Florida Liquor License Lottery

2026 Florida Liquor License Lottery Entry Period

The 2026 Florida liquor license lottery window opened on August 17, 2026, and closed about six weeks later, on September 30, 2026, at 5 P.M. (EDT).

Anticipated to occur in Spring 2027, the drawing will identify the lucky winners, and we will send notifications to those selected. As a Florida Liquor License Brokerage, we assist in buying, selling, or refinancing existing and newly acquired liquor licenses.

Our Liquor Lottery Wizard will be ready again when the Division announces the next entry period.

The Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco announced the acceptance period for Quota Beverage License Drawing Entry Forms. Spanning 45 days, the 2026 entry period began on August 17, 2026, and remained open until September 30, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. (EDT). The drawing gives winners the chance to acquire the license needed to operate an alcoholic beverage retail establishment, or to resell the license to interested purchasers.

The acquisition of a license is strictly limited to winning the lottery or purchasing one from an existing holder. With a finite number of licenses and fluctuating supply and demand based on County, there lies immense profit potential for winners aiming to transfer or resell their licenses in the private market.

However, victory in the lottery does not guarantee immediate possession of the license. Additional requirements, such as thorough background checks and fees, must be fulfilled. If your name is drawn and you clear the background check, the initial activation fee for a new 4COP/3PS Quota Liquor License is $10,750.00, more often referred to as the Hughes Act Fee (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), and the yearly renewal fee for the respective series chosen. A 4COP Quota Liquor License renewal fee is $1,820.00, whereas a 3PS Quota Liquor License, permitting package sales only, is renewed at $1,365.00 yearly. Upgrading or downgrading between these licenses is possible, though transferring the ownership before 36 months will incur a $27,300.00 fee.

Quota licenses differ from other license types in Florida, as they are exempt from restrictions related to food sales percentages, square footage, and serving requirements within the County. Unlike other licenses that only permit on-premise consumption, quota licenses also allow package sales. The Quota license stands as the premier series available in the state.

Prospective applicants can join the lottery process by submitting their entries at $100 per application for each County. There are no restrictions on applying for multiple counties, and doing so may enhance winning chances. However, only one application per County, per person will be accepted. An individual may not submit multiple entries in the same County.

The 2026 Florida Liquor License Lottery's entry period ran from August 17 to September 30, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. (EDT). Entries had to be submitted within that timeframe to be eligible for the drawing. Completed applications, along with checks or money orders, were sent to: