Liquor licenses are issued by the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission (OLCC) and require endorsement from the local government where alcohol will be served. Note: We are only authorized to endorse applications for service within Bend city limits. If your event is outside of our city limits, liquor license endorsements are processed by Deschutes County.

Are you looking to sell alcohol as part of your business? Visit the Regular Liquor License page.

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Important Deadlines

To get a Temporary Special Event Liquor License, submit your application at least two (2) weeks before your event.

Events with Multiple Vendors or Multiple Dates

If you’re an event organizer with multiple vendors needing liquor licenses, or you need a liquor license for a series of event dates:

  • Collect all the vendor liquor license applications and/or individual event applications. They can be different types. Make sure your vendors don’t submit their applications separately.
  • Submit them together with your own Temporary Sales License application from the OLCC. If your event has more than 500 attendees, you will need to submit an Operational Plan as well. If your event is outdoors, you will need to submit a map of the event. The map should show the licensed area and how its boundaries will be marked.You’ll only need to pay a single $25 application fee since the review process will be the same for all of them.

Indoor Events

If your event is indoors, include the Indoor Event Questionnaire with your application to speed up the review process. You may need a temporary change of occupancy permit if you are holding your event in a space not designed for gatherings as its primary purpose. Examples include, a swap meet in a production facility, a concert in a retail store, an auction in a storage building, etc.

Outdoor Events

If your event is outdoors, you need to include a map of the event.

Nonprofit and Charity Events

If you are a nonprofit or charitable organization, please refer to the OLCC for their requirements, however, you can email us at licensing@bendoregon.gov for consultation. We will check to see if there are any changes, permits or other licenses needed for your event.

For more information, see the OLCC’s Special Events Guide for Temporary Liquor Licenses and Exempt Events.

Temporary Liquor License Steps

1 Apply for a Liquor License through the OLCC

Visit CAMP, the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission’s (OLCC) system to apply for a Temporary Special Event Liquor License.

2 Submit “Local Government Recommendation – Special Event License” Form

As part of your liquor license application through the OLCC, you will get a Local Government Recommendation - Special Event License Form packet to fill out with your business and contact information. When ready, send it to us for review and approval.

Fees:

Application Processing: $25

Processing Time:

Staff Review: Two (2) weeks

Step 1: Under Choose the Licensing type, select Specialty Licenses and Program. Fill in the basic information for your business and continue to the next step.

Step 2: Under Classifications, select State Liquor License Endorsement.

Step 3: Check the box for State Liquor License Endorsement Temporary.

Step 4 – Step 7: Complete the owner and business information.

Step 8: Upload the Local Government Recommendation – Special Event License packet from the OLCC.

Indoor Events: Include the Indoor Event Questionnaire to speed up the review process.

Outdoor Events: Include an Event Map.

Events with 500+ Attendees: Include an Operational Plan and Event Map. This applies to both indoor and outdoor events.

You can find all the necessary forms on the OLCC’s website.

Step 9: Review information and submit application.

Step 10: Visit your shopping cart to pay the $25 application processing fee.

3 City Staff Review

After you submit your application and pay the processing fee, we will review all the information for health and safety compliance. Any required revisions will be communicated through your application via the Online Permit Center Portal.

4 Upload Endorsed Local Government Recommendation Form

Once our staff have finished their review and any required revisions have been made, you must submit your approved application to the OLCC, along with any additional documents your event may require. This may include an Operational Plan and Event Map. Upload the endorsed Local Government Recommendation Application to the OLCC with your liquor license application to finish your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a liquor license for my event?
Do I need a liquor license if I'm serving alcohol for free at my event?
I'm expecting under 20 people at my event. Do I need a liquor license to sell alcohol?
What are the application requirements for an indoor event?
What are the requirements for an outdoor event?
What needs to be included in the map of my outdoor event?

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