For Applicants:
Guide for Liquor License Applicants
Bars, restaurants and clubs that would like to serve alcohol at their establishments must first obtain a liquor license. In New York, the State Liquor Authority (SLA) regulates the issuance of these licenses. Community boards play an important role in reviewing liquor license applications. All applicants must let the community board know in advance that they intend to file an application with the SLA.
Verify that your establishment falls within the CB5 boundaries.
Using the Department of Buildings’ (DOB) Building Information System, type in the house number, street name and borough of your establishment. In the middle column of the Property Profile Overview, the community board should be listed. CB5 is “105.” You can also call our office to verify.
Note: If your establishment is on West 19th, 20th, 21st or 22nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues or 20th or 21st Street between Broadway and Park Avenue South, it may be subject to CB5's Restricted Licensing Area policy.
If your establishment between 26th Street and 31st Street and between 5th and 6th Avenues it may be subject to CB5's Broadway Corridor Restricted Licensing Area policy.
Complete the SLA 30-Day Advanced Notice Form and send it to us certified mail, Fed Ex or UPS.
The 30-Day Advanced Notice Form is available here. Please review the form after completing it to make sure all of the information is correct.
If additional information or an amended form is requested, provide it to the community board office.
Certain applicants may be asked to provide more information by completing a questionnaire and detailing your proposed method of operation. We may also ask you to correspond with members of CB5's State Licenses and Permits (SLAP) committee, respond to community concerns, or attend a SLAP committee hearing.
After the community board review process is complete, attach your certified mail return receipt or proof of delivery to your SLA application packet.
For many applications, additional review by the SLAP committee is necessary. Please follow the instructions given to you and adhere to relevant deadlines. Failure to do so will result in the board recommending denial of your application.
If you have not heard from the community board within 30 days of submitting the advanced notice form to us, the board has likely chosen not to comment on the application. This means that you have completed the community board review process and are able to file your application with the SLA. Please contact us if you’d like to know the status of your application. We also post a monthly report on all of our liquor license decision.