Las Vegas liquor license types depend on what alcohol a business sells, where customers consume it, and how the business operates. A restaurant serving cocktails needs a different approval from a convenience store selling sealed beer and wine. A standalone bar has different licensing needs from a liquor store, caterer, brewery, or delivery company.
For business owners throughout Las Vegas, NV | Henderson, NV | Summerlin, another question comes first: which government has authority over the property?
A Las Vegas mailing address does not always mean a business is inside City of Las Vegas limits. Properties in unincorporated Clark County follow a separate liquor licensing system. Henderson and other incorporated cities also have their own rules.
Inside the City of Las Vegas, current licensing materials group alcohol businesses into categories such as beer and wine on-premise, beer and wine off-premise, full alcohol on-premise, package alcohol, manufacturing, catering, and alcohol delivery support.
If you are planning a tavern, restaurant, liquor store, nightclub, grocery store, brewery, or another alcohol business, choosing the right license category should happen before you submit the application.
Table of Contents
- What Are the Main Las Vegas Liquor License Types?
- How Does the City Treat Tavern and Bar Licenses?
- Full Alcohol On-Premise License
- Restaurant Liquor Licensing
- Beer and Wine On-Premise License
- Package Alcohol License
- Beer and Wine Off-Premise License
- Liquor Store Licensing
- Grocery and Convenience Store Alcohol Licensing
- Brew Pub, Winery, and Distillery Licenses
- Alcohol Catering Licenses
- Alcohol Delivery Licensing
- Special Event and Complimentary Alcohol Permits
- Liquor Licenses and Gaming
- City of Las Vegas vs Clark County Liquor Licenses
- How to Choose the Right Liquor License
- How Kaizen Strategies Helps With Liquor Licensing
- Las Vegas Liquor License Types FAQs
- Sources
What Are the Main Las Vegas Liquor License Types?
Current City of Las Vegas materials divide alcohol licensing into several categories based on what the business sells and where customers consume it.
Common Las Vegas liquor license types include:
- Beer and wine on-premise
- Beer and wine off-premise
- Full alcohol on-premise
- Package alcohol
- Brew pub
- Craft distillery
- Craft winery
- Liquor manufacturer
- Wholesale general alcohol
- Alcoholic beverage caterer
- Alcohol delivery support service
- Complimentary alcohol beverage permit
- Special event alcohol permit
The correct category depends on the business model.
A restaurant serving beer and wine only does not need the same alcohol privileges as a restaurant serving beer, wine, and spirits.
A liquor store that sells sealed bottles for customers to take home follows a different category from a bar selling drinks for consumption at the premises.
The City of Las Vegas also treats alcohol licenses as privileged licenses. Current City materials state that applicants face background review and must provide personal history and financial documentation.
Kaizen Strategies assists applicants with privileged and liquor licensing when they need help sorting out the correct application path.
How Does the City Treat Tavern and Bar Licenses?
Business owners often search for a “Las Vegas tavern license.”
Inside the City of Las Vegas, current licensing materials use Full Alcohol On-Premise for businesses that can include a standalone bar.
The City’s current alcohol guide lists standalone bars, restaurants, nightclubs, banquet facilities, resort hotels, sports arenas, convention facilities, and other compatible business models under Full Alcohol On-Premise.
That means the everyday word “tavern” does not always match the formal City license name shown on current application materials.
Clark County is different. Clark County still lists Tavern as a liquor-license category for businesses under County jurisdiction.
This is one reason the physical address matters.
Before searching for a tavern application, determine whether the property falls under the City of Las Vegas or unincorporated Clark County.
Full Alcohol On-Premise License
A Full Alcohol On-Premise license allows alcoholic beverages to be sold for consumption within the licensed area.
Current City materials list businesses such as:
- Standalone bars
- Restaurants
- Nightclubs
- Banquet facilities
- Resort hotels
- Sports arenas
- Convention facilities
This category is designed for businesses that want to serve a broader range of alcoholic beverages rather than beer and wine alone.
The City currently requires an Alcohol Control Plan for this category.
Current materials also say gaming may be allowed when the business meets the separate gaming requirements.
That distinction matters for a bar owner planning slot machines.
A liquor license does not replace a gaming license. Gaming requires its own state and local approvals.
Restaurant Liquor Licensing
Restaurants can appear under more than one City alcohol category.
The right license depends on what the restaurant plans to serve.
Restaurant Serving Beer and Wine
A restaurant serving beer, wine, and coolers only may fit the Beer Wine On-Premise category.
Current City materials state that this category permits those beverages for consumption within the licensed area.
Restaurant Serving Full Alcohol
A restaurant serving spirits as well as beer and wine can fall under Full Alcohol On-Premise.
This is the category a restaurant should review if its drink menu includes cocktails or distilled spirits.
The difference should be decided before filing.
Changing from a beer-and-wine concept to a full cocktail program later can change the licensing needs.
Restaurants should also review:
- Kitchen requirements
- Floor plan
- Bar areas
- Entertainment
- Alcohol Control Plan requirements
- Delivery or takeout plans
- Gaming plans
- Land-use approval
A restaurant that also wants gaming has a much different licensing project from a restaurant serving dinner and wine only.
Beer and Wine On-Premise License
The Beer Wine On-Premise category permits beer, wine, and coolers for consumption within the licensed areas.
Current City materials list uses that can include:
- Restaurants
- Beer and wine bars
- Nightclubs or general entertainment establishments
- Banquet facilities
- Hotels
- Sports arenas
- Convention facilities
The City currently states that this category does not allow gaming.
That is worth checking before building a concept around beer, wine, and slot machines.
A business planning gaming may need another alcohol-license category along with separate gaming approval.
Current City materials also allow certain endorsements for activities connected with this license, such as qualifying internet sales connected with meals or individual-access alcohol in certain hotel settings.
Package Alcohol License
A Package Alcohol license is for alcohol sold in original sealed or corked containers for consumption somewhere else.
This is the category commonly associated with a liquor store.
Current City materials also identify qualifying grocery stores under this category.
A Package Alcohol license is different from Full Alcohol On-Premise because customers are buying sealed alcohol to take away rather than drinks to consume at the business.
Current City guidance states that package alcohol can include:
- Liquor stores
- Grocery stores meeting City requirements
Certain endorsements may also be available for internet sales, tasting, or instructional wine-making activities when their requirements are met.
Gaming may also be allowed in certain package-alcohol business models when separate gaming rules are satisfied.
Beer and Wine Off-Premise License
A business that wants to sell beer, wine, and coolers in sealed containers for consumption away from the property may need Beer Wine Off-Premise licensing.
Current City materials list business types such as:
- Convenience stores
- Grocery stores
- Drug stores
- General retail stores
- Certain resort hotel gift shops
This category does not provide permission to sell full spirits.
A store planning to sell vodka, whiskey, tequila, rum, or other distilled spirits should review the Package Alcohol category instead.
The City also imposes business-model and floor-space rules for certain retail uses.
A convenience store, grocery store, and general retail store do not necessarily follow identical rules merely because each sells packaged beer.
Liquor Store Licensing
A liquor store generally falls under the City’s Package Alcohol category.
Current City materials state that a liquor store must have at least 1,200 square feet of retail floor space, excluding warehouse and office areas.
The City’s materials also state that minors generally cannot enter a liquor store except where the municipal code provides otherwise.
If you are considering a liquor store, review the property before signing the lease.
Questions can include:
- Is package alcohol allowed at the location?
- Does the store meet the floor-space requirement?
- Are there distance or land-use restrictions?
- Is a Special Use Permit required?
- Does the lease allow alcohol sales?
- Will tastings take place?
- Will internet sales or delivery be offered?
- Will gaming be added?
A suitable retail storefront does not automatically mean that package alcohol can be licensed there.
Kaizen Strategies also assists with special use permits and land entitlement when a property needs added land-use approval.
Grocery and Convenience Store Alcohol Licensing
Grocery and convenience stores can fall under different Las Vegas liquor license types based on what they sell.
A store selling only beer and wine for off-premise consumption may fit the Beer Wine Off-Premise category.
A store selling full alcohol can fall under Package Alcohol when the requirements are met.
Current City materials set floor-space rules for these businesses.
For beer and wine off-premise licensing, a convenience store must have at least 1,200 square feet of retail floor space excluding office and warehouse areas. Current City guidance also limits how much of the retail area can be devoted to alcoholic beverages.
A grocery store under the City’s current materials must have at least 5,000 square feet of qualifying floor space, with limits on the portion devoted to alcohol.
Property size and layout therefore matter before an application is filed.
Brew Pub, Winery, and Distillery Licenses
The City also has alcohol categories tied to manufacturing.
Current categories include:
Brew Pub
A brew pub license covers manufacturing and selling malt beverages produced at the establishment for on-premise and off-premise consumption.
Craft Distillery
A craft distillery license covers the manufacturing and sale of qualifying craft-distilled beverages for on-premise and off-premise consumption.
Craft Winery
A craft winery license covers manufacturing and selling wine produced at the establishment for on-premise and off-premise consumption.
Current City materials state that these categories require the related State of Nevada liquor approval.
The City’s guide also says these three categories do not allow gaming.
A manufacturing business should plan state and City licensing together instead of treating one government approval as a substitute for the other.
Alcohol Catering Licenses
An Alcoholic Beverage Caterer license covers qualifying alcohol service at permitted banquet facilities or special events.
Current City materials state that this license authorizes the sale, pouring, or serving of alcoholic beverages under an approved permit.
The license does not mean the caterer can serve alcohol anywhere without another review.
The event and location must meet applicable permit requirements.
A restaurant or full-alcohol establishment may also have catering options under its existing license when the City issues the required catering permit.
If catering will be a major part of the business, identify whether the company needs a dedicated catering license or an activity attached to another alcohol license.
Alcohol Delivery Licensing
The City has a separate Alcohol Delivery Support Service license.
This category covers qualifying businesses that deliver alcoholic beverages for an establishment licensed for off-premise alcohol sales.
The City’s current materials state that the alcohol must remain in the original manufacturer-sealed container and that the selling establishment must hold the applicable internet-sales endorsement.
This category is aimed at the delivery company rather than the retailer’s underlying liquor license.
A retailer wanting online sales should review both its existing alcohol category and any endorsement needed for internet ordering or delivery.
Special Event and Complimentary Alcohol Permits
Not every alcohol activity requires a permanent retail liquor license.
The City currently lists permit categories for certain limited activities.
Complimentary Alcohol Beverage Permit
This permit can apply to limited complimentary alcohol service at listed businesses such as:
- Art galleries connected with art sales
- Cosmetology establishments
- Barbershops
- Professional businesses
- Bridal shops
- Suit shops
- Hospitals
- Wedding chapels
This permit does not turn the business into a public bar.
Special Event Alcohol Permit
This permit covers qualifying alcohol sales or service at a specified special-event location for the period stated in the permit.
An approved City special-event permit is also required.
Temporary alcohol activities should be reviewed separately from permanent liquor licensing.
Liquor Licenses and Gaming
Alcohol and gaming often overlap in Southern Nevada, but they remain separate regulated activities.
Current City materials state that gaming may be allowed under certain Full Alcohol On-Premise and Package Alcohol business models.
Beer Wine On-Premise licensing, by contrast, is listed as allowing no gaming.
Restricted gaming can mean up to 15 slot machines when the state and local requirements are met.
For certain Full Alcohol On-Premise establishments seeking restricted gaming, current City guidance lists operating criteria involving patron space, a permanent physical bar, kitchen operations, and dining seating.
Do not choose a liquor-license type based only on the drink menu when gaming is part of the business plan.
The alcohol and gaming models should be reviewed together.
Kaizen Strategies provides both privileged and liquor licensing and gaming licensing.
City of Las Vegas vs Clark County Liquor Licenses
One of the biggest sources of confusion is jurisdiction.
The City of Las Vegas and Clark County do not use identical liquor-license categories.
The City currently uses labels such as:
- Beer Wine On-Premise
- Beer Wine Off-Premise
- Full Alcohol On-Premise
- Package Alcohol
Clark County’s current licensing system contains categories including:
- Tavern
- Tavern With Restaurant
- Package Liquor Store
- Restaurant Retail Beer & Wine
- Restaurant Service Bar Only
- Supper Club
- Liquor Caterer
- Brewery
- Manufacturer
- Importer or Wholesaler
That is why searching for a “Las Vegas tavern license” can produce documents that appear inconsistent.
You may be looking at two different governments.
Clark County states that its alcoholic liquor application applies to businesses in unincorporated Clark County, not properties within incorporated city licensing jurisdictions.
For applicants throughout Las Vegas, NV | Henderson, NV | Summerlin, confirm jurisdiction before selecting forms.
How to Choose the Right Liquor License
Start with what the business will actually do.
Ask these questions:
What alcohol will you sell?
Will the business sell:
- Beer and wine only?
- Full spirits?
- Alcohol manufactured on-site?
Where will customers drink it?
Will alcohol be:
- Consumed inside the business?
- Taken away in sealed containers?
- Both?
What type of business is it?
Is the location a:
- Restaurant?
- Standalone bar?
- Nightclub?
- Liquor store?
- Grocery store?
- Convenience store?
- Hotel?
- Caterer?
- Brewery?
- Winery?
- Distillery?
Will gaming be offered?
Gaming can change the liquor-license analysis and add separate Nevada and local gaming applications.
Will alcohol be delivered?
Internet ordering and delivery can require an endorsement or separate license.
Does the property support the use?
Check zoning, floor-space rules, land-use requirements, and the lease before filing.
Those answers will usually narrow down the license category much faster than beginning with an application packet.
How Kaizen Strategies Helps With Liquor Licensing
Kaizen Strategies assists business owners with liquor and privileged licensing throughout Las Vegas, NV | Henderson, NV | Summerlin.
Our team includes former high-ranking government officials, attorneys, and licensing professionals with more than 20 years of business, community, licensing, and governmental-relations experience.
Depending on the project, Kaizen Strategies can assist with:
- Identifying the liquor-license category
- Determining the local jurisdiction
- Reviewing the proposed business model
- Preparing privileged-license materials
- Organizing ownership disclosures
- Organizing financial records
- Reviewing property issues
- Coordinating business licensing
- Coordinating gaming licensing
- Addressing ownership changes
- Working through land-use requirements
- Providing government representation
Choosing the wrong alcohol category can create extra work later.
The licensing plan should match the beverages being sold, where they will be consumed, the property, and every regulated activity planned for the business.
For help with Las Vegas liquor license types and related government approvals in Las Vegas, NV | Henderson, NV | Summerlin, call Kaizen Strategies at (725) 247-6828 or visit our contact page to schedule an appointment.
Las Vegas Liquor License Types FAQs
1. What are the main Las Vegas liquor license types?
Current City of Las Vegas categories include Beer Wine On-Premise, Beer Wine Off-Premise, Full Alcohol On-Premise, Package Alcohol, Brew Pub, Craft Distillery, Craft Winery, manufacturing, catering, and alcohol delivery licensing.
2. What liquor license does a Las Vegas tavern need?
Inside the City of Las Vegas, current materials list a standalone bar under the Full Alcohol On-Premise category. Clark County separately maintains a Tavern license category for properties under County jurisdiction. Confirm the property jurisdiction before selecting the application.
3. What liquor license does a restaurant need?
A restaurant serving only beer and wine may fit the Beer Wine On-Premise category. A restaurant serving spirits as well may need Full Alcohol On-Premise licensing. The business model and property must also meet City requirements.
4. What license does a Las Vegas liquor store need?
Current City materials place liquor stores under Package Alcohol licensing. The City states that a liquor store must have at least 1,200 square feet of retail floor space excluding warehouse and office areas.
5. Can a convenience store sell alcohol?
It can when properly licensed and the location meets the applicable City requirements. Beer Wine Off-Premise may apply to a store selling beer and wine only. A broader package-alcohol business follows different requirements.
6. Can a restaurant liquor license include gaming?
Current City materials state that Full Alcohol On-Premise establishments may allow gaming when the separate gaming and property requirements are satisfied. Beer Wine On-Premise is listed as not allowing gaming.
7. Who can help determine which Las Vegas liquor license type I need?
Kaizen Strategies assists businesses with privileged and liquor licensing, business licensing, gaming licensing, and property-related approvals throughout Las Vegas, NV | Henderson, NV | Summerlin. Call (725) 247-6828 or visit the Kaizen Strategies contact page to schedule an appointment.
Next Steps Before Filing
Start with the exact property address and business model.
Confirm whether the location falls under the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, or another local government.
Then decide what alcohol will be sold, whether customers will drink it on-site, whether sealed bottles will be sold for off-site consumption, and whether the business will also offer gaming, entertainment, delivery, catering, or manufacturing.
Match those facts to the correct liquor-license category before submitting the application.
For liquor licensing assistance throughout Las Vegas, NV | Henderson, NV | Summerlin, contact Kaizen Strategies at (725) 247-6828 or complete the form on our contact page.
Sources
- Alcohol Licenses and Related Business Licenses and Activity
Publisher: City of Las Vegas Business Licensing Division
Publication Date: Revised December 13, 2023
URL: https://files.lasvegasnevada.gov/business-licensing/Alcohol-License-Information.pdf - Apply for a Business License
Publisher: City of Las Vegas
Publication Date: Current page accessed September 22, 2026
URL: https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Business/Business-License/Apply-For-A-Business-License - Liquor and Gaming Application Forms
Publisher: Clark County Department of Business License
Publication Date: Current page accessed September 22, 2026
URL: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/business/doing_business_with_clark_county/divisions/liquor_and_gaming/forms - Liquor and Gaming Licensing Guide
Publisher: Clark County Department of Business License
Publication Date: Current page accessed September 22, 2026
URL: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/business/doing_business_with_clark_county/divisions/liquor_and_gaming/liquor-gaming-guide - Clark County Business License Category List
Publisher: Clark County Department of Business License
Publication Date: Current page accessed September 22, 2026
URL: https://blepay.clarkcountynv.gov/bleligibility/blincat.asp
