HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania is opening bidding on 10 expired restaurant liquor licenses under new rules that, for the first time, allow licenses to be transferred across county lines.
What This Means for You
- Businesses can bid on liquor licenses and move them to different counties
- Minimum bids start at $25,000, with additional transfer fees required
- Sealed bids are due by noon Monday, June 15
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced the auction as part of changes enacted under Act 56 of 2025, which requires at least one annual “excess auction” for unsold licenses.
An excess auction includes licenses that previously received no bids and allows them to be resold with added flexibility, including relocation to other counties for an additional fee.
How the Auction Works
The 10 licenses available in this round are located in Armstrong, Cambria, Cameron, Greene, Northumberland, Somerset, Sullivan, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
Each license carries a minimum bid of $25,000. Bidders must also submit a bid surety — a financial guarantee — of $5,000 or 5% of the total bid, whichever is higher.
Sealed bids must be submitted by noon on Monday, June 15, and will be opened Wednesday, June 17.
Winning bidders will have up to 30 days to submit payment and up to six months to complete the application process.
New Cross-County Transfer Option
Under the updated law, bidders may request to transfer a license to another county by listing up to five preferred counties on their bid.
Counties are categorized by population size, known as “classes,” which determine transfer fees:
- $50,000 for transfers into larger counties (first through fourth class)
- $25,000 for transfers into smaller counties (fifth through eighth class)
No more than two licenses can be transferred into a single county each year through this process, with priority given to the highest bidders.
Auction Background
This marks the 15th liquor license auction since the state authorized the process in 2016.
Previous auctions required licenses to remain within the county where they expired. The new rules are intended to increase demand and provide more flexibility for businesses seeking licenses in areas with limited availability.
Where to Learn More
Details on the auction process and application requirements are available at https://www.pa.gov/services/lcb/submit-a-bid-for-an-expired-pennsylvania-restaurant-liquor-license.html and https://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us/Solicitations.aspx?SID=260380.
Questions must be submitted by noon Thursday, May 7, with responses posted May 14 on the state’s procurement website.
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