Issuance and Transfer of LicensesNotices and Protests
Section § 23985
When you apply to sell alcohol at a new location, you need to put up a notice at the entrance of the place where you plan to sell it. This notice must stay up for at least 30 days after you apply. You also have to tell the department the date when you first put up the notice. The license won't be given until this notice has been up for 30 days straight, and it should look like how the department says it should.
Section § 23985.5
This law says that if someone wants to get a new retail license or a different kind of retail license at a location that doesn't currently have one, they need to notify everyone living within 500 feet. This notification has to be mailed to nearby residents and property owners. However, the applicant only needs to notify property owners if the local area provides a free list of their names and addresses. The notice must be in English and Spanish, and also provide information on how to get it in the three most spoken non-English and non-Spanish languages in the state.
Section § 23986
If you're applying for a license to sell alcohol at a specific location, you need to publish a notice about your application in a local newspaper, following specific guidelines. This is to make sure the public is informed about new alcohol sales locations. If the area you're applying for already has a high number of alcohol licenses, you have to follow slightly stricter publishing rules to ensure transparency. The exact way to do this is determined by the licensing department, and you'll need to provide proof of your notice before getting your license. However, this requirement doesn't apply if you're already subject to certain other notification rules.
Section § 23987
When someone applies for a new or transferred license, the application must be sent to local authorities like the sheriff, police chief, and city planning director. This notification is important because no license can be issued or transferred until at least 30 days after these officials have been informed. If local law enforcement needs more time to prepare a protest or suggest conditions for the license, they can request up to 20 extra days.