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ABC Type 47 — On-Sale General, Eating Place: Los Angeles restaurant guide

California ABC

What it is

State license to serve beer, wine and distilled spirits at a bona fide restaurant (plus beer and wine to go).

When a restaurant needs it

Serving full liquor/cocktails.

How to apply

Because general licenses are quota-limited (one on-sale general per 2,000 county residents), you usually buy an existing Type 47 and transfer it person-to-person (and premises-to-premises) through escrow. Transfers — and priority-drawing winners — cannot be filed online: contact the ABC district office that covers your address to file, then complete the 30-day posting.

Documents you’ll need

Purchase/escrow agreement for an existing license (transfers)
ABC application forms and premises diagram
Lease
Entity documents and fingerprints
Local zoning approval (RBP or CUB)

Fee

Person-to-person transfer with a general license $1,565; premises-to-premises $975; new license via priority drawing $19,840; 120-day temporary permit $100 (plus annual fees)

Processing time

Investigations take about 55–65 days; minimum 30 days; protests can add months

Renewal

Annually

Who files

The transferee/licensee files; escrow and a licensing consultant/attorney are typical.

Good to know

When buying a license that is currently active at a premises operated in the past 30 days, ABC can issue a 120-day temporary permit so you can operate during the transfer. Market prices for existing Type 47s are set privately, not by ABC.

Official source

ABC — application fee schedules · ABC — licensing FAQs

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.