Type 41 vs Type 47 Liquor License — Which Do You Need in California?

Both the Type 41 and Type 47 are California ABC licenses for restaurants — but they are NOT interchangeable. Choosing the wrong one can cost you months and thousands of dollars. Here's exactly how to tell which one your business needs.

The Quick Answer

If your restaurant wants to serve beer and wine only, you need a Type 41 license. If you want to serve cocktails, spirits, and distilled liquor in addition to beer and wine, you need a Type 47 license.

Simple rule: if your menu says "cocktails" anywhere, you need a Type 47. If you only serve beer, wine, sake, or cider, a Type 41 is sufficient — and significantly cheaper and faster to get.

What Is a Type 41 License?

A Type 41 is an On-Sale Beer and Wine — Eating Place license issued by California ABC. It lets you sell beer and wine for on-premises consumption at a bona fide eating establishment.

What a Type 41 allows:

• Beer (including draft) for on-premises consumption

• Wine, sparkling wine, and champagne

• Sake and hard cider (classified as wine under California law)

• Service until 2:00 a.m.

What a Type 41 does NOT allow:

• Distilled spirits (whiskey, vodka, tequila, rum, gin, etc.)

• Cocktails or mixed drinks containing distilled alcohol

• Spirits-based hard seltzers or premixed cocktails containing distilled liquor

A Type 41 is the right call if you're opening a casual restaurant, café, ramen shop, sushi spot, Korean BBQ, or any concept where beer and wine naturally fit but a full bar isn't essential to the business.

What Is a Type 47 License?

A Type 47 is an On-Sale General — Eating Place license issued by California ABC. It authorizes the sale of beer, wine, AND distilled spirits for on-premises consumption at a bona fide eating establishment.

What a Type 47 allows:

• Everything a Type 41 allows (beer and wine)

• All distilled spirits — vodka, whiskey, tequila, rum, gin, and more

• Full cocktail and mixed-drink menus

• Spirits-based hard seltzers and premixed cocktails

• Service until 2:00 a.m.

A Type 47 is right for you if your restaurant has a cocktail menu, a bar program, or if your revenue model depends on spirits sales. It's the standard license for full-service restaurants, fine dining, steakhouses, and hotel restaurants throughout California.

Cost Differences

Cost is one of the biggest practical differences between the two licenses.

For a new application, California ABC charges approximately $300–$700 in fees for a Type 41, and $600–$1,200 or more for a Type 47, depending on the county.

If you're buying an existing restaurant with a license already attached, the market price of the license itself is a much bigger factor:

• Type 41 (Los Angeles area): Generally $3,000–$20,000

• Type 47 (Los Angeles area): $20,000–$100,000+ — and in high-demand areas like Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, or downtown LA, prices can go significantly higher

Why the gap? Type 47 licenses are more valuable because spirits service dramatically increases a restaurant's bar revenue. In some parts of LA, a prime Type 47 license sells for $150,000 or more.

Key Requirements

Both license types share the same foundational requirements since they're both eating place licenses:

• Bona fide eating establishment — food must be the primary purpose of the business

• Suitable premises — proximity to schools, churches, and residential areas can affect approval

• Qualified applicant — must be 21+, a U.S. citizen or legal resident, with no disqualifying criminal history

• 30-day public posting period during which anyone can file a protest

• Live-scan fingerprinting for all owners and principals

• California Seller's Permit

Type 47 applicants should expect additional scrutiny. ABC will look more closely at whether your business truly qualifies as a bona fide eating establishment. Local jurisdictions more frequently require Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) for full-liquor licenses, and community protests are more common — especially in residential or mixed-use areas.

How to Choose

Choose a Type 41 if:

• Your concept is food-first and a cocktail menu isn't essential

• You're on a tighter budget and want faster approval

• You're in a neighborhood where full liquor might face community opposition

• You're opening a café, casual eatery, ethnic restaurant, or fast-casual concept

Choose a Type 47 if:

• Your restaurant has a cocktail menu or full bar program

• Your revenue model depends on spirits sales

• You're opening upscale, fine dining, or hotel dining

• You're purchasing a business that already holds a Type 47

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A note on Korean restaurants: Many Korean restaurants and Korean BBQ spots in Los Angeles operate under a Type 41, since soju and Korean rice wine (makgeolli) are classified as wine under California ABC regulations. If your concept centers on beer, wine, and Korean spirits without Western cocktails, a Type 41 may be all you need — and significantly easier to obtain.

Can You Upgrade from a Type 41 to a Type 47 Later?

Yes — but it's not a simple upgrade. Moving from a Type 41 to a Type 47 requires submitting a brand new ABC application. That means a new public posting period, a new protest window, and any required local approvals — the full process all over again.

A location that had no trouble getting a Type 41 may face more scrutiny or opposition when applying for a Type 47.

Bottom line: if there's any real chance you'll want full liquor service in the future, it's worth pursuing the Type 47 from day one — even though it takes longer and costs more upfront.

Frequently Asked Questions

-Can a Type 41 restaurant serve hard seltzer?

Most hard seltzers like White Claw are fermented, not distilled, so they're permitted under a Type 41. However, some seltzers are spirits-based and would require a Type 47. Always check the product's classification before serving it under a Type 41.

-What happens if I serve spirits without a Type 47?

Serving distilled spirits without the appropriate license is a violation of California ABC law. Penalties can include fines, license suspension, or full revocation. Don't risk it.

-How long does the California ABC process take?

A new Type 41 typically takes 60–90 days. A new Type 47 typically takes 90–180 days, particularly in competitive markets like Los Angeles County where local approvals or protest activity can extend the timeline.

-Do I need a consultant?

You're not legally required to use one. But an experienced California ABC licensing consultant significantly reduces the risk of delays, rejections, and costly mistakes — especially for Type 47 applications in competitive markets like LA, Orange County, and Riverside.

Not sure which license is right for your situation?

At Liquor Licensing Hub, we help restaurants, bars, markets, convenience stores, and gas stations throughout all of California and help you navigate the ABC licensing process.

Fill out our consultation form or email us directly — we'll tell you exactly which license you need and what to expect from the process.