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Liquor By the Drink step-by-step guide to LBD license

How to obtain an LBD permit

1. Obtain a sales tax number and bond form from the Tennessee Department of Revenue, Room 300, Andrew Jackson Office Building, Nashville, telephone (615) 741-2594 or 1-800-342-1003. Proof of bond in good standing will be required before an application is approved. Proof of bond is sent from Tennesse Department of Revenue to TABC internally. For more information visit the Tennessee Depart of Revenue web site.

2. The following forms may be requested from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission in person, by mail, by e-mail, or by phone (615) 741-1602 ext. 106. 

NOTE: You are welcome to send an email to judy.hamilton@state.tn.us to request the forms to be mailed. When requesting forms to mail, please be sure to provide your complete mailing address; name, street, city, state and zip code, in your email to us.

  • Application Form: Form #AB-0017 This application should be notarized, filled out completely and returned in duplicate - both notorized. The application should be turned into this office at least three (3) weeks in advance, with all supporting paperwork in acceptable order, as described below. Applications are reviewed every Tuesday. Once the application is approved and you have obtained your liquor-by-the-drink bond from the Tennessee Department of Revenue, then you may receive your license the following day.

  • Questionnaires: Form #AB-0009 Owners, partners, officers, managers and/or any persons who owns five percent (5%) or more in the corporation or the business, should complete these forms. All questionnaires should be filled out completely. Each questionnaire is required to be notorized.

  • Employee on Premise Permit Forms: Form #AB-0001 This form is required for all employees who serve liquor to the public. Employees must be eighteen (18) years of age to serve liquor and must obtain an employee work permit card from this office. The cost of the permit is five dollars ($5.00) per employee, permit application is required to be notarized. The server permit card is good for 5 years from the date obtained. This fee can only be paid by company check, cashier's check, money order or cash. No personal checks are accepted. For more information see Server Permits

  • Price Schedule of Drinks: Form #RV-F1301101 This form should be completed and returned, in duplicate, to this office. Information and questions pertaining to this form should be forwarded to the telephone number of (615) 360-0380.

  • Proof of Possession: A Lease, Deed, Bill of Sale or other acceptable documentation, which shows the applicant is actually leasing or in possession of the property, shall be furnished to this office. It is also required for the applicant to furnish a copy of the Deed that is registered with the Register of Deed's Office. These documents shall be complete and legiable.

  • Charter from the State of Tennessee: (This document is required only if the applicant is a corporation, a limited liability company (LLC) or a formal partnership.) A copy of your Tennessee charter must be furnished to this office. If you hold an out of state charter, approval to do business in the State of Tennessee must be obtained from the Tennessee Secretary of State's Office, 6th Floor, William Snodgrass Building, 7th Avenue North between Charlotte Avenue and Union Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, telephone (615) 741-2286. If a corporation is registered out-of-state, then a copy of that charter is also to be furnished.

  • List of Officers and Owners of Corporation: A separate list of officers (with their titles) and owners with five percent (5%) or more of ownership, and the amount of percentage, needs to be furnished with the application.

  • Use and Occupancy Approval: If establishment is located in Davidson County, you may obtain the Use and Occupancy approval letter from The Metropolitan Codes Department, Metro Howard Office Building, telephone number (615) 862-6550. The contact person is Mary Mosley. If the establishment is not located in Davidson County, you may contact the local Codes Department in that city or county in which the establishment is located. A legiable copy of the approval letter is required in your submittal to TABC.

  • Menu: The menu must be properly printed -- not handwritten. (It is not necessary to provide the typical plastic cover or jacket with the menu, just the menu itself is sufficient.)

  • Sales Tax Number: The Tennessee sales tax number can be obtained from the Tennessee Department of Revenue, 3rd Floor, Andrew Jackson Building, 500 Deaderick Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37242, telephone # (615) 253.0600; Liquor-by-the-drink tax telephone # (615) 532-6050; Franchise and Excise tax telephone # (615) 253-0700.

  • ABC Inspection: An inspection will be made only when an application has been turned into this office and the TABC office has been informed in writting that the establishment is completely ready to open for business. This means that all fire and building inspections are complete and satisfactory, tables are in their final location, any patio situations are defined, required signs are posted, and all is in order to open. ( It is acceptable for an official in the establishement, such as the owner, to inform the TABC by mail to judy.hamilton@state.tn.us.)

  • Bond Forms: The bond forms should be obtained from the Tennessee Department of Revenue, only after both copies of the TABC application (Form #AB-0017) has been turned into the TABC office. Once the application has been turned into this office, the applicant shall then provide Department of Revenue a copy of the application. Copy should be provided to Cassandra Parham, Tennessee Department of Revenue, 3rd Floor, Andrew Jackson State Office Building, Nashville, Tennessee 37242, telephone # (615) 741-3580, fax # (615) 532-6933. All bond forms must be returned to the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

  • City or County License: It is also necessary to obtain a City or County Liquor license , and pay the same fee to the local County Clerk's office, after you have obtained a State license from this office. The Davidson Court Clerk's Office is located in the Metro Howard School Office Building, 700 second Avenue South, Nashville, telephone # (615) 862-6050, extension 77145 (contact Donna Lawrence).

  • 3. After application materials have been turned into this office and the establishment is completely ready to open for business, and TABC has been informed in writting, an TABC agent will be schedueld to inspect the premises.

Click here for basic restaurant LBD requirements

Click here for basic hotel LBD requirements

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