Liquor-serving establishments

The role of the Province and the City

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  The Province

  The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) issues licences in BC for making and selling liquor and regulates the service of liquor in licensed establishments.

  The branch alone is responsible for deciding if you will receive a licence.

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  The City of Vancouver

  The City plays a significant role. The LCRB is required to consider specific community needs in deciding whether to issue or change a liquor licence. For some applications, such as new liquor primary establishments, this includes asking the city to provide a resolution that considers the following:

  • Establishment's location
  • Person-capacity of the proposed establishment
  • Operating hours requested
  • Views of local residents and businesses
  • Proximity to other social or recreational facilities
  • Number of other licensed establishments in the area
  • Potential traffic, noise, and parking problems
  • Population density and trends
  • Impact on the community if the application is approved

Policy changes

• December 2023 - Council repealed the Liquor Licence Capacity and Location Policy and Guidelines and adopted the Policy on Establishments with Provincial Liquor Primary Licences (Appendix A PDF file (1.8 MB) to modernize the City’s regulatory framework for liquor establishments. This included removing distance requirements on all liquor establishment licences citywide including lifting the moratorium on new liquor establishments and seat expansions at existing establishments in the Granville Entertainment District and the Chinatown, Gastown, Industrial, Thornton Park, and Victory Square areas as defined by the Liquor Policy for the Downtown Eastside.
• November 2023 - The sale of wine on shelves in grocery stores is now permitted for stores that meet provincial regulations and licensing and have a valid municipal business licence.

Note Select your business type below to learn how the changes may affect your business.

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  Liquor primary including non-alcohol dance hall

  General

  Liquor primary patio seats 

  If you have a patio and would like to increase the number of seats, apply to the City for an amendment to your development permit, and to the Province for an amendment to your liquor licence.

  Contact the Development and Building Services Centre for further information.

  Downtown Eastside (DTES)

  In the DTES, establishments with existing patios may increase the number of seats on their patios by moving them from inside to the patio with no net gain in liquor seats. 

  Effective December 2023, new liquor establishments are permitted and existing establishments may apply to increase the number of seats in their establishment. 

  Granville Entertainment District (GED)

  In the GED, establishments may apply to build a patio; it must meet citywide patio requirements.

  Effective December 2023, new liquor establishments are permitted and existing establishments may apply to increase the number of seats in their establishment. 

  Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

  Contact the Licence Office at 604-871-6988 for further details about patios in the DTES and GED.

  Non-alcoholic dance halls

  Effective May 31, alcohol-free dance halls will be permitted to operate throughout downtown Vancouver on zoning-compliant sites. These alcohol-free dance halls will help provide musicians and other live performers with more rehearsal and performance spaces. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

  Hours extensions

  We will issue up to six approvals for LP hours extensions at one time. Contact the Licence Office at 604-871-6988 for more information.

  Offer standard size drinks

  Establishments are encouraged to offer standard size drinks. 

  Low strength drink options

  Establishments are encouraged to offer low strength drink options and provide free soft drinks to designated drivers.

  General: Effective May 2018

  The following policy changes are in effect May 2, 2018. 

  Display size and strength of drinks

  To help patrons be better informed when making drink choices, establishments that serve alcoholic beverages are required to publish drink sizes and strengths.

  This can either be the standard drink equivalent or percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV), and must include all wine, beer, and spirits available at the establishment. Learn more by reading the staff report, page 9 PDF file  (1.4 MB).

  Liquor stores

  Existing liquor stores may relocate within the area provided that only one store is in Strathcona and one combined store is in the sub-areas of Gastown, Victory Square, Industrial, Chinatown, and Thornton Park.

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  Food primary

  Live entertainment

  Your business may offer live entertainment until 1am. The Licence By-law was amended on July 25, 2017, and the Noise By-law was amended on May 2, 2018, to reflect this change .

  Offer standard size drinks

  Establishments are encouraged to offer standard size drinks. Learn more about standard size drinks at Standard Drink External website, opens in new tab and Rethink Your Drinking External website, opens in new tab.

  Low strength drink options

  Establishments are encouraged to offer low strength drink options and provide free soft drinks to designated drivers.

  Effective May 2018

  The following policy changes are in effect May 2, 2018. 

  Display drink size and strength

  To help patrons be better informed when making drink choices, establishments that serve alcoholic beverages are required to publish drink sizes and strengths.

  This can either be the standard drink equivalent or percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV), and must include all drinks available at the establishment. Learn more by reading the staff report, page 9 PDF file  (1.4 MB).

  Evening hours LP licence

  Important note June 2022 - Food primaries with up a seating capacity up to 150 persons in the GED and DTES are now eligible to apply.

  We are now supporting applications from existing restaurants with food primary liquor licences to operate under liquor primary licences after 9pm provided that they meet the our existing procedural and policy standards for liquor primary licences.

  Restaurants with established track records of good business operation who obtain an evening hours liquor primary licence will be allowed to apply for an extended hours liquor primary licence after 3 months as opposed to waiting 6 months.

  Shortened liquor service hours probation period for experienced operators

  Restaurant operators that have an established track record of adherence to by-laws and terms and conditions of their business licence who open a new restaurant will be considered for exemption of a liquor service hours probation period.

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  Non-traditional liquor primary licences

  As of December 2023, businesses that typically receive customers on site such as spas, barbers, and bookstores may apply for a non-traditional liquor licence.

  Previously, only arts and culture businesses like art galleries and retail art dealers were eligible for a licence. 

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  Liquor manufacturers

  Operate lounge until midnight

  You may now apply to operate your lounge until midnight. If you want to operate until midnight, apply to the City for an amendment to your development permit, and to the Province for an amendment to your lounge endorsement. Contact the Development and Building Services Centre for further information.

  Extended hours for special occasions up to six times per year

  You may now apply for extended hours at your lounge for up to six special occasions per year.

  Expanded seating 

  You may now apply for expanded seating at your lounge for area-wide cultural events. 

  Sell at artisans' markets

  Artisans’ markets are now allowed to host up to three liquor manufacturers to sell and sample their products.

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  Retail liquor stores

  Liquor store guidelines

  No additional liquor stores will be allowed in the DTES.  

  Existing liquor stores may expand or relocate in the DTES.

  Relocations should not result in more than one store in Strathcona, and one in the combined sub-areas of Gastown, Victory Square, Industrial, Chinatown, and Thornton Park.

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  Grocery stores

  Wine on shelf model in grocery stores

  On October 17, 2023, City Council approved amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law to allow grocery stores to sell wine on shelf.

  Grocery stores in Vancouver that:

  • Meet provincial requirements External website, opens in new tab, including being more than 10,000 square feet
  • Have a provincial wine store licence may now sell wine on shelf

  Note The Province is currently not issuing new wine store licences, so grocery stores will need to get provincial approval to move an existing wine store licence over to a store in Vancouver before they sell wine on shelf. See guidelines in Council report.

  Note A grocery store that sells wine on shelf is not permitted to also operate a store-in-store model.

  Store-in-store model for liquor retail in grocery stores

  On April 17, 2018, City Council approved amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law to permit a new retail definition of a "Grocery Store and Liquor Store", which will permit grocery stores to operate a store-in-store model for liquor sales.

  Existing liquor store location guidelines will remain in effect. Design criteria for liquor stores in grocery stores are in the guidelines. See the Liquor Store Guidelines in the Council report, appendix C PDF file  (1.4 MB).

  Liquor stores located in grocery stores will not be allowed to advertise in a way that minors in the grocery store can see or hear it. Read the Licence By-law PDF file  (390 KB)

  Note All Provincial requirements External website, opens in new tab must be met. 

  Note A grocery store that operates a wine-in-store model is not permitted to also sell wine on shelf.

  Questions? Contact us online

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  Public health, safety, intervention, and education measures

  We are taking the following measures to support public health and safety:

  • Request the Provincial government create and fund liquor-wise education
  • Seek opportunities to work with and support partner organizations in ongoing initiatives to encourage responsible public behaviour
  • Consider the benefits and impacts of restricting liquor advertising on city-owned property
  • Request Vancouver Coastal Health find opportunities to increase the availability of managed drinking programs
  • Increase inspection frequency by City property use inspectors
  • Form multi-agency inspection teams, and seek commitments from the Province to increase provincial liquor inspector resource

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  Past updates

  March 30, 2021 - Council adopted policy changes enabling one-time exceptions for occupant increases to the moratoria in the Granville Entertainment District and the Downtown Eastside and an occupant load increase of up to 30% of current occupant load for Liquor Primary establishments that are in conflict with our distancing policy.

  • Review the staff report PDF file (538 KB) and presentation PDF file (1 MB)
  • Review the Council minutes PDF file (213 KB)
  • Watch the Council meeting video

  May 2, 2018 - Council implemented bylaw amendments affecting establishments that serve and retail liquor.

  • Review the staff report PDF file  (1.5 MB)
  • Review the Council minutes PDF file (140 KB)
  • Watch the Council meeting video part 1 and part 2

  June 14, 2017 - Council adopted policy changes affecting establishments that serve and retail liquor.

  • Review the staff report PDF file  (830 KB)
  • Review the Council minutes PDF file  (344 KB)

  Fall 2016 - Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts on draft actions for the Vancouver Liquor Strategy. Read the result summaries from our liquor surveys.

  • Review the non-random liquor survey PDF file  (64 KB)
  • Review the random liquor survey PDF file  (84 KB)

  Spring 2016 - we asked for initial feedback on our liquor strategy. Our first survey is now closed.

  • Liquor Policy Review – Spring 2016 Consultation Summary PDF file  (346 KB)

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  Rules and regulations about serving liquor

  Local

  • Acoustic Report Guidelines
  • Liquor service on patios
  • Noise control guidelines
  • Business Premises Regulation of Hours Bylaw 8022

  Provincial

  • Liquor Control and Licensing Act External website, opens in new tab
  • Special event permit External website, opens in new tab

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