A Florida Quota License, often referred to as a “quota liquor license,” is a type of alcoholic beverage license issued by the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (DABT) under Florida Statute § 561.20(1). It allows the holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor for consumption either on-premises (e.g., at a bar or restaurant) or off-premises (e.g., at a package store), without the restrictions tied to other license types, such as food sales percentages or specific business qualifications. These licenses are highly sought after due to their versatility and transferability within the county of issuance.
The “quota” aspect comes from their limited availability, determined by county population. Florida law generally allocates one new quota license per county for every 7,500-person increase in population, though some counties have unique legislative modifications. This scarcity creates a competitive market, as the number of licenses doesn’t grow quickly enough to meet demand, especially in high-growth areas.
There are two primary ways to obtain a quota license: purchasing an existing one from a current holder or entering the annual quota license lottery. Buying an existing license can be expensive—prices range from $50,000 to over $500,000 depending on the county’s market dynamics, with hotspots like Miami-Dade or Palm Beach often at the higher end. The lottery, held each year with an entry period typically opening in August, offers a cheaper entry point ($100 per application per county), but the odds are slim due to thousands of entrants vying for a handful of licenses—54 were available across 32 counties in 2024, for example. Winners must then apply within 45 days, pass background checks, and pay a $10,750 activation fee plus annual renewal fees (ranging from $28 to $1,820, county-dependent).
These licenses are county-specific and can’t be moved outside their designated area, but they can be sold or transferred, fueling a secondary market where some enter the lottery just to resell at a profit. For businesses, they’re a golden ticket—unrestricted by the operational limits of special licenses (e.g., the 51% food sales rule for Special Restaurant Licenses)—making them ideal for bars, nightclubs, or standalone liquor stores. As of today, March 29, 2025, this system remains the backbone of Florida’s liquor licensing framework, balancing regulation with economic opportunity.
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