Alcohol Permits & Licenses

Whether you're a business owner looking to serve alcohol at your establishment, an event organizer planning a special occasion, or an individual seeking a temporary permit, this page provides all the essential information you need. Here, you will find details on the types of permits and licenses available, the application process, associated fees, and important regulations to ensure compliance with city ordinances. 

Approval

All alcoholic beverage licenses, with the exception of special event permits, require approval of the Board of City Commissioners after review by the Administration Department and Bismarck Police Department. View Title 5, which covers alcoholic beverages and includes information on liquor license fees.

  • ND Century Code 5-02-01. State and local retail license required - Penalty - Exception. 1. Except as otherwise provided in section 5-02-01.1, any person engaging in the sale of alcoholic beverages at retail without first securing an appropriate license from the attorney general and a local license from the governing body of any city, or if the business is located outside the corporate limits of a city, the board of county commissioners or the governing body of an Indian tribe, as the location requires, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
  • ND Century Code 5-02-05.5. Dispensing prohibited on certain days - Penalty. A person may not dispense or permit the consumption of alcoholic beverages on a licensed premises between two AM and eight AM on Christmas Day or after six pm on Christmas Eve. In addition, a person may not provide off sale after two am on Thanksgiving Day or between two am and eight am on Sundays. A person that violates this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

Application Submissions

New/Renewal Alcohol Beverage License

Event Permits

Electronic Payments

License Holders

For additional information, please contact the City of Bismarck Administration office at 701-355-1300.