Liquor Licenses – Establishments

Departments

Overview

Liquor and Beer Licenses are required by State Statutes Chapter 125. The licenses are issued yearly from July 1 to June 30. The Town’s Municipal Code outlines local regulations in chapter 12

Wisconsin Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Laws for Retailers pamphlet (PDF).

Liquor License Application Forms

To apply for a new or renewal license, begin with form AB-200, the application for the organization / establishment and read the instructions on the final pages, which will indicate when to also include AB-100 or AB-101.  Once all application materials are complete, please bundle / package them together for submission with the AB-200 on top.  Please do not staple forms together.  Applications may be delivered in person, mailed, or emailed to the Clerk, and will be processed once payment and any needed background checks, public notices and board approvals are complete.   See below for links to the forms:

AB-200 Alcohol Beverage License Application (State Form) PDF

AB-100 Alcohol Beverage Individual Application (State Form) PDF

AB-101 Alcohol Beverage Appointment of Agent (State Form) PDF

Note: The Agent assigned to represent and speak on behalf of a business does not need to apply for a separate bartender / operator’s license to be the agent.  Such a license will be issued to the agent as a result of the establishment’s approval.  

Types of Alcohol and Liquor Licenses

  • Class “A” (beer) – $100 annually (+$15 non-refundable publication fee), licensees may sell beer to consumers in original packages or containers for off-premises consumption only.  Requires Board approval.
  • Class “B” (beer) – $100 annually (+$15 non-refundable publication fee), licensees may sell beer to consumers for on-premises or off-premises consumption.  Requires Board approval.  
  • Temporary Class “B” (Picnic) – $10 per event, licensees may sell beer and other fermented malt beverages to consumers at a picnic or similar gathering for a limited duration. Such licenses may only be issues to “bonafide clubs, to county or local fair associations or agriculture societies, to churches, lodges or societies that have been in existence for at least six months … and to veterans’ organizations.”  Does not require Board approval.  
    Temporary Class “B” (Picnic) License Application
  • “Class A” (liquor) – $500 annually (+$15 non-refundable publication fee), licensees may sell intoxicating liquor to consumers only in original packages or containers for off-premises consumption.  Requires Board approval.
  • “Class B” (liquor) – $500 annually (+$15 non-refundable publication fee), licensees may sell intoxicating liquor to consumers by glass for on-premises consumption. The Town has a state-imposed limit for how many “Class B” liquor licenses (liquor for on-premises consumption) may be issued.  As a result, the Town has a few different classification opportunities for such licenses, including offering “reserve” licenses, and special licenses created in conjunction with economic development.   For more information, contact the Town Clerk or Town Administrator.  Requires Board approval.
  • “Class C” (wine) – $100 annually (+$15 non-refundable publication fee), licensees may sell wine by the glass or in an opened original container for consumption on premises where sold. “Class C” wine licenses may only be granted to restaurants in which the sale of alcohol beverages accounts for less than 50 percent of receipt.

Temporary Extension of Premises

A current alcohol licensee may apply for a temporary change in their premise description and boundaries for specific promotions, events, etc.  For example, a restaurant that wishes to participate in a multi-restaurant community event outdoors and serve alcohol near its building but in an area not located within the restaurant’s normal service boundaries, requesting a temporary extension of premises is an option.  The Town of Brookfield has the discretion to approve or disapprove the change with any standard or special conditions necessary.  Requires approval from the Town Board, so these requests may take several weeks to process.  If your need for a temporary extension of premises is less than 30 days away, please connect with the Clerk directly to work out an expected approval timeline. 

Fee: $50/application

Application: Licensed Establishment Temporary Extension of Premises Application

Publication Fee

Liquor license applicants requiring publication in the local newspaper will be charged an additional non-refundable $15.

Special Meeting Fee

Should your establishment require a special meeting that does not fall on the 1st or 3rd Tuesday of the month, a fee of $250 will be charged. 

Late Fee for Renewals

Liquor License (Establishment) renewals paperwork and fees are due on June 13th. When a licensed establishment fails to file renewal paperwork, this will result in a fee of $20.00 per day until the full application and fees are submitted.  

Licensed Establishments

The State of Wisconsin requires the Town to report a listing of establishments licensed to sell alcohol and/or tobacco.