On August 31, 2022, the New York State Liquor Authority adopted a number of advisories that change licensing requirements. The intent of these changes is to remove requirements that are deemed unnecessary, and to help streamline the application process.  The advisories are all posted on the SLA website.  Some of the more significant changes are as follows:

1.  An applicant is no longer required to provide the SLA with a certificate of occupancy, temporary certificate of occupancy, letter of no objection, or place of assembly permit for the premises to be licensed. This change, however, does not affect the requirements of the municipality with respect to the need for certificates of occupancy or place of assembly permits.

2.  An applicant that is a corporation or limited liability company need only disclose those direct or indirect owners with an interest of 10% or more. Any owners, members, or investors with less than 10% do not have to be disclosed. This is a significant change. The prior rules required all owners and investors to be disclosed and complete personal questionnaire forms, regardless of their percentage ownership, if there were 10 or fewer owners. The 10% threshold only applied if there were more than 10 direct or indirect owners. Directors of a corporation do not have to be disclosed, and the only officers required to be included in the application are president, secretary, treasurer, and CEO if there is one.

3.  Applicants will no longer be required to provide copies of bank statements showing the source of funds.  The SLA does, however, reserve the right to request such documentation during the review process.

4.  The SLA will no longer scrutinize deeds or leases, other than confirming the name of the applicant, the premises, and whether there is a percentage rent provision.

5.  Outdoor space on private property must be a part of the application if it is to be licensed and must be contiguous to the indoor space. Municipal space is not to be included in the application as part of the licensed space. The applicant must, however, have a permit from the municipality to use that space. It does not have to be contiguous to the indoor space. Any licensee that has a condition on its license prohibiting the use of outdoor space may no add that space unless it has an application for a change in method of operation filed and approved.

6.  Importer Licensees are now permitted to use Marketing Permits.  Additional restrictions have been placed on the use of Marketing Permits in unlicensed spaces – upper tier entities may use Marketing Permits in unlicensed spaces (i) a maximum of times at a given unlicensed location per year, (ii) on no more than two consecutive days at any unlicensed location, and (iii) on no more than two consecutive weekends at any unlicensed location.

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding these important changes.