The sale of intoxicating liquor and fermented malt beverages is regulated by Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 125 and Chapter 4 of the La Crosse Municipal Code.

License Period
The license year runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.  

(Note:  Renewal applications are mailed the third week in March each year with a filing deadline of April 15, regardless of when the license was initially obtained.)

License Fee
The fees are as follows and must be paid at the time of filing applications.

How to Apply
Review the Alcohol Beverage Submittal Requirements and Information sheet - IMPORTANT information for both pre- and post-application filing. 

• Alcohol Beverage Retail License Application (Form AB-200). Applications must be completed in full, legible and signed by applicant.
• An Individual Questionnaire (Form AB-100) must be completed and submitted with any alcohol beverage retail license application by:
  • each individual applicant, or
  • by each individual of a partnership, or
  • by each officer, director and agent of a corporation or non-profit organization, or
  • by each member/manager and agent of a limited liability company.
• All corporations/organizations or limited liability companies must appoint an agent. An Appointment of Agent (Form AB-101) must be completed and submitted with the alcohol beverage retail license application.  *residency requirements for agent - 90 days in State of Wisconsin and within 25 miles of City of La Crosse 
• Original Alcohol Application Information Submittal - required of new applicants when submitting an Original Application (AB-200)
• Contact Information Sheet - required so we have proper contact information and mailing addresses for licensing purposes.
• A completed Surrender of License if purchasing an establishment with an existing alcohol license you wish to have transferred.

Applications filed with the City Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on the Monday following the second Thursday of the month may be considered by the Council the following month.

Additional Information

State law requires that the owner(s) (if individual or partnership) or agent (if corporation or LLC) complete the "Legal/Responsible Beverage Server Course", which is offered online at Department of Revenue.

• Retail Alcohol Beverage Licensing Information (Publication 309).
• Wisconsin Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Laws for Retailers (Publication 302).

Change in Officer, Member or Director (mid-license year)

Pursuant to state law, the City Clerk's Office must be notified of any change to a license within thirty (30) days, including a change in officer, member or director.  If removing a person from the license, written notification is sufficient.  If adding, an Individual Questionnaire (Form AB-100) must be completed by the person being added and filed with the City Clerk along with a non-refundable fee of $10.00 (cash, check payable to City Treasurer or credit with convenience fee).  Any new officer, member, or director is subject to a background and delinquency check before being added to a license.

If there is a Change of Agent, please refer to the Change of Agent webpage.

Change in Premises Description

Your licensed premises cannot be expanded or changed without approval of the Common Council.

If you intend to change your premises description (sales, service or storage) in any way, i.e. expand premises, add beer garden, etc., you must submit a Request to Amend Premises Description. A request filed by 4:00 p.m. on the Monday following the second Thursday of the month will be submitted to and considered by the Common Council at their next regularly scheduled meeting. The request will also be considered by the Judiciary & Administration Committee and is subject to review by the Police Department, Fire Department, Building & Inspections Department, and the La Crosse County Health Department. A detailed plan must accompany the request along with a $100 fee (cash, check payable to City Treasurer or credit with convenience fee).

If you are looking to transfer the license to another premise, see the Transfer License - Premise to Premise page.

• Division of Alcohol Beverages Fact Sheet - Licensed or Permitted Premises Description (11.7.2024). 

Division of Alcohol Beverages Fact Sheets

• No Sale Event Venue Permits (4.7.2024)
• Catering Alcohol Beverages (11.7.2024)
• Alcohol Beverage Service & Sales at unlicensed retail establishments i.e. salons, spas, bridal shops, etc. (11.7.2024)
• Alcohol Beverage Carry-Ins (11.7.2024)
• See DOR FAQs Page for Others

Questions?

For more information or questions pertaining to licensing, please contact the City Clerk's Office at (608) 789-7510 or email licenses@cityoflacrosse.org.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer