(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) is kicking off its busiest license renewal season this week by mailing applications to more than 1,100 businesses.
All alcohol-licensed restaurants, hotels, theaters, museums, trains, boats, clubs and caterers in the District are due to renew licenses no later than Thursday, March 31. Affected businesses should check their mail this week for renewal applications.
“More than half of all alcoholic beverage licenses will need to be renewed by the end of next month,” said ABRA Director Fred Moosally. “We strongly encourage businesses to turn in completed applications as soon as possible. This will help both business owners and the agency to avoid long lines at the end of March.”
In an effort to make the renewal process more convenient for licensees, ABRA will be providing additional office hours on Saturdays during the month of March for renewals to be completed. As a result, licenses can be renewed any time before March 31 during the following hours:
- 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday; and
- 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 12, 19 and 26.
Renewals may only be done in person at ABRA’s office, which is located at:
- 2000 14th St., NW, 4th Floor, Suite 400 South, Washington DC 20009.
Applications not returned by the required deadline will be subject to a late fee beginning Friday, April 1 of $50 per day—not to exceed the cost of the license—and cancellation.
Alcoholic beverage licenses are required to be renewed every three years with all licenses of the same type expiring on the same date. The next sets of licenses requiring renewal will be all taverns and nightclubs, which will be due by Friday, Sept. 30. ABRA will mail renewal notices to taverns and nightclubs in mid-August. A complete schedule of license renewals can be reviewed on ABRA’s website.
More details on license renewals are also available online. Licensees that have questions can contact ABRA by emailing or calling (202) 442-4423.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Cornelius – (202) 442-6954 or email