26-01: Liquor Licence Renewal Fee Update

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Liquor Update:

These changes apply to the following:

  • All liquor licensees who pay liquor licence renewal fees
  • All individuals required to have Serving It Right (SIR) and Special Event Server (SES) certification.

What’s changing

To support timely, consistent, and modernized licensing services, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) is implementing a necessary update to annual liquor licence renewal fees.

As of May 1, 2026, liquor licence renewal fees will increase – for the first time since 2010. Most renewal fees vary based on how much liquor a business purchases or produces each year. For most licensees, this change will result in a modest adjustment to their annual renewal fee.

Nearly half of all hospitality (purchased-based) licensees fall within the lowest fee tier, where an increase would result in an annual change of approximately $75.

Manufacturer licence renewal fees are based on production volume, meaning increases vary depending on production size, with larger producers seeing higher increases under the updated fee structure.

A detailed fee table is included at the end of this Bulletin.

No other licensing fee categories are changing, and this update does not introduce annual indexing.

In addition, effective May 1, 2026, a $5 increase is also being applied to the Serving It Right and Special Event Server training programs. This change will help sustain program delivery through service providers and enable necessary program enhancements.

Why now

The LCRB operates on a self-sustaining model, with renewal fees funding licensing, compliance, enforcement, policy development, and digital system modernization. As fees have not changed in over 15 years, this adjustment will help maintain timely, reliable, licensing services and support continued improvements to how we regulate and serve the industry.

Service improvements you can expect

Over the coming year (fiscal year 2026/27), renewal fees will fund new service improvements that matter to licensees — including faster licensing processes, clearer timelines, and practical tools that make it easier to stay compliant and operate with confidence.

Streamlined Licensing and Stronger Compliance Through Digital Innovation

  • A faster, clearer, online licensing portal with built-in-checks to catch incomplete or missing documents, application status indicators, and improved accessibility and performance.
  • Improved tools for local governments to review licence applications — helping them make licensing application decisions faster and more easily.
  • Practical compliance tools that make it easier to stay compliant and avoid common high-risk issues such as service to minors and certification gaps:
    • AI support built directly into the licensing portal to quickly answer general regulatory questions and help licensees understand due diligence in day-to-day operations.
    • A mobile-friendly digital Serving It Right credential for secure, on-phone proof during inspections — eliminating the need for paper records.

Transparent Service Standards and Clearer Licensing Timelines

  • Weekly public updates on our website showing which application dates are currently under review for Food Primary, Liquor Primary, Manufacturing, Cannabis Retail Store, Producer Retail Store, and Cannabis Marketing licences.
    • Reporting to include additional licence types as systems and data improve.
  • Defined service standards that tell how quickly applications will be checked and assigned for review.
    • Applications requiring an occupant load stamp receive a completeness decision within 5 business days of receipt.
    • Complete Food Primary applications (with occupant load stamp) assigned to a case manager within 10 business days of receipt (compared to an average of 32 business days in 2025).
    • Complete Liquor Primary, Manufacturer, and change applications assigned to an analyst within 20 business days of receipt (compared to an average of 60 business days in 2025).
    • Temporary change applications with local government approval are processed within 5 business days of receipt — supporting planning certainty for special events, including FIFA.
  • Eliminated application backlog so applications move to review faster, and licensing timelines improve.

Helpful information

The updated fee will apply to liquor licences expiring on or after May 1, 2026.

Renewal requirements and timelines remain unchanged. Licensees will continue to receive a reminder when their licence is up for renewal. Licensees can renew their licenses through the liquor and cannabis licensing portal.