Temporary Liquor Permit Expansion Enacted into Law
The NYC Hospitality Alliance has important news to share – we secured another important victory!
Today, Governor Hochul signed legislation that we passionately advocated for that expands access to temporary liquor permits in NYC. Up until now, businesses in most parts of NYC could only qualify for a temporary liquor permit if their premises had an active SLA license within the past two years. The new law eliminates that two-year requirement. This update goes into effect immediately. Now, businesses are eligible for a temporary liquor permit even if their premises never had a prior SLA license.
What does this mean?
A temporary liquor permit (officially known as a Temporary Retail Permit) allows a business with a pending liquor license application to sell and serve alcohol while their permanent license application is pending. Instead of having to wait the 8+ months that it currently takes for SLA to issue a permanent license, businesses that apply and are eligible under the new law can expect to receive their Temporary Retail Permit roughly 3-4 months after filing with SLA.
This is critically important because it will help new businesses open much faster, so they don’t burn through their opening capital waiting, fill vacant storefronts, employ people sooner, and start generating tax revenue earlier, without compromising on community engagement, while SLA processes the permanent license application.
History Reminder…
This is actually the second time in recent years that access to Temporary Retail Permits for NYC businesses has been expanded. A few years ago, The NYC Hospitality Alliance scored a victory that involved the first expansion of Temporary Retail Permit eligibility in the five boroughs. Before that victory, the only way to get a Temporary Retail Permit in NYC was to buy someone else's business. That restriction was unique to NYC - new businesses in the rest of the state were eligible for Temporary Retail Permits with virtually no restrictions. We have long argued that it is unfair to treat NYC businesses differently than businesses in the rest of the state. That first victory was a good and fair first step, and this second victory continues that important precedent.
More Good News…
The law will also extend the duration of Temporary Retail Permits from 90 to 180 days. The legislation will reduce paperwork for applicants, while also reducing fees by doubling the length of the original permit while keeping the fees the same.
Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of The NYC Hospitality Alliance, issued the following statement that was included in Governor Hochul’s press release: "Expanding access to temporary liquor permits in NYC is a very important policy that will fill vacant storefronts and let new restaurants open faster, employ people sooner, and start generating tax revenue earlier, without compromising on community engagement, while the State Liquor Authority processes the official licenses. Thank you, Governor Hochul, Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, for your leadership and enacting this critical economic development legislation. Cheers!”
Max Bookman of Pesetsky & Bookman PC, general and legislative counsel to The NYC Hospitality Alliance, made the following statement: "Not only does this law apply to new business going forward, but it also applies retroactively to any business that currently has an application pending with SLA that was not previously eligible but now is under the terms of the new law. Those businesses are now also free to file for a Temporary Retail Permit. We know that our colleagues at the Liquor Authority will work to quickly implement the new law, bringing relief to thousands of pending license applicants who are now eligible."