The 2026 Florida quota liquor license drawing is open. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), through its Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT), has announced 63 new quota (“full”) liquor licenses available across 30 counties. Entries are accepted through the DBPR online portal from August 17, 2026 until 5:00 p.m. EDT on September 30, 2026. (Current as of September 6, 2026.)
What a Florida Quota Liquor License Is
Florida limits the number of licenses that allow the sale of distilled spirits by county population. Those population-limited licenses, commonly called 4COP quota licenses, permit the sale of beer, wine, and liquor for consumption on the premises and in sealed packages. Because the supply is capped by statute, a Florida quota liquor license trades on the private market at prices that, in larger counties, can run well into six figures.
The annual drawing is the only way to obtain a new quota license from the State rather than buying one from an existing holder. That is why the entry period draws restaurant operators, bar owners, hotel groups, and investors every year.
How the 2026 Drawing Works
Selection is by double random public drawing under section 561.19, Florida Statutes, and Rule 61A-5.0105, Florida Administrative Code. The key rules are:
- The entry fee is $100 per entry and is nonrefundable.
- An entrant may hold a direct or indirect interest in only one entry per county. Related entities or family members entering the same county can jeopardize every entry.
- An entrant may enter in more than one county, paying a separate fee for each.
- DBPR will announce the drawing date after the entry period closes.
- Selection grants the right to apply for the license. It does not, by itself, constitute issuance of the license.
2026 Florida Quota Liquor License Availability by County
Licenses available by county (number in parentheses):
- Alachua County (1)
- Brevard County (3)
- Broward County (4)
- Charlotte County (2)
- Collier County (1)
- Dade County (5)
- Duval County (3)
- Flagler County (1)
- Franklin County (1)
- Hillsborough County (3)
- Jackson County (1)
- Lake County (3)
- Lee County (2)
- Leon County (1)
- Manatee County (2)
- Marion County (2)
- Okaloosa County (1)
- Orange County (3)
- Osceola County (4)
- Palm Beach County (2)
- Pasco County (2)
- Polk County (5)
- Santa Rosa County (1)
- Sarasota County (1)
- St. Johns County (3)
- St. Lucie County (1)
- Sumter County (1)
- Suwannee County (1)
- Volusia County (2)
- Walton County (1)
What Happens If You Are Selected
A selected entrant must file a full and complete application for the license within 45 days of the selection notice. That application goes through the full ABT licensing review: a premises that meets local zoning and distance requirements, a sketch of the licensed premises, background and fingerprint review of the owners, business-entity documentation, and the applicable state fees. Miss the 45-day window or submit an incomplete application and the opportunity is forfeited.
A Florida quota liquor license issued through the drawing is also subject to transfer restrictions and fees under sections 561.19 and 561.32, Florida Statutes. Anyone entering with the intent to resell the license should understand those limits before paying the entry fee.
Why Talk to a Florida Quota Liquor License Attorney Before You Enter
Most problems with the drawing are self-inflicted and avoidable. The entries we see fail typically involve an entity that was not properly formed when the entry was filed, overlapping ownership across multiple entries in the same county, or a selected entrant with no premises lined up and no realistic way to complete the application in 45 days. Getting the entity, ownership structure, and location plan right before September 30 is far cheaper than losing a selection.
Cox Law, PLLC advises restaurant, bar, and hospitality clients on ABT licensing, quota license purchases and transfers, lease and zoning issues tied to licensed premises, and the disputes that follow when a deal goes wrong.
Ready to Enter the 2026 Florida Quota Liquor License Drawing?
The entry window closes at 5:00 p.m. EDT on September 30, 2026. If you are considering an entry, or you have already been selected in a prior drawing and need help with the application, transfer, or purchase of a Florida quota liquor license, Cox Law, PLLC can help. We represent hospitality clients throughout Tampa Bay and across Florida.
Call 813-685-8600 or contact us online to schedule a consultation before the deadline.
This post is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Statutory references and DBPR deadlines should be confirmed against current sources before you rely on them.