Ann Harris Bennett
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar

Alcoholic Beverage License and Permits

The alcoholic beverage industry in Texas is regulated by The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).You can find The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code and Rules.

Rules related specifically to Tax Collector Billings for beer, wine and liquor licenses can also be found on the TABC website.

Beer and Wine

Collection of fees for establishments serving beer and wine within Harris County is governed by Title 3, Subtitle B - Chapter 61, Subchapter A - Section 61.36 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, which states that:“(a)The governing body of an incorporated city or town may levy and collect a fee not to exceed one-half of the state fee for each license, except a temporary or agent's beer license, issued for premises located within the city or town. The commissioner’s court of a county may levy and collect a fee equal to one-half the state fee for each license, except a temporary or agent's beer license, issued for premises located within the county...”

Beer and Wine - New Applicant

Applications for Beer and Wine Licenses are available from the TABC at: P.O. Box 13127, Austin, Texas 78711. Your local office, which is listed on the TABC website, will advise you how to begin the process.

Beer and Wine - Renewal

In order for the Tax Office to process your license renewal you must provide payment in the form of cash, check, cashier’s check or money order to one of the addresses below.

Renewals by mail should be addressed to:

Ann Harris Bennett, Tax Assessor-Collector
Attn: Beer & Wine
P.O. Box 4663
Houston, Texas 77210-4663


To submit in person, go to:

Harris County Tax Office
1001 Preston, 1st floor
cashier windows 15-19

Please do not send cash by mail. Checks and money orders should be made payable to ‘Ann Harris Bennett Tax Assessor-Collector’.

Following is the fee chart associated with your county beer and wine license:

Beer LicensesCounty FeeRenewal License Fee
BF - RETAIL DEALER'S OFF-PREMISE LICENSE$60.00$60.00
BE - RETAIL DEALER'S ON-PREMISE LICENSE$1,000.00$750.00
BG - WINE AND MAILT BEVERAGE RETAILER'S PERMIT$1,000.00$750.00
BQ - WINE AND MALT BEVERAGE RETAILER'S OFF-PREMISE PERMIT$60.00$60.00
BP - BREWPUB LICENSE $500.00$500.00
BB - GENERAL DISTRIBUTOR'S LICENSE$300.00$300.00
BC - BRANCH DISTRIBUTOR'S LICENSE$75.00$75.00
BW-BREWER'S LICENSE$1,500.00$1,500.00
SD-BREWER'S SELF-DISTRIBUTION LICENSE$600.00$600.00

Beer and Wine Licenses cannot be renewed earlier than 30 days before the renewal date.

*** Please call our office at (713) 274-8150 or email us at bwlpermits@tax.hctx.net with any questions concerning license renewal.

Liquor

Permits for establishments that serve liquor within Harris County are governed by Title 3, Subtitle A - Chapter 11, Subchapter A - Section 11.38, of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, which states that: “(a) The governing body of a city or town may levy and collect a fee not to exceed one-half the state fee for each permit issued for premises located within the city or town. The commissioners court of a county may levy and collect a fee equal to one-half of the state fee for each permit issued for premises located within the county.. .”

Liquor- New Applicant

Applications for liquor licenses are available from the TABC at P.O. Box 13127, Austin, Texas 78711.Your local office, which is listed on the TABC website, will advise you how to begin the application process.

Liquor- Renewal

Renewals for the Harris County permit can be processed by mail, or in person at the downtown location.

Renewals by mail should be addressed to:

Ann Harris Bennett, Tax Assessor-Collector
Attn: Beer & Wine
P.O. Box 4663
Houston, Texas 77210-4663


To submit in person, go to:

Harris County Tax Office
1001 Preston, 1st floor
cashier windows 15-19

In order for the Tax Office to process your request, you must provide payment in the form of cash, check, cashier’s check or money order.

Note: Checks and money orders should be made payable to ‘Ann Harris Bennett Tax Assessor-Collector’. Please do not send cash by mail.

Please call our office at (713) 274-8150 with any questions concerning license renewal.

The county fee is equal to one-half the state permit fee, as authorized by Alcoholic Beverage Code, Section 11.38a. Following is a fee chart associated with your county liquor permit

Liquor PermitsCounty Fee (1 yr)County Fee (2 yr)
J/JD - BONDED WAREHOUSE$75.00$150.00
WP- WATER PARK PERMIT$15.00$30.00
D - DISTILLER'S & RECTIFIER'S$750.00$1,500.00
LP - LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR'S$50.00$100.00
S-NONRESIDENT SELLER'S PERMIT$75.00$150.00
MB - MIXED BEVERAGE********
AW-MANUFACTURE'S AGENT'S WAREHOSING PERMIT$375.00$750.00
P - PACKAGE STORE$250.00$500.00
Q - WINE ONLY PACKAGE STORE PERMIT$37.50$75.00
W - WHOLESALER'S PERMIT$937.50$1,875.00
X - GENERAL CLASS B WHOLESALER'S PERMIT$150.00$300.00
PR-PROMOTIONAL PERMIT$37.50$75.00
G - WINERY PERMIT$37.50$75.00

*** Please call our office at (713) 274-8150 or email us at bwlpermits@tax.hctx.net with any questions concerning license renewal.

CONTACT THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE
Main Telephone Number:
713-274-8000
Military Help Desk:
713-274- HERO (4376)
Hours:
Downtown and Branch Offices normal hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM through 4:30 PM

Location of Branch Offices:
All branch locations can be found on our homepage
Customer Service E-mail Address:
tax.office@hctx.net (Property tax questions only)
Automobile Title/License:
Ann Harris Bennett Tax Assessor-Collector
P.O. Box 4089 Houston, Texas 77210-4089
Autotdmv@hctx.net

Property Tax Payments:
Ann Harris Bennett Tax Assessor-Collector
P.O. Box 4622 Houston, Texas 77210-4622
Property Tax Correspondence:
Ann Harris Bennett Tax Assessor-Collector
P.O. Box 4663 Houston, Texas 77210-4663

Open Government

In our commitment to open government, we invite open records requests in writing. Click here to access an Open Records Request form.
Once you have completed the form listing the requested information, you may mail it to:
Harris County Tax Office,
P.O. Box 2109.
Houston, Texas 77210-2109.

Please do not include open records requests with any other Tax Office correspondence.