Liquor licensing for Michigan businesses

How the process works

Liquor licenses in Michigan are issued by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), and most requests also need approval from the city, village or township where the business is located. Those approvals run in sequence, so the order of the steps and the paperwork behind each one matter.

We guide you through the application, coordinate with the local municipality and the Commission, and keep the license work in step with the purchase, lease or ownership change it depends on, so the deal and the license don't pull in different directions.

What we help with

New license applications for stores, restaurants, bars and hotels

License transfers when a licensed business is bought or sold, including escrow arrangements

Specially Designated Merchant (SDM) and Specially Designated Distributor (SDD) licenses for gas stations, party stores and markets

On-premises licenses for restaurants, bars and hospitality businesses

Local municipal approval and ownership or officer changes reported to the Commission

Start before you sign

The most expensive licensing problems begin before anyone applies: a purchase agreement with no license contingency, or a lease that doesn't allow the use you plan. If you have a deal in front of you, send it to us first and we'll tell you what the license will require.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Every license request is different, and timelines and requirements depend on the license type and the municipality.