Ohio Liquor Permit Classes: Types, Quotas, and Eligibility

Ohio liquor permit classes fall into five letter groups issued by the Division of Liquor Control: Class A for manufacturers, Class B for wholesalers, Class C for off-premises retailers like carry-outs and grocery stores, Class D for on-premises retailers like bars and restaurants, and Class F for temporary events. Each letter has numbered subtypes that control exactly which beverages you can handle and how you can sell them, with annual fees ranging from $40 for a basic temporary event permit to $3,906 for a large-scale beer or spirits manufacturer.¹

Class A: Manufacturing Permits

Class A permits cover every stage of alcohol production in Ohio. The subtype depends on what you produce and how much of it.

A-1 — Beer manufacturers producing more than 31 million gallons per year. Sales to wholesale permit holders. Annual fee: $3,906.
A-1c — Beer manufacturers producing up to 31 million gallons per year. Allows retail sale on the manufacturing premises for on-site consumption, in addition to selling to wholesale and retail permit holders. Annual fee: $1,000.
A-2 — Wineries producing wine from grapes or other fruits. Sales on premises for home use, and to retail and wholesale permit holders. Annual fee: $76.
A-2f — Ohio farm wineries that grow and manufacture wine on land they own and use for agriculture. Annual fee: $76.
A-3 — Manufacturers of spirituous liquor. Annual fee: $3,906 per plant, with a reduced per-barrel rate for smaller operations.
A-3a — Craft distillers producing less than 100,000 gallons of spirituous liquor, with direct-to-consumer sales. Fee: $2 per 50-gallon barrel.
A-4 — Manufacturers of prepared and bottled mixed drinks such as pre-made cocktails and cordials. Annual fee: $3,906.

The A-1c is the permit most craft breweries hold. It covers virtually any production level below the 31-million-gallon threshold and lets the brewery operate a taproom on site, which the A-1 does not allow.¹

Class B: Wholesale and Distribution Permits

Class B permits authorize wholesale distribution from manufacturers to retailers. Holders cannot sell directly to consumers under a B permit alone.

B-1 — Wholesale distribution of beer, purchased from A-1 or A-1c manufacturers and sold to retail permit holders. Annual fee: $3,125 per distributing plant or warehouse.²
B-2 — Wholesale distribution of wine, purchased from A-2, A-2f, and B-5 holders and sold to retailers in original containers. Annual fee: $500.²
B-4 — Wholesale distribution of prepared and bottled mixed beverages containing between 4% and 21% alcohol by volume. Annual fee: $500.¹
B-5 — Importing, bottling, and distributing wine. Annual fee: $1,563.¹

Spirituous liquor does not flow through B-class permit holders. Ohio is a control state for spirits: the state itself manages distribution and sale of hard liquor through state-operated and contracted agency stores. Private wholesalers handle beer, wine, and mixed beverages only.

Class C: Off-Premises Retail Permits

Class C permits are for retailers selling sealed alcoholic beverages for customers to take home, such as grocery stores, convenience shops, and carry-outs. Everything sold under a C permit must stay in its original sealed container. No open drinks, no sampling, no on-site consumption.

C-1 — Beer only, in original containers of no more than five and one-sixth gallons. Annual fee: $252.²
C-2 — Wine in sealed containers and pre-packaged mixed beverages containing between 4% and 21% alcohol by volume. Annual fee: $564.¹

A store that wants to sell both beer and wine for carry-out needs both a C-1 and a C-2. A retailer that wants to offer tasting samples needs a separate D-8, which allows samples of beer, wine, and mixed beverages of no more than two ounces per serving.³

Both C-1 and C-2 permits are subject to Ohio’s population-based quota system, so availability depends on your location.⁴

Class D: On-Premises Retail Permits

Class D permits are the backbone of Ohio’s bar, restaurant, and nightclub licensing. They authorize sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, and the subtype determines which beverages you can serve and how late you can stay open.

D-1 ($376) — Beer only, for on-premises consumption or carry-out in original sealed containers, until 1:00 a.m.
D-2 ($564) — Wine and mixed beverages, for on-premises consumption or carry-out in original sealed containers, until 1:00 a.m.
D-3 ($750) — Spirituous liquor only, served by the individual drink for on-premises consumption, until 1:00 a.m. Available to hotels, restaurants, clubs, and boats.
D-5 ($2,344) — Spirituous liquor for on-premises consumption, plus beer, wine, and mixed beverages for on-premises consumption and carry-out in sealed containers, until 2:30 a.m.

The D-5 is the permit most full-service restaurants and bars want. It covers every category of alcohol and extends operating hours by 90 minutes compared with D-1 through D-3. It is also the most expensive standard retail permit and one of the hardest to obtain because of quota restrictions.¹

Watch the D-3 limitation. A restaurant holding only a D-3 cannot legally pour a beer for a customer. If you want to serve beer, wine, and spirits, you need multiple permits (typically D-1, D-2, and D-3 together) or a D-5, which bundles everything.⁵

D-5 Variants for Specific Venues

Ohio has created over a dozen D-5 subtypes tailored to specific venue types. Each carries the same broad privileges as the standard D-5 but is available only to businesses meeting certain criteria.

D-5a — Hotels and motels required to be licensed under Ohio law, with a restaurant on premises.
D-5b — Establishments located in qualifying shopping centers.
D-5c through D-5o — A range of specific venues including entertainment complexes, economic development zones, historically significant properties, and casino facilities.

These variants exist primarily to work around quota limitations. A business that cannot obtain a standard D-5 because the local quota is full may qualify for one of the specialized subtypes, which are typically exempt from population-based caps.⁶

The D-6 Sunday Sales Permit

Standard D-class permits cover Monday through Saturday, with sale hours starting at 5:30 a.m. and ending at either 1:00 a.m. or 2:30 a.m. depending on the permit type. To sell intoxicating liquor on Sundays, you need a separate D-6.⁷

The D-6 extends weekday privileges to Sunday, but it is only available if the local precinct has approved Sunday sales through an election. Ohio’s local option election system lets individual precincts vote on whether to allow alcohol sales, and a precinct that voted dry on Sundays blocks D-6 permits regardless of what the permit holder wants.

Some venues receive an automatic D-6 without a local election: hotels and motels with at least 50 guest rooms and an on-site restaurant, establishments at publicly owned commercial airports, and sports facilities with at least 4,000 seats.⁶

Sealed Carry-Out Drinks

On-premises permit holders with qualifying D-class permits can sell individual mixed drinks for off-premises consumption under ORC 4303.185. Each drink must be in a closed and sealed container, the customer must also purchase a meal, and the limit is three drinks per meal per customer. The provision is permanent in Ohio law and needs no separate permit class, as long as the existing D permit already authorizes sale of the relevant beverage type.

Class F: Temporary and Special Event Permits

Nonprofit organizations hosting fundraisers, festivals, and community events use Class F permits to serve alcohol legally for a limited time. These permits are not renewable. Each one covers a single event on specific dates, and the application must be filed at least 30 days before the event.

F ($40) — Sale of beer by the glass for up to five consecutive days. Limited to organizations with a social, recreational, charitable, fraternal, political, patriotic, or athletic purpose. No more than two F permits per organization in any 30-day period.⁸
F-2 ($150–$160) — Sale of beer and intoxicating liquor (wine, mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor) by the single serving for up to four consecutive days. One per organization per 30-day period. The eligible group must have a charitable, cultural, educational, fraternal, or political purpose.
F-6 ($50) — Wine only, for events hosted by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Limited to 72 consecutive hours, with a maximum of six permits per organization per calendar year.
F-9 ($1,700) — For nonprofit corporations operating parks on property leased from a municipality in Franklin County. Few organizations qualify.

The F-2 is the most versatile temporary permit because it covers every beverage category, making it the common choice for large charity galas and community festivals that want a full bar. The F permit is cheaper but restricts you to beer only.¹

Serving alcohol at a public event without a valid temporary permit exposes organizers to criminal charges for illegal sale. The event location must be clearly defined in the application, and alcohol cannot leave the permitted boundaries.

Population Quotas Restrict Some Classes

Ohio limits the number of certain retail permits in each municipality and township based on population. The classes subject to this quota system are C-1, C-2, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, and D-5. As a general benchmark, one C-1 permit is allowed per 1,000 residents, though the ratio varies by permit type.⁴

When the quota in a given area is full, you have two options. Place your name on a waiting list and receive a permit when one becomes available through cancellation or population growth. Or purchase an existing business that already holds the permit type you need and apply to transfer the permit to yourself. The second route is faster but often involves paying a premium for the business specifically because of the permit it carries.

Population counts update annually, and new applications and cancellations shift availability constantly. The Division of Liquor Control publishes quota reports you can check before committing to a location.⁴

Choosing the Right Class for Your Business

Match the permit to what you actually want to do. Three questions narrow it fast.

What are you selling? Beer only points to A-1/A-1c on the production side, B-1 for wholesale, C-1 for carry-out, or D-1 for on-premises service. Wine points to A-2/A-2f, B-2 or B-5, C-2, or D-2. Spirits at retail live under D-3 for on-premises pouring; at the manufacturing level, A-3 or A-3a. A full-line bar or restaurant that wants everything under one permit needs a D-5.

Where does the customer consume it? Off-premises in a sealed container is Class C. On-premises consumption is Class D. A single event with no permanent location is Class F.

Do you need Sundays? If yes, add a D-6 on top of your primary D permit, and confirm the precinct allows Sunday sales before you sign a lease.

One more filter for on-premises operators: the D-5 unlocks 2:30 a.m. closing, while D-1 through D-3 stop at 1:00 a.m. If late-night revenue matters to your model, that 90-minute difference is often the deciding factor between stacking D-1/D-2/D-3 or pursuing a D-5.

What the Class Alone Doesn’t Get You

Holding the right permit class is the start, not the finish. Every applicant must file disclosures for owners of 5% or more, provide entity formation documents, prove legal possession of the premises through a lease or deed, show a legitimate source of funds, and complete WebCheck fingerprinting for BCI and FBI background checks. The application carries a non-refundable $100 processing fee plus the full annual permit fee, held by the state until review is complete.⁹¹⁰

Once the Division receives a completed retail application, it notifies the local legislative authority, which has 30 days to file an objection and request a hearing. That body can request one 30-day extension for good cause. If no objection is filed, the Division moves to a physical inspection of the premises. The whole process typically takes several months, and the permit is not valid until the physical document is issued.¹¹

Permits are also renewed annually. The Division divides the state into three renewal districts, each with its own deadline, and can reject a renewal for good cause. Local political subdivisions can object to a renewal using the same grounds that apply to new applications.

Federal Licensing Runs Parallel for Manufacturers and Importers

An Ohio state permit covers only the state side. Businesses that manufacture or import alcoholic beverages also need federal authorization from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

Under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, anyone who distills spirits, produces wine, rectifies or blends spirits or wine, or bottles and warehouses spirits must hold a federal basic permit. Importers and wholesalers of distilled spirits, wine, and malt beverages also need one. Domestic brewers are an exception. They do not need a basic permit under Part 1 of the regulations, though they still register with TTB and pay federal excise taxes.¹²

Every alcoholic beverage sold in interstate commerce also needs a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) from TTB before it hits the market. This applies to every new product and every label change, and the rules differ for wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages.¹³

Class C and Class D retailers do not need federal basic permits. The federal layer applies at the production, importation, and wholesale tiers, not to bars, restaurants, or carry-outs operating solely within Ohio.

1
Ohio Department of Commerce. Permit Class Types
2
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4303
3
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 4303.184 – D-8 Permit
4
Ohio Department of Commerce. Availability or Quota Reports
5
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 4303.15 – D-3 Permit
6
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 4303.182 – D-6 Permit
7
Ohio Department of Commerce. Sunday Sales
8
Ohio Department of Commerce. Temporary Permits Guide
9
Ohio Department of Commerce. Officer/Shareholder Disclosure Form
10
Ohio Department of Commerce. Limited Liability Company (LLC) Disclosure Form
11
Ohio Department of Commerce. Permit Objection Process
12
eCFR. Basic Permit Requirements Under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act
13
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Certificate of Label Approval (COLA)