Liquor License Lookup in Indiana: ATC Search and Employee Permits

To run an Indiana liquor license lookup, use the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission’s free online permit search. The tool covers every active permit the ATC has issued under Indiana Code Title 7.1, requires no account or fee, and returns the permit number, the name of the business or individual holder, the permit type, and the current status.¹

Where to Search and What to Type

The search page lives on the Indiana state website at the ATC’s dedicated lookup URL.¹ You only need to fill in one field to get results, but combining fields narrows them down.

The available fields are company name, “doing business as” (DBA) name, permit number, city, and county. City and county use dropdown menus. If you already have a permit number from a posted license or a public record, that’s the fastest route to the exact file.

Partial names work in the company and DBA fields. Typing “grill” into the DBA field pulls up every establishment statewide with “grill” in its name, which is useful when you aren’t sure of the exact legal name but can produce dozens of pages of results. Add a city or county to tighten the list.

What the Results Show

Each row in the results table displays the permit number, the permit holder or business entity, and the current status of the license. Status is the quickest way to confirm whether a bar, restaurant, or package store is legally authorized to sell alcohol right now.¹

Records also identify the permit type by code. A three-way retailer permit (listed under codes such as 210 or 230) covers liquor, beer, and wine. A two-way permit covers beer and wine only. A one-way permit covers beer alone.² The type tells you exactly what the business is allowed to sell.

One quirk: a business may appear twice under the same permit number. That isn’t two separate permits. It usually means the business has a base permit plus an add-on, such as a Sunday sales endorsement.¹

Looking Up an Employee Permit

The same tool covers individual employee permits. Indiana law requires most people who serve, bartend, or work as clerks in package liquor stores to hold an employee permit issued by the ATC; business owners, partners, and corporate shareholders are exempt.³

Employee searches return every permit that person has held over time, not just the current one.¹ That’s useful for employers checking an applicant’s history. A new hire can legally start working up to 30 days before the permit is officially issued, as long as they’ve submitted the application and have a receipt for their payment to the ATC.³

Employees aged 18, 19, or 20 can hold a restricted employee permit that allows them to serve alcohol in the dining area of a hotel or restaurant after completing an ATC-certified server training course. The restricted permit does not allow bartending or work in a package store.⁴

When a Record Doesn’t Appear

Spelling matters outside the company and DBA fields. If your first search comes up empty, try removing a parameter to broaden the results, or switch from the legal business name to the DBA (or the other way around). Businesses often register under a corporate entity name that looks nothing like the sign out front.¹

If a record still doesn’t surface after you’ve tried the business’s legal name, DBA, city, and county, the establishment may not hold a valid permit at all. Not every place that appears to sell alcohol actually has one, and verifying that is one of the main reasons people run these searches. Operating without a permit violates state law, and anyone can report it to the ATC.

An expired or lapsed status on an otherwise known business can have its own explanation. The Indiana Department of Revenue can block a renewal until the holder clears outstanding tax issues by filing all returns, paying delinquent balances in guaranteed funds, and bringing every tax account current.⁵ A tax hold is one reason a permit you expected to see as active appears lapsed instead.

When You Need Certified Documentation

The free online search is enough for casual verification. Some situations call for more: real estate transactions, business acquisitions, and legal proceedings often require certified documentation with a state seal. The ATC handles those requests directly and can issue certified copies of permit records or letters of good standing after verifying the holder’s status. Processing times for permit-related applications can take up to 90 days once all required materials are submitted.⁶

To start a request or ask about specific fees, contact the ATC:

Phone: (317) 232-2430
Address: Indiana Government Center South, 302 W. Washington Street, Room E-114, Indianapolis, IN 46204

ATC staff can guide you through the permit process but cannot provide legal or business advice. If you’re buying a permit or navigating a transfer, a private attorney familiar with Indiana alcohol law is worth the cost.⁶

Bulk Downloads for Larger Needs

If you need data on every active permit in the state rather than individual lookups, the ATC’s online services page offers a bulk download for larger datasets.⁷ Researchers, journalists, and businesses doing market analysis across multiple counties will find that more practical than running hundreds of individual searches.

1
IN.gov. Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission Alcohol Permit Search
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Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. License Types
3
Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 7.1 Alcohol and Tobacco 7-1-3-18-9
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Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Restricted Employee Permit Laws
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Indiana Department of Revenue. Tax Clearance
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Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Alcohol Permit Applications and Forms
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Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. ATC Online Services