • Full legal name
  • Title/relationship to business
  • Personal email
  • Date of birth
  • Personal address
  • Percentage of ownership/stock

• Driver’s License Copies (front only) - Required for all applicants, owners, partners, officers with over 20% interest and all general managers. Photo must be clear and fully visible.

•  Premises Verification
  • If leased: upload current Lease Agreement showing entity/owner name, full address (including suite/unit), and term dates.
  • If owned: no upload required.

• For LLCs and Corporations - Articles of Incorporation (Corp) or Articles of Organization (LLC)

• Financial Statement - The Statement must show the assets, liabilities, and capital, if any, for all Applicants, Owners, Partners, Officers, etc. with over 20% interest
  • You can use this form: Financial Statement Form

• Computer‑Generated Site/Floor Plan - The plan must be drawn to scale and must:
  • Show exits, entrances, restrooms, and any other identifying features of the premises; 
  • Be labeled to show where alcohol will be stored and sold/served; and
  • Include the ENTIRE proposed premises you wish to be included in the Liquor License.

• Tax Forms – Must be Submitted Online. Local Tax Information can be found on the City’s website at https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/departments/finance/local-tax-information
  • Food/Beverage Tax – Required for all liquor licensees and can be submitted online
  • Packaged Liquor Tax – Required for licensees who apply for Packaged (P) alcohol
  • Amusement Tax – 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

Items Checked Internally (NO documents should be uploaded)

• Entities must be in Good Standing with the State of Illinois
• No outstanding amounts owed to the City (taxes, utilities, legal fees, general billing, backflow or cross‑connection reports)
• $400 application fee and background investigation fee must be paid by the deadline in the invoice email.

Required Before a License Can Be Issued (can be submitted at anytime in the process)

• Certificate of Liability Insurance (not the policy declarations) - Must include:
  • Applicant’s name
  • DBA/Assumed name (if applicable)
  • Establishment address
  • Coverage dates and limits
  • City of Bloomington listed as Additional Insured
  • Certificate Holder: City of Bloomington, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington, IL 61701

Example Certificate of Liquor Liability Insurance: Example DRAM Document

• $2,000 Surety Bond - Must include:
  • Entity/individual name
  • DBA (if applicable)
  • Entity/Establishment address
  • Bond number
  • Term dates
  • Obligee: City of Bloomington

• Required Inspections
  • Development Services Department: (309) 434‑2509 Ext. 2, Option 3
  • McLean County Health Department: (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.

Note that additional fees may be assessed during the background investigation process. Additional fees could include fees from courts, government agencies, or other third parties that charge for access to records. If any additional fees apply, the applicant will receive an email with updated invoice information. Payment of any additional fees is required before a license can be issued.

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

*In addition to the background investigation fee listed above, the Applicant Entity will be responsible for any extra fees that may be assessed during the background investigation process. Additional fees could include fees from courts, government agencies, or other third parties that charge for access to records. If any additional fees apply, the applicant will receive an email with updated invoice information. Note that payment of any additional fees is required before a license can be issued.

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

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

Meetings below in green will be held in Room #404 due to scheduling.

Note that Liquor Commission and City Council Meeting Dates are not guaranteed and the applicant will be notified once their item is officially placed on an agenda.