City of Austin & Travis County TABC Certification (incl. DSD Zoning Review): Austin restaurant guide
Austin City Clerk / Development Services / Travis County Clerk
What it is
Local sign-offs TABC requires: Austin DSD reviews zoning and distance rules, then the City Clerk certifies; the County Clerk certifies wet/dry status.
When a restaurant needs it
Every TABC application for a location inside Austin city limits (County only outside city limits).
How to apply
After submitting in AIMS, call the City Clerk (512-974-2210, Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–noon) to get a tracking number, submit it through the City's Alcoholic Beverage Permits Web Form (AB+C account required), pay the emailed zoning review invoice, then get the City Clerk's signature by appointment, email or mail; obtain the County certification as well.
Documents you’ll need
- AIMS application summary / tracking number
- Business and trade name, applicant/LLC name
- License type letter code
- Contact name, phone, email
- For distance waivers: tax plats within 300 ft, site plan, CO verification, consent letters
Good to know
Alcohol sales are prohibited within 300 ft of a church, public or private school or public hospital (and within 300 ft of a daycare/child-care facility without an FB certificate) unless City Council grants a waiver after a public hearing. Per TABC, inside a city both the city secretary/clerk and the county clerk must certify the location is 'wet' (within 30 days of receiving your AIMS application summary); the county tax assessor-collector collects any local fees. Travis County publishes a TABC local fee table (BG $175, BE $150 maximum for two years).
Official source
City of Austin — alcoholic beverage permits · TABC — local government certification roles
Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.