Surrender License

Get the Forms

• License Action Request (ABC-231)
• License Action Request - Instructions (ABC-231 Instructions)
• License Transfer Request ("Sign Off") (ABC-211-A)
• License Transfer Request ("Sign Off") - Instructions (ABC-211-A Instructions)

Instructions for a License Action Request

General Information

• Type or print clearly in black or blue ink (do not use red).
• Acronyms or form numbers used in these instructions:
  • B&P Business & Professions Code
  • CCR California Code of Regulations
  • 211-A Transfer Request

Form ABC-231 is used to cancel a license (Section 2); surrender a license for up to one year under Rule 65 (Section 3); surrender license privileges for an authorized special event (Section 4); or to request the return of a surrendered license (Section 5).

If you want to surrender your license so that a transferee may apply for a temporary permit, you should sign Form 211-A, not Form ABC-231.

One signature for the licensee is sufficient on Form ABC-231 (i.e., all partners do not need to sign).

Instructions

The following describes what sections of the form to complete for each desired action:

• Cancel license – Complete sections 1 and 2
• Surrender license for up to one year (Rule 65) – Complete sections 1 and 3
• Surrender license privileges for special event – Complete sections 1 and 4
• Request return of surrendered license (Rule 65) – Complete sections 1 and 5

Section 1 – License Information.

Licensee’s Name(s) (Item 1)

Enter the name(s) of the licensee. For a limited partnership, limited liability company, or a corporation, the name of the entity.

District Office (Item 4)

Enter the name of the ABC office having jurisdiction over the licensed premises.

License Attached (Item 6)

Attach license on cancellations (Section 2) and Rule 65 surrenders (Section 3) only.

Mailing address (Item 7)

Enter the mailing address where you wish to receive mail. May be different from the premises address. Business and mailing addresses are public information and are available to the public. Please consider this, especially when listing a mailing address. It is important that you report any change in mailing address to ABC so that you may receive your license renewal notice or other correspondence from ABC.

Section 2 – Cancellation

Complete this section if you want to permanently cancel your license. A canceled license cannot be reactivated or reinstated.

Section 3 – Surrender, Rule 65.

Complete this section if you are closing your licensed business for over 15 calendar days and intend to transfer or reactive the license at a later date. You must surrender your license to ABC within 15 days after closing. ABC may seize your license certificate(s) if you do not surrender your license as required, and ABC may proceed to revoke the license. (Rule 65, CCR)

Section 4 – Surrender of Privileges for Special Event.

Complete this section if you are requesting that your license privileges be surrendered for a special event (e.g., wine tasting, etc.). Contact your ABC
District Office for information on other requirements (e.g., one-day license, catering authorization, diagram, etc.).

Section 5 – Request for Return of Surrendered License.

Complete this section to request return of a surrendered license. ABC may return a surrendered license upon your request made at least 10 days in advance. An inspection by ABC may be required. (Rule 65(c), CCR.)

Miscellaneous Information

Failure to Transfer or Reactivate License

A license surrendered under Rule 65 will be revoked if you do not transfer it to another person or for use at another premises, or reactivate it within one year from the date of surrender.

Exceptions:

• Pending application to transfer the license
• Pending litigation (other than disciplinary action by ABC)
• Premises destroyed due to circumstances beyond your control (e.g., fire, flood, or other natural catastrophe, or as part of an urban renewal program) and you make a good faith effort to reconstruct the premises
• Undue hardship. Contact your ABC District Office for further advice on these exceptions. (Rule 65(d), CCR.)

Physical or Character Changes in Premises

After issuance or transfer of a license, you may not make substantial physical changes in your premises or change the usage of your premises without the prior written consent of ABC. (Rule 64.2(b)(1), CCR.)

 

Instructions for License Transfer Request “Sign Off”

General Information

• Type or print clearly in black or blue ink (do not use red).
• If you need more space for signatures, use Item #20.
• Acronyms or form numbers used in these instructions:
  • B&P Business & Professions Code
  • CCR California Code of Regulations
  • ABC-209 Application Withdrawal
  • ABC-211 Application for Alcoholic Beverage License
  • ABC-227 Notice of Intended Transfer
  • ABC-275 Information Concerning Interim Permit
  • ABC-280 Temporary Permit
  • ABC-283 Information Concerning Temporary Permits
• The renewal fee will be collected on any transfer application within 60 days prior to the expiration date of the transferor’s license at the discretion of the Department.
• The transferor should report any mailing address changes to the District Office.

Instructions

District Office (Item 1)

Enter the ABC District Office that has jurisdiction over the license being transferred.

License Number (Item 2)

List the license to be transferred; e.g., 48-12345.

Transaction Type (Item 3)

Check the box for the type of transaction.

Licensee’s Name (Item 4)

Enter the name of the licensee. For a general partnership, show the names of the individual partners. For a limited partnership, limited liability company, or a corporation, show the name of the entity.

Applicant(s) Name (Item 5)

Enter the name of the applicant. For a general partnership, the names of the individual partners. For limited partnership, limited liability company, or a corporation, the name of the entity.

Existing Premises Address (Item 6)

Enter the address of the business where the license is now issued.

Licensee’s Mailing Address (Item 7)

Enter the address where you wish to receive mail. May be different from the premises address. Business and mailing addresses are public information and are available to the public. Please consider this, especially when listing a mailing address.

Temporary Permit (Item 9)

Sign here to request a temporary permit be issued to the applicant. The temporary permit (Form ABC-280) is good for 120 days and allows the transferee to operate the licensed premises during the transfer waiting period. To qualify for the permit, the premises must have been operating under a license within 30 days of filing the application for a temporary permit. The surrendered license will be automatically canceled upon transfer to the temporary permittee. See Form ABC-283 for more information about temporary permits. (Section 24045.5 B&P Code.)

Partnership/Limited Partnership (Item 15)

For a general partnership, each of the partners must sign (e.g., husband and wife). For a limited partnership, each of the general partners must sign. Limited partners do not need to sign.

Corporation (Item 16)

Two officers of the corporation must sign, one from each of the following categories: (a) The chairperson of the board, the president, or a vice president; and (b) the secretary, assistant secretary, chief financial officer, or assistant treasurer. If only one corporate officer exists, he or she must sign twice, once in each category.

Limited Liability Company (Items 17-19)

For a limited liability company that is managed by its members, the form must be signed by each member or by an officer authorized by the articles of organization or the operating agreement to bind the company. For a limited liability company that is managed by a manager or managers, the form must be signed by the manager or managers or by an officer authorized by the articles of organization or the operating agreement to bind the company.

Miscellaneous Information

Waiting Period

The average waiting period for a license is 55-65 days and by law the license cannot transfer for at least 30 days. Applications that have been protested can take up to 95 days or longer. Other things can add to delays. These may include: (a) Missing or incorrect documents, (b) Missing or incorrect fees, (c) Liens placed against escrow by the Board of Equalization, Franchise Tax Board, Employment Development Department, cities and counties, local health departments; or (d) The premises is under construction and not yet ready to operate.

Unavailability of Transferors

Deceased or Incompetent Licensee

The privileges of the licensee may be exercised by any person acting on behalf of a deceased or incompetent licensee or the estate for a specified period or until an administrator, executor, etc., is appointed. (Section 23102 B&P Code.) Administrators, executors, guardians, surviving partners, trustees, and receivers may sign the Form ABC-211-A on behalf of a deceased transferor.

Contact your local ABC district office to find out what additional documents may be required for this purpose. (Rule 60, CCR.)

Abandoned Partnership Interests

Each general partner must sign the Form ABC-211-A unless ABC is satisfied by affidavit or otherwise that one or more partners have abandoned their interest in the business for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the application. In this case, the remaining partners or any other person with a power of attorney may sign.

A partner shall have abandoned his interest in the licensed business if he makes an oral or written declaration to that effect, or if all of the following conditions exist:

• He cannot be found or located;
• He has taken no active part in the operation or
  management of the licensed business
• He
  has not received any income directly or indirectly
  from the licensed business. (Rule 60(l), CCR.)

Denied or Withdrawn Transfer Application

If the transfer application is denied or withdrawn: (a) If the transferor intends to resume operation of the licensed business he must request the return of the surrendered license and establish that there has been no change in the ownership or the qualifications of the licensed premises. (b) If the transferor does not intend to resume operation of the licensed business and does not request return of the surrendered license, then the Department will proceed to hold the license under the provisions of Rule 65. The effective date of the Rule 65 surrender will be the date of application, denial, or withdrawal. All licenses surrendered will be automatically revoked if the renewal fees are not paid.

A transfer application withdrawal (Form ABC-209) may be signed by one person representing the applicant or one person representing the transferor. Whenever a withdrawal is signed by only a transferor or transferee, the District Administrator will send a letter to both. Note: A transferor may not be the sole signer to withdraw an application approved under Section 24044 B&P Code (premises under construction).

Refund of Fees

If an application is withdrawn, one-fourth of the license fee paid, or not more than $100, shall be deposited in the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund (i.e., not refunded). The balance of the license fee paid is credited on any taxes then due from the applicant, and the remaining portion is refunded. The refund of license fees will be made payable to the entity shown on Form ABC-211 unless acceptable documentation is provided showing that another entity has paid the license fees. (Sections 23959 and 24761 B&P Code and Part 14 [Section 32001, et seq.,] Division 2, Revenue and Taxation Code or the Sales and Use Tax Law.)

Amended or Corrected Applications

Any additional application to amend or correct an application requires withdrawal and re-filing. Examples of circumstances requiring withdrawal and re-filing include change in ownership from that indicated, a change from a person-to-person transfer to include a premises-to-premises transfer.

Escrow Requirements

If there is any purchase price or consideration in connection with the transfer of the business, an escrow must be established before filing a license
transfer application with ABC. Consideration includes cash, checks, promissory notes, or other items of value, which have been agreed to be paid to the transferor for the license, inventory, fixtures, household interest, realty, good will, covenant not to compete, or other property connected with the
licensed business.

The full amount of the purchase price or consideration must be placed in escrow. Escrow agreements must provide for payment only after the transfer of the license is approved by ABC. The applicant, within 30 days of application, shall furnish ABC with a statement that the purchase price or consideration has been deposited in escrow (Form ABC-226). The applicant shall also submit a copy to the transferor and a copy to the escrow holder. (Sections 24071.1, 24072, 24074, 24074.1, 24074.3 and 24075 B&P Code.)

Notice of Intended Transfer

In cases where an applicant is transferring an existing ABC license, the applicant must obtain a Notice of Intended Transfer (Form ABC-227) certified by the County Recorder in the county where the licensed premises are located. The document is needed at the time of filing the application with ABC. There are exceptions (see below). (Sections 24073 and 24075 B&P Code.)

Corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships use Notice of Intended Transfer (Form ABC-227-A) for any transfer involving a stock or ownership change of 50% or more. (Sections 24071.1 and 24071.2 B&P Code.)

Exceptions for Notice and Escrow

A recorded Notice of Intended Transfer and escrow are not required for a transfer application made by an executor, administrator, or other person mentioned in Section 24075 B&P Code.