Updated March 10, 2022
One of the first steps to take as you begin the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) licensing process is to determine whether the TABC will require proof of a 60-day sign before they will issue your Texas liquor license or permit. This sign announces to the public that you are attempting to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption at a location where that has not previously (or recently) happened.
To figure out if you need a 60-day sign, ask the following question:
Has the specific location been permitted by the TABC for on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages within the last 24 months?
If the answer is “Yes," you do not need a 60-day sign.
If the answer is “No," you must post a 60-day sign for, you guessed it, at least 60 days prior to the issuance of a TABC permit or Texas liquor license.
In most instances, answering this question is an easy task. Perhaps you know that there was a bar in your location just a few months ago — no 60-day sign needed. Perhaps you are building a new location — this will always require a 60-day sign. Perhaps the location was permitted by the TABC within the last two years, but only for sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption — the 60-day sign is required.
If you don’t know whether your specific location was permitted by the TABC in the past two years for the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption, here are two easy ways to figure that out:
1. SEARCH ONLINE
The TABC has an online “Public Inquiry System” that allows you to search all pending, current, suspended, and inactive permits and licenses. On the Public Inquiry System page, click “Verify the status and other information on License(s).” This will bring up a page with an assortment of fields. No need to fill them all out. Make sure you check the boxes for “All Active” and “All InActive” permits. Then, as long as you enter the location’s street address and city exactly as the TABC has that address recorded in its database, the Public Inquiry System will display all permits and licenses activity at the location.
If your search yields no results, there might be an error in the system. Consider calling the TABC to confirm the location’s history. On the other hand, if the system lists one or more permits that have existed at that address, first check the permit type and determine if the permit allowed on-premises consumption. If so, then look for the last date the permit was active. If it was active within the last two years, you can be confident that no 60 Day Sign needs to be posted.
2. CONTACT THE TABC
Call your TABC local field office and ask to speak with a TABC licensing specialist. He or she will research the address for you to determine whether the TABC requires a 60-day sign. In our experience, visiting with the TABC directly is the most reliable way to figure out if you need a sign.
Correctly determining whether the TABC requires a 60-day sign impacts your ability to plan for when you anticipate the issuance of your TABC permit or Texas liquor license. Failing to post a 60-day sign when required could potentially and unexpectedly add two months to your timeline, severely impacting your start date.
Not sure what type of license or permit your establishment needs? Download our Permit Summary for a quick reference guide to common licenses available in Texas to retail establishments.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Disclaimer: Nothing in our articles or on our website is legal advice and should not be taken as such. Please address all legal questions to your counsel. While our team is not a law firm, we can refer you as needed.
