The North Carolina ABC Commercial Permit Application is the single state form a winery uses to apply for an Unfortified Winery Permit, a Fortified Winery Permit, a Winery Special Event Permit, or a Wine Shipper Permit through the North Carolina ABC Commission. Any person or business that wants to make, bottle, or sell wine in the state must file this form, pay the fee, and pass an investigation before a single bottle moves. The current version is marked Commercial Permit Application 01/2023, so confirm that date in the bottom corner before you start.
Getting one box wrong can stall your launch for weeks. A vineyard that crushes grapes in September but mails an incomplete packet in July can miss its entire first selling season, because the Commission will not issue a permit until the federal approval, the notarized application, and every fingerprint card sit in one complete folder. North Carolina law under G.S. 18B-902 and rule 14B NCAC 15C .0102 sets the application steps, and missing one is the most common reason packets bounce back.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 🍇 How to fill out every box on the NC ABC Commercial Permit Application, line by line.
- 📋 The exact documents to gather before you open the form, so your packet does not bounce.
- 💵 What each winery permit costs and how to pay the Commission the right way.
- ✍️ Three real filing walkthroughs for an LLC, a sole proprietor farm, and a corporation.
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that delay wineries the most and how to dodge them.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The NC ABC Commercial Permit Application is the state’s master permit form for alcohol producers and sellers. A winery uses it to ask the Commission for the right to make and sell wine at a fixed location. The form lists more than twenty permit types, and a winery checks the boxes that match its plan, such as Unfortified Winery ($300) or Winery Special Event ($200). The Commission is the agency that receives the form, runs the background check, and issues or rejects the permit.
You must file if you make, bottle, import, or sell wine in North Carolina. State law under G.S. 18B-900 names who can hold a permit and who inside a business must apply. The rule means that one form is rarely enough for a company. Each owner, officer, or member who clears the ownership threshold files a separate application.
Who must sign an application depends on how you own the business:
- Individual or sole proprietor: the owner files one application.
- General partnership: every partner files.
- Corporation: each officer (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer) and each stockholder owning 25% or more files.
- LLC: each member owning 25% or more files; in a manager-managed LLC, every manager named in the Operating Agreement files too.
- Site manager: every winery must name a North Carolina resident as site manager, and that person files an application even if no owner lives in the state.
A common misconception is that a winery needs only one permit. In practice, most wineries hold an Unfortified Winery Permit plus retail wine permits and often a Wine Shipper Permit. The NC Wine Growers Association notes you should start both your federal and state paperwork six months to a year before your first crush, because the layers stack up fast.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every item below before you write a word on the form. The Commission asks you to submit documents in the listed order, with no omissions, and a missing piece delays the whole packet. Think of this as packing a suitcase; one forgotten item can cost you a trip back.
- Approved Federal Basic Permit (TTB): proves the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved your winery; without it, the state will not issue a winery permit.
- Lease, rental agreement, or recorded deed: shows you control the premises in the business’s exact name; the lease must show start and end dates.
- Articles of Organization or Incorporation: must be registered with the NC Secretary of State in Active status, or the Commission rejects the entity.
- Operating Agreement (LLC) or stockholder list (corporation): shows who owns and runs the company so the Commission knows who must apply.
- Ownership Verification Form: lists all members or stockholders with their percentages; it must be notarized.
- FEIN/SSN Verification Form: ties your federal tax number to the business so the state can track tax accounts.
- Valid photo ID (black-and-white copy): confirms each applicant’s identity against the background check.
- Fingerprint card plus Authority for Release form: required for each applicant unless prints are already on file; a $38.00 fee applies per person.
- Inspection/Zoning Compliance form: signed by building, fire, and zoning officials, and it cannot be older than 180 days.
- Premises diagram and photos: a detailed diagram (hand-drawn is fine) plus one exterior front photo and one interior photo.
- Wine Grower deed and acreage proof: if you qualify as a wine grower, a farm deed plus a survey or affidavit showing at least five acres in grape production.
If any item is missing, the Commission holds the packet and the clock keeps running toward your crush date. Pulling these together first turns a frustrating back-and-forth into a single clean mailing.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official application lives on the NC ABC Commission website. Go to the Commercial Permit forms page and download the checklist that matches your ownership type, then the Application for ABC Commercial Permit itself. The Commission posts a separate checklist for Individual ownership, LLC, Corporation, and Partnership, and each one lists the exact attachments for that structure.
Download the PDF and print it, because the form must be signed in ink and notarized; there is no fully online filing path for a new commercial winery permit. You can type answers into the PDF before printing, which makes the form easier to read and lowers the chance the Commission misreads a handwritten entry.
Grab the companion forms from the same page at the same time: the Ownership Verification form, the FEIN/SSN Verification form, the Inspection/Zoning Compliance form, the Authority for Release form, and the Credit Card Authorization form if you plan to pay fingerprint fees by card. The phone number for the permits unit is (919) 779-0700, and the NC Wine Growers Association lists extension 227 for winery questions.
A common misconception is that the newest blank form is always the one on your hard drive from last year. The Commission updates forms, and the current one reads Commercial Permit Application 01/2023 at the bottom. Submitting an old revision risks a request to refile on the current version.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the ABC Commercial Permit Application Line by Line
Work through the form in the order it appears. Print clearly or type, and remember that one applicant fills out one form; partners, officers, and members each complete their own.
“Do Not Write Above This Line” Box
What it asks in plain English: The shaded block at the very top asks for an application number, fees paid, dates, and approval status.
How to answer it: Leave this entire block blank. It is reserved for Commission staff who stamp and log your packet when it arrives.
A specific example answer: Sofia Reyes of Blue Ridge Cellars LLC writes nothing here and starts at the COUNTY line below it.
A nuance or edge case: If a staffer ever hands you a temporary permit number to write here, follow their direct instruction, but otherwise treat the box as off-limits.
A common mistake and its consequence: Writing your own guess at an application number confuses intake staff and can attach your fee to the wrong file, slowing your review.
A misconception people hold: Some filers think a blank box looks unfinished and fill it in to seem thorough; the opposite is true, since staff need that space clean.
COUNTY
What it asks in plain English: The county where your winery’s physical location sits.
How to answer it: Print the county name in full, not the city. Use the county of the premises, not your home county if they differ.
A specific example answer: A winery in Asheville enters Buncombe, not “Asheville.”
A nuance or edge case: If your vineyard straddles two counties, use the county where the licensed building and tasting room stand.
A common mistake and its consequence: Writing the city name here misroutes the local investigation, since ABC works with the correct county’s local officers.
A misconception people hold: People assume county and city are interchangeable; the Commission routes background and zoning steps by county.
Reason for Application
What it asks in plain English: Why you are filing, with checkboxes for New Business, Additional Location, New Officer, Additional Permit, Ownership Change, Address Change, and New Manager (LLC).
How to answer it: Check the one box that fits. A brand-new winery checks New Business. An existing winery adding a Wine Shipper Permit checks Additional Permit.
A specific example answer: Marcus Hale, opening a new winery, checks New Business.
A nuance or edge case: If you already hold permits and are adding a second tasting room, check Additional Location instead, which changes which documents you owe.
A common mistake and its consequence: Checking New Business when you really want an additional permit can trigger a full re-investigation you did not need.
A misconception people hold: Filers think they can check more than one reason to be safe; pick the single reason that matches your situation.
Permit Type Checkboxes
What it asks in plain English: Which permit or permits you want, each with its fee printed beside it.
How to answer it: Check every permit you need. For wineries the key boxes are Unfortified Winery ($300), Fortified Winery ($300), Winery Special Event ($200), and Wine Shipper (wineries only – no fee).
A specific example answer: Blue Ridge Cellars LLC checks Unfortified Winery ($300) and Wine Shipper (no fee), then totals $300 in permit fees.
A nuance or edge case: A winery that makes dessert wine above 16% alcohol checks Fortified Winery in addition to or instead of Unfortified, since the alcohol level decides the category.
A common mistake and its consequence: Forgetting to check the Wine Shipper box means you cannot ship direct to consumers later without filing again.
A misconception people hold: Many think one “winery permit” covers tastings, sales, and shipping; each activity ties to its own permit box.
Trade Name of Business
What it asks in plain English: The public name customers see on your label and tasting room.
How to answer it: Enter the exact trade name, matching your TTB permit and any assumed-name filing.
A specific example answer: Blue Ridge Cellars on the trade name line.
A nuance or edge case: If your legal LLC name differs from your brand, the trade name goes here and the legal name goes in the LLC name field later.
A common mistake and its consequence: A trade name that does not match your Federal Basic Permit can stall approval, since the Commission cross-checks the federal document.
A misconception people hold: People think the trade name and legal entity name must be identical; they often differ, and the form has space for both.
Location Address and Mailing Address
What it asks in plain English: The physical street address of the winery and where you receive mail.
How to answer it: Enter the full street address, city, state, and ZIP for the location. Add the mailing address only if it differs; a P.O. Box is allowed for mailing but not for the location.
A specific example answer: Location: 148 Vineyard Lane, Tryon, NC 28782; Mailing: P.O. Box 22, Tryon, NC 28782.
A nuance or edge case: A rural winery with no street number must use the legal description that matches the deed so the location is clear.
A common mistake and its consequence: Listing a P.O. Box as the location address voids the entry, because permits are tied to a real, inspectable place.
A misconception people hold: Filers think the mailing address can stand in for the location; the Commission inspects the location address, so it must be physical.
Type of Ownership
What it asks in plain English: How the business is legally formed: Individual, Partnership, Corporation, Limited Liability Co., or Limited Partnership.
How to answer it: Check the one box that matches your Secretary of State registration. This choice controls who else must file.
A specific example answer: Blue Ridge Cellars LLC checks Limited Liability Co.
A nuance or edge case: A single-member LLC still checks LLC, not Individual, because the entity, not the person, holds the permit.
A common mistake and its consequence: Checking Individual when you registered an LLC mismatches your deed and Articles, and the Commission rejects the packet.
A misconception people hold: Sole owners of an LLC think they are “individuals” for this form; the legal structure, not the headcount, decides the box.
Applicant Information (Name, DOB, SSN, Email)
What it asks in plain English: Personal details for the one person filling out this copy of the form.
How to answer it: Print your full legal name with no abbreviations, your date of birth, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your email.
A specific example answer: Sofia Reyes, DOB 04/12/1986, SSN ending 4417, email sofia@blueridgecellars.com.
A nuance or edge case: Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, even if you go by a nickname in daily life.
A common mistake and its consequence: A name that does not match your photo ID triggers a hold while the Commission resolves the mismatch against records.
A misconception people hold: People think the form needs their full nine-digit SSN here; the application asks only for the last four in this field.
Residential Address and Phone Numbers
What it asks in plain English: Where you live and how the Commission can reach you.
How to answer it: Enter your home street address, city, state, ZIP, and at least one working phone number among daytime, business, mobile, and fax.
A specific example answer: 512 Laurel Street, Tryon, NC 28782, mobile (828) 555-0188.
A nuance or edge case: Most applicants must be North Carolina residents; a non-resident owner not running daily operations may still apply but should review the residency certifications carefully.
A common mistake and its consequence: A disconnected phone number means the investigator cannot reach you, and unanswered questions can stall the file.
A misconception people hold: Filers think a business address can replace a home address here; the residential line asks specifically where you live.
Position in Company / Title
What it asks in plain English: Your role in the business, such as President, member, or Site Manager only.
How to answer it: Check or write your title. For a corporation, mark President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, or stockholder with the percentage. For an LLC, note your member interest or manager role.
A specific example answer: Sofia checks member and writes 50% member’s interest.
A nuance or edge case: A North Carolina resident who is only the site manager checks Site Manager Only and skips the ownership percentage.
A common mistake and its consequence: Leaving the percentage blank for a 25%-or-more owner makes the Commission question who must file, delaying review.
A misconception people hold: People think titles are informal; the Commission uses them to confirm the right people applied under the ownership rules.
Entity Name Fields (LLC, Corporate, or Partnership Name)
What it asks in plain English: The legal name of the business entity and its registered agent details.
How to answer it: Enter the exact legal name as registered with the Secretary of State, plus the registered agent’s name and addresses.
A specific example answer: LLC name Blue Ridge Cellars LLC, registered agent Sofia Reyes, 512 Laurel Street, Tryon, NC 28782.
A nuance or edge case: If a 25%-or-more owner is itself another company, name that entity here and have its officer file a separate application.
A common mistake and its consequence: A legal name that differs by even one word from the Articles can flag the entity as not in Active status.
A misconception people hold: Filers think the registered agent must be a lawyer; it can be any qualifying person or service with a North Carolina address.
Certification Under Oath
What it asks in plain English: A sworn list of statements that you are 21 or older, have a clean recent record, and meet residency rules.
How to answer it: Read each statement, make sure each one is true for you, and only then sign. It is a crime to make a false statement to obtain an ABC permit.
A specific example answer: Sofia reads all bullets, confirms she is over 21 with no disqualifying convictions, and prepares to sign before a notary.
A nuance or edge case: A manager of a business selling only malt beverages and unfortified wine may qualify at 19, but most winery owners must be 21.
A common mistake and its consequence: Signing while a disqualifying conviction falls inside the lookback window can lead to denial and a fraud referral.
A misconception people hold: People think old, sealed records never matter; the form asks about felonies and specific offenses within set time frames, so read carefully.
Signature, Date, and Notary Block
What it asks in plain English: Your signature, the date, and a notary’s stamp swearing you signed under oath.
How to answer it: Sign and date in front of a notary public. The notary completes the county, the date, the commission expiration, and stamps or seals the form.
A specific example answer: Sofia signs in Polk County, the notary fills this the 14th day of June, 2026, and applies the seal.
A nuance or edge case: If two members file, each signs a separate application before a notary; one notarization does not cover both forms.
A common mistake and its consequence: A missing notary seal voids the application, and the Commission returns the entire packet unprocessed.
A misconception people hold: Filers think they can sign at home and notarize later; the oath requires you to sign in the notary’s presence.
Ownership Verification Form
What it asks in plain English: A separate page listing every officer and stockholder or every member and their percentage.
How to answer it: List each name, title, and percentage owned, then sign before a notary. Corporations use the stockholder section; LLCs use the member section.
A specific example answer: Blue Ridge Cellars lists Sofia Reyes – 50% and Daniel Reyes – 50%.
A nuance or edge case: Percentages must add up to 100%; if a parent company holds a share, list it and attach its own application.
A common mistake and its consequence: Percentages that do not total 100% suggest a hidden owner and trigger questions that delay approval.
A misconception people hold: People think this duplicates the main form; the Commission uses it to confirm no qualifying owner skipped filing.
FEIN/SSN Verification Form
What it asks in plain English: A page tying your federal tax number to the business name and address.
How to answer it: Enter the LLC or corporate name and FEIN, or the sole proprietor name and SSN, plus the trade name and business address, then sign.
A specific example answer: Blue Ridge Cellars LLC, FEIN 87-1234567, trade name Blue Ridge Cellars.
A nuance or edge case: A sole proprietor with no employees may use an SSN, but most wineries should obtain an FEIN from the IRS.
A common mistake and its consequence: A wrong tax number breaks the link to your state tax account and can hold up excise tax setup.
A misconception people hold: Filers think this form is optional paperwork; the Commission requires it to open your tax record.
Inspection/Zoning Compliance Form
What it asks in plain English: Sections where building, fire, and zoning officials certify your premises complies with local codes.
How to answer it: You complete Section A with business details, then local building, fire, and zoning officials complete Sections B through D and sign.
A specific example answer: Polk County’s zoning official marks the winery as Compliance and lists the zoning classification as agricultural.
A nuance or edge case: A bona fide farm may be exempt from county zoning, but the official still completes the form to document that status.
A common mistake and its consequence: Submitting a form with inspections older than 180 days gets it rejected, and you must request fresh inspections.
A misconception people hold: People think they can sign the official sections themselves; only the named local officials may complete and sign B through D.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These walkthroughs follow three common North Carolina winery filers from the top of the form to the notary block.
Scenario 1: Sofia and Daniel Reyes, a family vineyard forming an LLC. They want to make unfortified wine and ship to customers.
| Form Section | What Sofia Enters |
|---|---|
| County | Polk |
| Reason for Application | New Business |
| Permit Type | Unfortified Winery ($300) and Wine Shipper (no fee) |
| Trade Name | Blue Ridge Cellars |
| Location Address | 148 Vineyard Lane, Tryon, NC 28782 |
| Type of Ownership | Limited Liability Co. |
| Applicant Name / Title | Sofia Reyes, member, 50% |
| Entity Name | Blue Ridge Cellars LLC |
| Signature / Notary | Signed in Polk County before a notary |
Scenario 2: Marcus Hale, a sole proprietor adding tastings to his farm. He runs a small operation under his own name.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| County | Yadkin |
| Reason for Application | New Business |
| Permit Type | Unfortified Winery ($300) |
| Trade Name | Hale Family Wines |
| Location Address | 3300 Ridge Road, Yadkinville, NC 27055 |
| Type of Ownership | Individual |
| Applicant Name / Title | Marcus Hale, owner |
| FEIN/SSN Form | SSN, since he has no employees |
| Signature / Notary | Signed in Yadkin County before a notary |
Scenario 3: Janet Okafor, an officer of a multi-owner production corporation. The company plans larger production and special events.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| County | Wake |
| Reason for Application | New Business |
| Permit Type | Unfortified Winery ($300) and Winery Special Event ($200) |
| Trade Name | Triangle Cellars |
| Location Address | 900 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604 |
| Type of Ownership | Corporation |
| Applicant Name / Title | Janet Okafor, President, 30% stockholder |
| Ownership Verification | Lists all officers and 25%+ stockholders |
| Signature / Notary | Signed in Wake County before a notary |
In each case, every owner who clears the threshold files a separate application, and the company mails one combined packet with all forms, attachments, and fees together.
How to File the Completed Form
New commercial winery permits are filed by mail with a complete paper packet; there is no full online portal for this application. Assemble the signed and notarized applications, every attachment in the listed order, and the correct fees, then send everything together so the Commission can review one clean file.
Use the address that matches your carrier:
- USPS, Express Mail, FedEx, or UPS: NC ABC Commission, 400 East Tryon Road, Raleigh, NC 27610.
- U.S. Postal Service regular delivery: NC ABC Commission, 4307 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4307.
Pay permit fees by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to the North Carolina ABC Commission. The $38.00 fingerprint fee per applicant can ride on the same certified payment or go on the Credit Card Authorization form using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. The winery permit fee is $300 for Unfortified or Fortified, $200 for a Winery Special Event, and no fee for a Wine Shipper Permit for wineries, per the checkboxes on the Commercial Permit Application.
Processing depends on the background investigation, which the Commission runs with help from the ALE Division before issuing any new permit under G.S. 18B-901. Make a full copy of everything before you mail it, and use a trackable carrier so you keep proof of filing and the delivery date.
What Happens After You File
Once your packet arrives, the Commission logs it, verifies the fee, and starts an investigation of you and the premises. Staff cross-check your federal permit, your entity status with the Secretary of State, and your background, and they may ask local ABC officers to help review the location. You must cooperate fully with this investigation, as the rule requires.
If the packet is incomplete, expect a request for the missing item, and the clock effectively pauses until you send it. A clean packet moves faster, which is why the document order and the 180-day inspection window matter so much. Plan for the review to take weeks, not days, especially near harvest when filings spike.
When the Commission approves the application, it issues your winery permit for that specific location. Permits are location-specific and cannot move to a new address, so a relocation means a fresh application. After approval, you also register with the NC Department of Revenue for the wine excise tax, which the NC Wine Growers Association lists at $0.2634 per liter for unfortified wine and $0.2934 per liter for fortified wine.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Small errors on this form cause most delays. Watch for these specific traps.
- Skipping the notary seal. An unsealed application is void, and the whole packet comes back.
- Using an old form revision. A pre-01/2023 form may be rejected and force a refile on the current version.
- Listing a P.O. Box as the location address. The location must be a real, inspectable place, so this voids the entry.
- Mismatched names across documents. A trade name that differs from your TTB permit triggers a hold.
- Wrong ownership box. Checking Individual for an LLC mismatches your deed and Articles and earns a rejection.
- Forgetting separate applications. Each 25%+ owner and the site manager must file their own form, or the packet is incomplete.
- Stale inspections. An Inspection/Zoning form older than 180 days is not accepted.
- Missing the Federal Basic Permit. Without TTB approval attached, the state will not issue a winery permit.
- Incorrect payment type. Personal checks are not accepted; you need a certified check, cashier’s check, or money order.
- Inactive entity status. Articles not in Active status with the Secretary of State stop the review cold.
- Percentages that do not total 100%. This signals a hidden owner and prompts delaying questions.
- Out-of-order documents. Submitting attachments out of the listed order slows intake and can cause omissions.
Do’s and Don’ts
A few habits keep your packet moving and protect you from costly resets.
Do:
- Do start federal and state paperwork early, because the NC Wine Growers Association advises six months to a year ahead of your first crush.
- Do type the form when you can, since clear entries reduce misreads and follow-up questions.
- Do copy the entire packet before mailing, so you have proof of exactly what you sent.
- Do confirm Active status with the Secretary of State before filing, since an inactive entity halts review.
- Do match every name across the application, TTB permit, deed, and Articles to avoid holds.
- Do mail with a trackable carrier, which gives you a dated proof of filing.
Don’t:
- Don’t write in the top staff-only box, because it can misattach your fee.
- Don’t pay with a personal check, since the Commission rejects it.
- Don’t sign before seeing the notary, as the oath requires signing in their presence.
- Don’t reuse a stale inspection form, because anything over 180 days is rejected.
- Don’t guess on convictions, since a false sworn statement is a crime under the form’s certification.
- Don’t skip the site manager application when no owner is a North Carolina resident.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many wineries file pro se, while others hire an attorney or consultant familiar with Chapter 18B. Weigh the trade-offs for your situation.
Pros of filing on your own:
- Lower cost, because you avoid professional fees on top of permit fees.
- Direct control, since you handle each document and deadline yourself.
- Deeper knowledge, as you learn the rules that govern your daily operations.
- Faster small fixes, because you can correct a typo without waiting on a third party.
- Simple cases fit well, since a single-member LLC with one location is straightforward.
Cons of filing on your own:
- Higher error risk, because one missed box can bounce the packet.
- Time cost, since gathering inspections, notarization, and federal documents takes weeks.
- Franchise-law blind spots, as distribution agreements under Article 12 are easy to misjudge.
- No buffer on residency or ownership rules, which trip up multi-owner or out-of-state structures.
- Slower learning curve, since you discover requirements as you go rather than in advance.
FAQs
Do I need a separate application for each owner of my winery?
Yes. Each member owning 25% or more, each corporate officer, and the North Carolina resident site manager must complete, sign, and notarize a separate application form.
Do I have to get the federal TTB permit before the state permit?
Yes. You must attach a copy of your approved Federal Basic Permit, so secure TTB approval first or the Commission will not issue a winery permit.
Do I write the city or the county on the COUNTY line?
No. Write the county where the winery sits, not the city, because the Commission routes the investigation and zoning steps by county.
Do I list my full Social Security number in the Applicant Information box?
No. That field asks only for the last four digits of your Social Security number; the full number goes on the fingerprint card and FEIN/SSN form.
Do I check Individual on the ownership line if I am the only member of my LLC?
No. Check Limited Liability Co., because the entity holds the permit even when one person owns the whole LLC.
Do I leave the shaded box at the top of the form blank?
Yes. That block is for Commission staff only, so write nothing there unless a staffer directs you.
Do I need to file online?
No. New commercial winery permits are filed by mail with a printed, signed, and notarized paper packet sent to the Raleigh address.
Do I pay the permit fee with a personal check?
No. Pay by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order payable to the North Carolina ABC Commission; credit cards work for fingerprint fees.
Do I need a Limited Winery Permit to offer tastings?
No. The NC Wine Growers Association notes the Commission lets you sample wines at your winery under the unfortified winery permit without a separate limited winery permit.
Do my ownership percentages need to add up to 100% on the verification form?
Yes. The Ownership Verification form must list every owner so the percentages total 100%, or the Commission will question a hidden owner.
Do inspections expire before I file?
Yes. The Inspection/Zoning Compliance form cannot be older than 180 days, so schedule local inspections close to your filing date.
Do I need to sign the application in front of a notary?
Yes. The application is sworn under oath, so you must sign in the notary’s presence and the notary must stamp or seal it.
Do I have to register with the Department of Revenue too?
Yes. After approval you register for the state wine excise tax, which runs $0.2634 per liter for unfortified wine and $0.2934 per liter for fortified wine.
Do I file a new application if I move my winery?
Yes. ABC permits are location-specific and cannot transfer, so relocating means filing a fresh application for the new address.
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