Step 1: City of Alpharetta Pre-Application Meeting
Schedule an in-person, virtual or phone pre-application meeting with the City of Alpharetta’s Code Enforcement team. During this appointment, the applicant will explain the intent of their application and the type of alcoholic beverage license they are requesting. Applicants will need to bring a COMPLETED draft of the City of Alpharetta’s alcohol beverage license application for City Staff to conduct an initial review. City Staff will address any missing information from your application and determine if a public hearing before the Alpharetta City Council is necessary before issuing an alcoholic beverage license.
A public hearing is required when the premises does not yet have a building permit, issuance would require a variance to the alcohol ordinance, is for a special event, or there are conditions surrounding the application that warrants additional review or conditions.
Please call 678-297-6086 or email alcohollicense@alpharetta.ga.us to schedule a pre-application meeting.
Step 2: Apply Online
All applicants for new alcohol licenses and special events permits will begin their alcohol license application by visiting the Georgia Tax Center website at: https://gtc.dor.ga.gov
On the website above, applicants will either “Register a New Georgia Business” or “Register an Existing Business.”
For more information on registering a new or existing business and submitting a new alcohol license application through the State’s online portal, please see this attachment: How to Register a Retail Alcohol License Account
Please note: State alcohol licensing fees are due at the time of registration.
Step 3: Pay City of Alpharetta Alcohol Licensing Fees
As part of the alcohol license application on the State’s online portal, applicants will be asked to review the local alcohol licensing payment information. Once you have submitted your online application through the State’s online portal, applicants must submit the license fees directly to the City of Alpharetta.
For initial applications, the City of Alpharetta accepts payment in person, by credit card or by check (money orders, cashier’s check, or certified check). Please make all checks payable to: City of Alpharetta.
To set up online payment by credit card, please call the City of Alpharetta Code Enforcement Office at 678-297-6086. Please note that a 3% processing fee is charged to all credit card transactions.
Step 4: Fingerprinting + Background Check
All applicants and registered agents must be fingerprinted by the Georgia Application Processing Services (GAPS).
As your application is reviewed, a Code Enforcement Officer will provide you with more information on how to schedule your GAPS fingerprinting appointment.
Step 5: Fully Investigated and Finalized Applications are Forwarded to the City Clerk’s Office
Our Code Enforcement Office will conduct a full investigation of your application and review all supporting documentation and will post public notice sign of your application on the premises.
If your application meets all of the City’s requirements and does not require a public hearing, staff will administratively approve your application and you can skip to Step 7.
If your application requires a public hearing, your application will be forwarded to the City Clerk’s Office to be placed on a future City Council Meeting Agenda. The City Clerk’s Office will notify you of your public hearing date, place a public notice sign on the premises, and will publish a notice in the City’s legal organ, the Alpharetta-Roswell Herald.
Step 6: Public Hearing during City Council Meeting
If your application requires a public hearing before the Alpharetta City Council, the applicant and/or registered agent must be present during the public hearing. The Mayor and City Council will hear and consider your application and decide whether or not to approve your application for an alcoholic beverage license. This is a public meeting. Any member of the public is welcome to attend and provide comments on your application.
City Council meetings are generally held the first, third, and fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at Alpharetta City Hall, which is located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009.
Step 7: Pick Up your Alcohol License
Once the application has been approved administratively or by the City Council, you may visit the City of Alpharetta’s Code Enforcement Office to pick up a physical copy of your alcohol license. The Code Enforcement Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 p.m and is located on the ground floor of Alpharetta City Hall (2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta GA 30009).
The Code Enforcement Office will send an electronic copy of your license to the Georgia Department of Revenue through the Centralized Alcohol Licensing Portal.
Step 8: State of Georgia Alcohol License
After you have received your local City of Alpharetta alcohol license, please revisit your State application through the Georgia Tax Center website (https://gtc.dor.ga.gov) for further and final requirements needed to obtain your State alcohol license.
Step 9: Employee Serving Permits are Required
All employees selling or serving alcoholic beverages are required to have an alcohol beverage serving permit. Please schedule an appointment through the City of Alpharetta’s Public Safety Online Lobby by visiting: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17333013
Alcohol Beverage Serving Permits are $50.00 and may be paid by cash, credit card, and apple pay. This permit cannot be paid by check.
Step 10: Alcohol Compliance Verification Forms Due Monthly
All establishments with a consumption on premises alcohol license must submit an Alcohol Compliance Verification Form and associated taxes to the City of Alpharetta Finance Department by the 20th day of each month.
Download a copy of the Alcohol Compliance Verification Form
Please email your completed form to financecst@alpharetta.ga.us or mail to:
City of Alpharetta
Finance Department
2 Park Plaza
Alpharetta, GA 30009