An Alcoholic Beverage License or a Catering Permit is required for businesses that sell or serve alcoholic beverages and for caterers providing alcohol at events. These applications are processed by the City Attorney’s Office.

Alcohol Pouring/Handling Permits are required for anyone working in a business that serves or sells alcohol, including servers, bartenders, and restaurant owners. Applications are processed by the Roswell Police Department.

Additional Resources

Alcoholic Beverage License Renewals

2026 Alcoholic Beverage License renewal is due by Friday, October 31, 2025.
Any renewal application not filed by November 15, 2025 will be assessed a late filing fee of $250 per month.

2025 Alcoholic Beverage Licenses expire at midnight on December 31, 2025.
Failure to renew your license by December 31, 2025 will require you to re-apply for a new license and appear before the Alcohol Beverage Licensing Board before you can serve or sell alcohol in your establishment. The earliest available meeting will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

If you do not renew by December 31, 2025, you will not be able to sell alcohol at all until the new license is issued.

Renewal Applications for New Alcoholic Beverage Licenses

New Alcoholic Beverage Licenses & Catering Permits

New Alcoholic Beverage Licenses require a public hearing before the Alcoholic Beverage License Board before you can serve or sell alcohol in your establishment. In order to schedule your public hearing, please bring your completed application and a non-refundable application fee of $300 made payable to “The City of Roswell” to the Legal Department at 38 Hill Street, Suite 110.

Applications for New Alcoholic Beverage Licenses

Applications for Catering Permits

Delivery of Alcoholic Beverages

Roswell’s City Council has approved delivery of unopened liquor, beer, and wine by liquor stores and the ability for retailers and restaurants to deliver beer and wine. There will be a $100 annual fee for businesses that want to deliver alcohol. The new ordinance and fee went into effect on Tuesday, December 15, 2020.

Alcoholic Beverage Excise Tax

For full pouring licensees, the City of Roswell imposes a 3% sales excise tax on distilled spirits. Please use the form below to file and pay your return by the 20th of the month following the period for which the tax is due to avoid loss of licensee’s compensation and payment of penalty and interest.

Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance

The purposes of the City of Roswell Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance shall include, without necessarily being limited to, the following:

  1. Compliance with and effectuation of the general state law;
  2. Prevention of the sale of alcoholic beverages by unfit persons;
  3. The protection of schools, homes, churches, parks, and other institutions;
  4. Promotion of appropriate land use and zoning and the effectuation of the city’s land use and zoning policies;
  5. Protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.

To the maximum extent possible under state and federal law, the business of selling alcoholic beverages shall under the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance be considered to be a privilege to be accorded in conformity with the foregoing and other public policies of the city, rather than a right.

City of Roswell, Georgia Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3: Alcoholic Beverages

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Special Event Permits

A Special Event is any activity that will either affect the ordinary use of parks, public streets, rights-of-way, or sidewalks, disrupt the flow of traffic on public streets or sidewalks, or include alcohol service or sales where it is not normally permitted. Events on private property which will make no use of city streets other than for lawful parking do not require a special event permit.

Apply for a Special Event Permit

Alcoholic Beverage License Board

The Alcoholic Beverage License Board is the body comprised of the city administrator or his designee, the director of finance or his designee, and the director of community development or his designee vested with authority to preside over the public hearing for applicants for alcoholic beverage licenses and with authority to grant or deny licenses to sell, serve, or handle alcoholic beverages. Also present at the public hearing as non-voting members of the board shall be the chief of police or his designee and the city attorney or his designee.

Meeting Schedule

  • First Thursday of each month
  • 10 a.m., Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers

Archives

Alcohol Pouring/Handling Permits

Fee: $50 per year

Required Documents:

Application Process:

  1. Complete and submit an Alcohol Pouring/Handling Permit Application.
  2. Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email with a link and instructions to schedule an appointment.
  3. Payment, a picture, and fingerprints will take place during your appointment.

Alcohol Pouring/Handling Permit Application

Contact

Hours & Location

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.