How to Fill Out Ohio Liquor Control “A” Permit Application + FAQs

The Ohio Liquor Control “A” permit is the manufacturer permit that lets a business legally make beer, wine, spirits, or mixed beverages in Ohio, and you apply for it on the DLC 4174 form (Revised 12/27/23) through the Ohio Division of Liquor Control. You file it under Ohio Revised Code 4303.02–4303.05, and you cannot brew, ferment, or distill a single drop for sale until the Division issues your permit.

Getting one box wrong can cost you months. The Division returns any application that is incomplete, unprocessed, until you fix and resend it. Since June 4, 2025, the Division moved to a new online system called OPAL, so the field structure below maps to both the paper DLC 4174 and the online portal. Ohio issued thousands of active manufacturer permits in recent years, and craft producers make up a fast-growing share of them.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

🍺 What the “A” permit family is and which class fits your business
📋 Every document and ID number to gather before you open the application
✍️ How to fill out each section of the DLC 4174 line by line
🏭 Three real walkthroughs for a brewery, a farm winery, and a distillery
💵 The exact fees, filing steps, and what happens after you submit

What the “A” Permit Is and Who Must File It

An Ohio “A” permit is a manufacturer permit. It gives a business the legal right to produce alcohol for sale in Ohio. Any company that makes beer, wine, spirituous liquor, or prepackaged mixed beverages must hold the matching “A” permit before it sells a single product. You file the application with the Division of Liquor Control, which sits inside the Ohio Department of Commerce.

The “A” permit is not one permit. It is a family of classes, each tied to a product and a production size. The DLC 4174 covers all of them on one form. You check the box for the class you need in Section B, and the form routes you to extra questions if your class requires them.

The classes break down like this:

A-1 — beer maker producing more than 31 million gallons a year, under R.C. 4303.02, fee $3,906.
A-1c — craft beer maker producing 31 million gallons or less, under R.C. 4303.022, fee $1,000.
A-2 — wine maker, under R.C. 4303.03, fee $76.
A-2f — Ohio farm winery that grows its own fruit, under R.C. 4303.031, fee $76.
A-3 — spirits maker with no retail sales, under R.C. 4303.04, fee $3,906 or $2 per barrel for small plants.
A-3a — craft distiller under 100,000 gallons with limited retail, under R.C. 4303.041, fee $2 per 50-gallon barrel.
A-4 — maker of prepackaged mixed beverages, under R.C. 4303.05, fee $3,906.
A-1A — add-on that lets an A-1, A-1c, A-2, A-2f, or A-3a sell other makers’ products for on-site drinking, under R.C. 4303.021, fee $3,906.

The agency that receives the form is the Division’s Beer & Wine Section in Reynoldsburg. The statute that requires the permit is the R.C. 4303 chapter. The deadline that governs you after issuance is the October 1 annual renewal. The penalty for skipping the permit is steep: making or selling alcohol without one is illegal and can bring fines and criminal charges.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather everything before you open the application. The Division returns incomplete files, and a missing document is the most common reason an application stalls. Treat this list as your pre-filing checklist.

Ohio Secretary of State charter or registration number — proves your business legally exists; without it, Section A cannot be completed and the file is returned.
TTB Brewer’s Notice or Federal Basic Permit — the federal TTB approval must be in hand or in process; the Division will not issue the state permit without it.
Permit premises street address — the exact address of your production site, confirmed against the county auditor record; a wrong address can trigger a wet/dry mismatch.
Last 4 digits of the SSN (sole proprietors) — required to identify an individual applicant; a blank box stops processing.
Names and roles of all significant stakeholders — partners, 5% or more owners, officers, managers, and spouses; the Division screens each one.
DLC 4121 Personal History Background Form — needed for each required individual; missing forms delay the criminal background review.
Entity disclosure form — DLC 4030 (corporation), DLC 4032 (LLC), DLC 4029 (non-profit), or DLC 4031 (partnership); the wrong form gets the file bounced.
Financial verification documents — if you have not operated 6 months, you must show the source of your start-up funds per the Financial Verification Guide DLC 4096.
Summary of Tenancy Rights (DLC 4085) — required if you rent rather than own the premises; without it, Section G question 6 is incomplete.
CAUV agricultural valuation — A-2f applicants only; the county auditor’s land valuation proves the farm winery qualifies.
Check or money order — payable to “Treasurer, State of Ohio”; no cash is accepted.

Each item matters because the Division cross-checks your answers against outside records. A name that does not match the Secretary of State filing, or a TTB permit that is missing, will hold your file. Collecting these first turns a multi-month ordeal into a clean submission.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

You get the official application two ways. You can download the DLC 4174 PDF from the Division’s Beer & Wine Applications & Forms page. You can also file in the OPAL online portal, which the Division launched on June 4, 2025.

The online route is now the standard path. Starting June 4, 2025, the Division stopped accepting paper applications and moved the manufacturer process into OPAL. You register your establishment in the portal, create a login, and complete the same fields shown on the DLC 4174, but on screen.

The PDF still matters even if you file online. It is the clearest map of every question you will face, and many applicants print it to draft their answers before keying them into OPAL. The form shows a revision date of 12/27/23 in the footer, so confirm you are working from that version or the live OPAL screens.

If you get stuck, the Division lists help at com.ohio.gov/ineedhelp, by email at LiqBeerWine@com.ohio.gov, and by phone at (614) 644-3155 during business hours. Use these before guessing, because a phone call costs minutes while a returned application costs weeks.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the DLC 4174 Line by Line

This is the heart of the application. Work through it in the order the form prints, because later sections depend on choices you make early. Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*) on the form, and skipping any of them gets your file returned.

Section A — Applicant Contact Information

This section asks who you are, where you will make your product, and how the Division can reach you. You enter your business name, entity type, premises address, contact details, and an alternate mailing address. It is the identity backbone of the whole application.

To answer it, write your business name exactly as it appears with the Ohio Secretary of State, then check your entity type and enter the charter number. Sunrise Hops LLC writes its full legal name and its Secretary of State charter number, then lists its production address, township, city, ZIP, and county. Sole proprietors instead enter the last 4 digits of their SSN and must be U.S. citizens over 21.

A nuance trips up renters and home-based makers: your alternate mailing address must be different from the permit premises address, so you cannot list the same line twice. A common mistake is entering a DBA name in the legal-name field, which creates a mismatch with state records and gets the file returned. Many people wrongly believe the contact name and the legal applicant must be the same person, but the contact can be a manager or attorney you designate as the primary contact.

Section B — Applied-for Permit(s) and Fees Due

This section asks which “A” class you want and how much you owe. You check the box for your permit type and write the matching fee. It also holds the fee-calculation block that adds your $100 processing fee to your permit fee.

To answer it, check exactly one primary class unless you are adding companion permits, then enter the listed fee. Sunrise Hops LLC checks the A-1c box and writes $1,000, then adds the $100 processing fee for a total of $1,100. A small distillery instead multiplies its estimated barrels by $2 to find its A-3 or A-3a fee.

A nuance applies to spirits makers: the A-3 and A-3a fees are not flat, they scale at $2 per 50-gallon barrel of estimated first-year production, so you must estimate output before you can write a number. A common mistake is underpaying because the applicant forgets the $100 processing fee is separate from the permit fee, and the short payment gets the application returned. People often think the $100 is refundable, but the form states plainly it is non-refundable, even if you withdraw.

Section C — Questions for A-2f Permit Applicants

This section only applies if you checked A-2f, the Ohio farm winery class. It asks three yes/no questions to prove you grow your own fruit on your own agricultural land. It is a qualification gate, not a formality.

To answer it, confirm that you grow grapes or fruit and turn them into wine you sell, that you own the land, and that the land is zoned for agricultural use under R.C. 5713.31. Vine & Vale Farm Winery checks YES to all three because it owns 12 acres of CAUV-classified vineyard. A grower leasing land checks NO and is told to STOP.

A nuance is that any single NO disqualifies you from the A-2f, but you may still qualify for the plain A-2 wine permit. A common mistake is checking YES while leasing the vineyard, which the Division catches through the CAUV record and treats as a false statement. People wrongly assume buying grapes from a neighbor counts as growing them, but the A-2f demands the fruit grow on land the applicant owns.

Section D — Questions for A-1A Permit Applicants

This section applies only if you want the A-1A add-on that lets you sell other makers’ beer or liquor for on-site drinking. It confirms you hold or are applying for a qualifying base permit and pins down the A-1A location. It also checks your food-service plan.

To answer it, confirm you have or seek an A-1, A-1c, A-2, A-2f, or A-3a, then state whether the A-1A sits at the same address. Sunrise Hops LLC checks YES on the base-permit question and YES that the taproom shares its brewery address. It then confirms it will hold a Food Service Operator’s license.

A nuance: an A-1A can sit away from the base permit, but R.C. 4303.021 limits the distance, so a far-flung taproom may be rejected. A common mistake is skipping the food-service question, which leaves the section incomplete and stalls the file. Many applicants think any A permit can add an A-1A, but only the five listed base classes qualify.

Section E — Possible Dry Location Questions

This section handles a hard truth: your address must be voted “wet” before the Division can issue an A-3a or A-1A. It asks how you want the Division to proceed if your location is “dry” for the sales you need. Your answer protects your fees.

To answer it, choose to either cancel the affected portion and get a refund, or retain it and keep your fees on file while you pursue a local-option election. Copper Still Distilling checks RETAIN because it plans to put a wet/dry question on the next ballot. A maker in a clearly wet area still must read this section, even if it does not apply.

A nuance: if you leave both boxes blank, the Division cancels the dry-affected portion and refunds the fee by default, which can derail your timeline. A common mistake is ignoring this section as boilerplate, then losing the permit slot because no box was checked. People wrongly believe wet/dry status is the Division’s problem, but you must resolve it through your County Board of Elections, often with an attorney.

Section F — Questions for D-6 Permit Applicants

This section applies if you add a D-6 Sunday-sales permit alongside an A-1A, A-2, A-2f, or A-3a. It asks how to handle your $500 if the address is dry for Sunday sales and tests your carryout and food-receipt situation. It mirrors Section E for Sunday rules.

To answer it, pick whether to cancel and refund the $500, waitlist and refund, or waitlist and retain, then answer the carryout and 50% food-receipts questions. Vine & Vale Farm Winery checks RETAIN on the waitlist and answers NO that food exceeds 50% of receipts. A maker not adding Sunday sales skips this section entirely.

A nuance: a D-6 is not needed if you only hold an A-1, A-1c, A-3, or A-4, so do not pay $500 you do not owe. A common mistake is filing for a D-6 in a Sunday-dry township without choosing a fee option, which triggers automatic cancellation and refund. People assume the D-6 covers all-week sales, but it specifically authorizes Sunday sales on top of your base permit.

Section G — General Questions

This section runs ten background and ownership questions about you and every significant stakeholder. It asks about prior permits, criminal history, denials, working spouses, ties to retailers or wholesalers, property ownership, sole ownership, equipment ownership, outside financial interests, and operating history. It is where the Division screens for hidden interests.

To answer it, answer every starred question YES or NO and attach an explanation sheet for each YES. Copper Still Distilling checks NO to felony history, YES that it owns its equipment, and NO that it owned the building, which forces it to file a Summary of Tenancy Rights (DLC 4085). It also discloses that an investor holds a 20% stake.

A nuance: “significant stakeholder” is broad, covering partners, 5% or more owners, officers, the premises manager, and spouses, so screen everyone in that net. A common mistake is hiding an old misdemeanor because it feels minor, but the BCI check finds it and the omission looks like fraud, which can sink the permit. People wrongly think only the majority owner must disclose, yet the form reaches every 5% interest and every working spouse.

Section H — Required Information and Attachments

This section is a checklist of everything that must ride along with the form. It lists the $100 fee, the permit fee, the TTB document, the DLC 4121 background forms, the entity disclosure form, the Secretary of State confirmation, and class-specific items. Miss one and the file is returned.

To answer it, check each box as you confirm the attachment is in the packet, and match the entity disclosure form to your structure. Sunrise Hops LLC attaches its TTB Brewer’s Notice, a DLC 4032 LLC Membership Disclosure, its Certificate of Organization, and a DLC 4121 for each member. An A-2f applicant also attaches the CAUV valuation here.

A nuance: existing permit holders adding a new type at the same location can skip items 5 through 8, so do not over-file if you already hold a permit there. A common mistake is sending the wrong entity disclosure form, like a corporate DLC 4030 for an LLC, which gets the packet bounced. People often believe the BCI fingerprint webcheck must be done before filing, but it is strongly encouraged, not required, at submission.

Section I — Acknowledgment and Signature

This final section is your sworn certification. By signing, you swear the information is true, you have authority to sign, and you understand the renewal, label-registration, and wet/dry rules. The signer must be listed on the entity disclosure form or hold a power of attorney.

To answer it, sign, print your name, and add your title, date, address, and phone. Maria Costa, Managing Member of Sunrise Hops LLC signs, prints her name, writes Managing Member, and dates the form. An attorney signing for a client instead attaches an executed Power of Attorney.

A nuance: the certification reminds you the permit renews every October 1 and that you must keep making product to keep the permit, so a dormant plant risks losing it. A common mistake is having an unauthorized employee sign, which voids the certification and returns the file. People wrongly think a typed name counts as a signature here, but the Division wants the proper signature of an officer, partner, managing member, or 5% or more owner.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

These walkthroughs show how three common applicants move through the DLC 4174 from top to bottom. Each follows one named filer and shows what they enter in the key sections.

Scenario 1: Maria Costa files an A-1c for a startup craft brewery (Sunrise Hops LLC).

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Section A – Business name	Sunrise Hops LLC, with Ohio Secretary of State charter number
Section A – Entity type	Checks Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Section A – Premises	418 Mill Street, Dayton, OH 45402, Montgomery County
Section B – Permit class	Checks A-1c, writes $1,000
Section B – Fee total	$100 processing + $1,000 permit = $1,100
Section D – A-1A taproom	Checks YES, taproom at same address, holds Food Service license
Section G – Background	NO to felonies, YES owns equipment
Section H – Attachments	TTB Brewer’s Notice, DLC 4032, Certificate of Organization, DLC 4121s
Section I – Signature	Signs as Maria Costa, Managing Member

Scenario 2: David Yoder files an A-2f for a family farm winery (Vine & Vale Farm Winery).

Form Section	What David Enters
Section A – Business name	Vine & Vale Farm Winery LLC with charter number
Section A – Premises	7720 Township Road 9, Holmes County (lists township)
Section B – Permit class	Checks A-2f, writes $76
Section B – Fee total	$100 + $76 = $176
Section C – Farm winery	Checks YES to all three: grows fruit, owns land, ag-zoned
Section F – D-6 Sunday	Checks waitlist RETAIN, food under 50% of receipts
Section G – Property	YES owns the real estate
Section H – CAUV	Attaches county auditor CAUV valuation
Section I – Signature	Signs as David Yoder, Member

Scenario 3: Lena Brooks files an A-3a for a small-batch distillery (Copper Still Distilling).

Form Section	What Lena Enters
Section A – Business name	Copper Still Distilling Inc. with charter number
Section A – Entity type	Checks Corporation
Section B – Permit class	Checks A-3a, estimates 400 barrels x $2 = $800 fee
Section B – Fee total	$100 + $800 = $900
Section E – Dry location	Checks RETAIN, plans a wet/dry ballot question
Section G – Ownership	Discloses a 20% investor, NO felonies
Section G – Tenancy	NO on owning building, files DLC 4085
Section H – Disclosure	Attaches DLC 4030 Officer/Shareholder form, TTB Basic Permit
Section I – Signature	Signs as Lena Brooks, President

How to File the Completed Form

Ohio now runs the manufacturer process online, but two paths still matter. Here is how each works.

Online through OPAL (the standard path): File in the OPAL portal. Register your establishment, create a login, complete the same fields as the DLC 4174, upload your attachments, and pay the $100 processing fee plus your permit fee electronically. Processing for a new manufacturer permit commonly runs several weeks to a few months, depending on background checks and wet/dry review. Keep your OPAL confirmation and payment receipt as your proof of filing.

By mail (legacy path): Historically applicants mailed the packet to the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, c/o Beer & Wine Section, 6606 Tussing Road, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-9005. Payment was by check or money order payable to “Treasurer, State of Ohio,” with no cash accepted. Since June 4, 2025, the Division no longer accepts paper applications, so use OPAL unless the Division directs otherwise. If a check is ever used, keep a copy and the certified-mail receipt as proof.

For either path, the fee structure is the same: a non-refundable $100 processing fee plus the class permit fee from Section B. Save every confirmation number, receipt, and uploaded document, because that record is your only proof if a question arises later.

What Happens After You File

After you submit, the Division reviews your packet for completeness first. If anything is missing, it returns the application unprocessed and your timeline resets, so a clean file is worth the extra hour up front. A complete file moves into substantive review.

During review, the Division runs background checks through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation on required individuals, verifies your TTB approval, and checks the wet/dry status of your address. It may ask for more documents, and slow responses delay you. Institutions defined in R.C. 4303.26, such as nearby schools or churches, must be notified and can object to the issuance.

Once approved, the Division issues your permit and you may begin making and selling product. You must register your labels online at the Division’s label registration portal after the permit issues, not before. Your permit then renews every October 1, and you must keep producing at the location to keep it.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Each field is its own chance to slip. These are the errors that most often send an Ohio “A” permit application back.

Forgetting the $100 processing fee — the short payment makes the file incomplete and it is returned.
Listing a DBA in the legal-name box — the name mismatch with the Secretary of State stalls the review.
Skipping a Section G yes/no question — a blank starred field gets the application returned unprocessed.
Hiding an old conviction — the BCI check finds it and the omission can sink the permit.
Checking A-2f while leasing the vineyard — the CAUV record exposes the error and disqualifies the farm winery.
Underestimating barrels for an A-3a fee — a low estimate misstates the fee and forces a correction.
Leaving Section E or F blank — the Division cancels the dry-affected portion by default.
Sending the wrong entity disclosure form — a corporate form for an LLC bounces the whole packet.
Omitting the TTB Brewer’s Notice or Basic Permit — the Division will not issue without federal approval.
Reusing the premises address as the mailing address — the form requires a different alternate mailing address.
Having an unauthorized person sign Section I — the certification is void and the file is returned.
Registering labels before the permit issues — label registration is only valid after issuance.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

Do read the whole form before writing — every section depends on earlier answers, so a top-down read prevents rework.
Do confirm your premises address with the county auditor — a verified address avoids a wet/dry surprise.
Do secure your TTB approval early — federal review takes time and the state will not issue without it.
Do disclose every stakeholder honestly — the BCI check is thorough and honesty protects the permit.
Do match the entity disclosure form to your structure — the right form keeps the packet moving.
Do save every receipt and confirmation — your record is your only proof of filing.

Don’t:

Don’t leave starred fields blank — a missing required answer returns the file.
Don’t pay with cash — only checks, money orders, or OPAL electronic payment are accepted.
Don’t assume the $100 is refundable — it is non-refundable even if you withdraw.
Don’t file a D-6 you do not need — A-1, A-1c, A-3, and A-4 holders do not require it.
Don’t sign without authority — only a listed officer, member, or power-of-attorney holder may certify.
Don’t start producing before issuance — making alcohol without the permit is illegal.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Many craft producers file the DLC 4174 themselves, while others hire a liquor attorney. Weigh both paths against your time, budget, and ownership structure.

Pros of filing on your own (pro se):

Lower cost — you save attorney fees that can run into the thousands, useful for a tight startup budget.
Direct knowledge — you learn the rules firsthand, which helps at renewal time.
Full control — you answer every question yourself with no middle layer.
Speed for simple cases — a sole proprietor with one class can file fast.
Direct Division contact — you build a relationship with the Beer & Wine Section.

Cons of filing on your own:

Higher error risk — one wrong box returns the file and costs weeks.
Wet/dry complexity — local-option elections are hard to navigate without guidance.
Disclosure traps — the broad stakeholder rules are easy to misread.
Time cost — research and follow-up pull you away from running the business.
No advocate — if an institution objects under R.C. 4303.26, you face it alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the $100 processing fee refundable if my application is denied?

No. The DLC 4174 states the $100 processing fee is non-refundable, even if your application is withdrawn, returned, or denied after submission.

Do I need a federal permit before I get the Ohio “A” permit?

Yes. You must submit a current TTB Brewer’s Notice or Federal Basic Permit, and the Division will not issue your state manufacturer permit without it.

Can I still file the “A” permit application on paper?

No. Since June 4, 2025, the Division no longer accepts paper applications and requires filing through the online OPAL system.

Do I write my DBA name in the legal-name field in Section A?

No. You enter your legal business name exactly as registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, and the DBA goes in the separate “Doing Business As” field.

In Section B, is the $100 processing fee part of the permit fee?

No. The $100 processing fee is separate, and you add it on top of your class permit fee to find the total you submit.

For an A-3a in Section B, how do I figure my permit fee?

Yes, you calculate it: multiply your estimated first-year production in 50-gallon barrels by $2 to set the A-3a permit fee.

In Section C, can I qualify for an A-2f if I lease the vineyard land?

No. The A-2f requires you to own the agricultural land where you grow the fruit, so leased ground disqualifies you, though you may still get an A-2.

Do I have to answer Section E if my address is already wet?

Yes. You should still review it, but if your A-3a or A-1A location is confirmed wet, the dry-location choices will not affect your fees.

Must my spouse complete any forms if they work at the business?

Yes. Each working spouse of a significant stakeholder must submit a DLC 4121 Personal History Background Form and complete a BCI background check before issuance.

Do I need a D-6 permit if I only hold an A-1c?

No. A D-6 Sunday-sales permit is not required for an A-1, A-1c, A-3, or A-4, and it pairs only with an A-1A, A-2, A-2f, or A-3a.

Can I register my product labels while my application is pending?

No. You must wait until the permit is issued, then register labels online, because label registration only takes effect after issuance.

Does my “A” permit last indefinitely once issued?

No. Your permit renews every October 1, and you must keep producing at the location and file your renewal online to keep it active.

Can my employee sign the application in Section I for me?

No. Only a person listed on the entity disclosure form, such as an officer, partner, or 5% member, or a power-of-attorney holder may sign.

Do existing permit holders adding a new type submit all attachments again?

No. If you already hold a permit at the same location, you may skip items 5 through 8 in Section H, including the background and disclosure forms.

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