Liquor License

Liquor License

Minnesota State law regulates the sale and possession of alcohol. Businesses or organizations wishing to sell or serve beer, wine, and alcohol must be approved by the City. The City of Victoria provides licenses for the following types of liquor: On-Sale Intoxicating, Off-Sale Intoxicating, On-Sale Wine, On-Sale 3.2%, On-Sale Brewer Tap Room, Off-Sale Growers, On-Sale Club, Special On-Sale Sunday, Temporary On-Sale, Consumption and Display, and Community Festival Off-Sale.

Regulations Around Liquor Licensing
City Ordinance:
City of Victoria Municipal Code Chapter 4 - Alcoholic Beverages outlines the City's rules and requirements around liquor licensing. 

State Law: 
The City of Victoria operates within the framework of state law. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 340A governs Liquor in the State. City regulations can be more restrictive than state law. Please view the current guidance from the State Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED) found here.

Licensees must meet the requirements of both city ordinance and state law.
Applying for a License
Applications
Selling, serving, or providing alcohol required an alcohol license from the City. There are a variety of license types available. Before completing an application, please contact the Office of the City Clerk. They will help you determine what type of application is needed.

Individual applications can be found within the "License Type" drop-down section.
City of Victoria Liquor License Application
Fees for Liquor License
The City of Victoria's annual fee schedule sets the fees associated with liquor licenses. Annual liquor licenses are renewed yearly and are non-transferable. Make checks payable to the City of Victoria or call City Hall to pay with credit card

If you are applying for an annual liquor license that is less than the 12-month period, some of the license fees may be prorated.

Please view the current fees on the fee schedule located on the city website.

2023 Fee Schedule
Insurance Requirements
All licenses require proof of Workers' Compensation coverage in compliance with Minnesota state law. In addition, proof of financial responsibility must be established in the manner provided by Minn. Stat. 340A.409  for all intoxicating liquor licenses. Most often, this requirement is met by providing liquor liability insurance. A liability insurance certificate must be provided with your application for the full term of the license period before the license can be issued. 

Example of a Liability Insurance Certificate
Retailer's (Buyer's) Card
Retailer's (Buyer's) Card is used to purchase Liquor and Wine. Applicants send the Retailer's (Buyer's) Card form and fee directly to the State of Minnesota. The city does not have these cards and does not process them. Your state Buyer's card is not your license to sell liquor, it is only to purchase the liquor.

For additional information and forms visit Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement (AGED). 
Tax Information Form
License Types
On-Sale Intoxicating
On-Sale Intoxicating is an annual liquor license only granted to hotels, bowling centers, clubs, restaurants, and exclusive liquor stores. The license year for all city-issued annual liquor licenses run from July until June 30 of the following year.

Application Documents:
Off-Sale Intoxicating

Off-Sale Intoxicating is an annual liquor license issued to an exclusive liquor store and shall permit the off-sale of intoxicating liquor and 3.2 percent malt liquor. The license year for all City-issued annual liquor licenses runs from July 1 until June 30 of the following year. 

Application Documents:
On-Sale Wine

On-Sale Wine is an annual liquor license issued with the approval of the commissioner of public safety, only to restaurants having facilities for seating of at least 25 people at one time for the sale of wine not exceeding 24 percent alcohol by volume and for consumption on the licensed premises only in conjunction with the sale of food.  

A holder of an on-sale wine license who is also licensed to sell On-Sale 3.2 percent malt liquors can sell intoxicating malt liquors at on-sale without an additional license. 

The license year for all City-issued annual liquor licenses runs from July 1 until June 30 of the following year.

Application Documents:
On-Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor

Off-Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor is an annual liquor license issued to general food stores and drug stores and permit the sale of 3.2 percent malt liquor at retail in the original package for consumption off the premises only. 

The license year for all City-issued annual liquor licenses runs from July 1 until June 30 of the following year. 

Application Documents:
Off-Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor

Off-Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor is an annual liquor license issued to bona fide clubs, bowling centers, golf courses, including driving ranges, restaurants, and hotels where food is prepared and served for consumption on the premises only. 

The license year for all City-issued annual liquor licenses runs from July 1 until June 30 of the following year. 

Application Documents:
On-Sale Brewer Taproom

On-Sale Brewer Taproom is an annual liquor license granted to brewery licensed under Minnesota Statute Section 340A.301 for the on-sale of malt liquor produced by the brewer for the consumption on the premises of or adjacent to one brewery location owned by the brewer as provided in Minnesota Statute Section 340A.26. 

The license year for all City-issued annual liquor licenses runs from July 1 until June 30 of the following year. 

Application Documents:
Off-Sale Small Brewer (Growlers)

Off-Sale Small Brewer (Growlers) license is an annual liquor license granted to a brew pub or brewery licensed under Minnesota Statute Section 340A.301 for the off-sale of malt liquor at its licensed premises that has been produced and packaged by the brewer as provided in Minnesota Statute Sections 340A.24, 340A.28, and 340A.285. 

Off-Sale Small Brewer (Growler) license under City of Victoria Municipal Code Chapter 4-2 permits the sale of growlers on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. except on Christmas Eve, December 24, when sales shall stop at 8:00 p.m. 

The license year for all City-issued annual liquor licenses runs from July 1 until June 30 of the following year. 

Application Documents:
On-Sale Club:

On-Sale Intoxicating is an annual liquor license granted to bona fide clubs and congressionally chartered veterans' organizations if they have been in existence for at least three years and liquor sales will only be to members and bona fide guests.  

The license year for all City-issued annual liquor licenses runs from July 1 until June 30 of the following year. 

Application Documents:
Special On-Sale Sunday

Special On-Sale Sunday is an annual liquor license issued to hotels, restaurants, and clubs (defined in Minnesota Statute Section 340A.101) to sell intoxicating liquor for consumption in conjunction of the sale of food between the hours of 8:00 a.m. on Sundays and 1:00 p.m. on Monday (City of Victoria Municipal Code Chapter 4). 

Hotels, restaurants, and clubs interested in Special On-Sale Sunday license must have a seating capacity of at least 30 persons and must hold an on-sale intoxicating license. 

Temporary On-Sale License

Per Minnesota Statute Section 340A.404, subd. 10, a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License is Issued to a club or charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization in existence for at least three years, or to a political committee registered under Minnesota Statute 10A.14  in connection with a social event within the city sponsored by the licensee. 

The license may authorize the on-sale of intoxicating liquor for not more than four consecutive days and one location with a twelve-month period. 

All temporary on-sale intoxicating liquor license applications must first be approved by the Victoria City Council, then by the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety before they become valid. 

Application Documents:
Consumption and Display Permit

In accordance with Minnesota Statute Section 340A.414, a one-day consumption and display permit may be issued to a nonprofit organization in conjunction with a social activity in the city sponsored by the organization. 

Application Documents:
Community Festival Off-Sale Permit

In accordance with Minnesota Statute Section 340A.404, subd. 4, a holder of an on-sale intoxicating liquor​ license issued by the city can dispense intoxicating liquor off premises at a community festival held​ within the city by receiving a community festival off-sale permit.  

Application Documents:
  • City of Victoria Community Festival Off-Sale Checklist
  • City of Victoria Community Festival Off-Sale Permit Application 
Application Process
Annual Liquor License

Annual liquor licenses’ (On-Sale Intoxicating, Off-Sale Intoxicating, On-Sale Wine, On-Sale 3.2%, Off-Sale 3.2%, On-Sale Brewer Tap Room, Off- Sale Growers, On-Sale Club, Special On-Sale Sunday) must be approved by City Clerk prior to being submitted to the State of Minnesota for final approval. Below is the annual process to approving liquor licenses within the City: 

  1. Applicants submit a complete application and payment to the Office of the City Clerk at Victoria City Hall (1670 Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria MN 55386).
  2. City Clerk reviews application and payment for completeness. If information or payment is missing, city staff will contact the applicant for additional information. 
  3. City Council considers approval of applications at a regular scheduled city council meeting. 
  4. If approved by City Council, the application will be sent to the Carver County Sheriff's Office to complete a background investigation.
  5. If approved by Sheriff's Office, the City Clerk will submit the application to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED) for review and approval.
  6. If approved by AGED, the City Clerk will issue the liquor license to the applicant.  
Annual Liquor License Renewals

The license year for all City-issued annual liquor licenses runs from July 1 until June 30 of the following year. Renewals are due each year by May 1. Below is the annual renewal process to approving liquor licenses within the City: 

  1. Applicants submit a complete application and payment to the Office of the City Clerk at Victoria City Hall (1670 Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria MN 55386) by May 1. 
  2. City Clerk reviews application and payment for completeness. If information or payment is missing, city staff will contact the applicant for additional information. 
  3. City Council considers approval of applications at a regular scheduled city council meeting (first meeting in May). 
  4. If approved by City Council, the application will be sent to the Carver County Sheriff's Office to complete a background investigation.
  5. If approved by Sheriff's Office, the City Clerk will submit the application to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED) for review and approval.
  6. If approved by AGED, the City Clerk will issue the liquor license to the applicant. 
Temporary Liquor License

Per Minnesota Statute Section 340A.404, subd. 10,https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/340A.404 a Temporary On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License is Issued to a club or charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization in existence for at least three years, or to a political committee registered under Minnesota Statute 10A.14 in connection with a social event within the city sponsored by the licensee.  

The license may authorize the on-sale of intoxicating liquor for not more than four consecutive days and one location with a twelve-month period. Below is the process for temporary liquor license approvals: 

  1. Applicants submit a complete application and payment to the Office of the City Clerk at Victoria City Hall (1670 Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria MN 55386).
  2. City Clerk reviews application and payment for completeness. If information or payment is missing, city staff will contact the applicant for additional information. 
  3. City Council considers approval of applications at a regular scheduled city council meeting. 
  4. If approved by City Council, the City Clerk will submit the application to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED) for review and approval.
  5. If approved by AGED, the City Clerk will issue the liquor license to the applicant.  

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