Pennsylvania liquor license types, in plain words
What each PLCB license or permit allows, in the statute's own words, with a note on who usually holds it. Every filing on the Pennsylvania page is labeled this way.
R · H · E · C · D · ID · LK · Public Venue · Performing Arts · CCRC
Restaurant, full bar (R)
"Restaurant" shall mean a reputable place operated by responsible persons of good reputation and habitually and principally used for the purpose of providing food for the public, the place to have an area within a building of not less than four hundred square feet, equipped with tables and chairs, including bar seats, accommodating at least thirty persons at one time.
The bar and restaurant license, spirits included. County quota, so most new holders bought or transferred one; a real opening either way.
Hotel, full bar (H)
"Hotel" shall mean any reputable place operated by responsible persons of good reputation where the public may, for a consideration, obtain sleeping accommodations and meals and which, in a city, has at least ten, and in any other place at least six, permanent bedrooms for the use of guests, a public dining room or rooms operated by the same management accommodating at least thirty persons at one time, and a kitchen, apart from the public dining room or rooms, in which food is regularly prepared for the public.
A hotel's bar and dining room; outside the county quota.
Eating place, beer only (E)
"Eating place" shall mean a premise where food is regularly and customarily prepared and sold, having a total area of not less than three hundred square feet available to the public in one or more rooms, other than living quarters, and equipped with tables and chairs, including bar seats, accommodating thirty persons at one time. "Retail dispenser" shall mean any person licensed to engage in the retail sale of malt or brewed beverages for consumption on the premises of such licensee, with the privilege of selling malt or brewed beverages in quantities not in excess of one hundred ninety-two fluid ounces in a single sale to one person, to be carried from the premises by the purchaser thereof.
Beer and wine-cooler pours, no spirits; pizza shops, diners and taprooms without an R.
Private club (C)
"Club" shall mean any reputable group of individuals associated together not for profit for legitimate purposes of mutual benefit, entertainment, fellowship or lawful convenience, having some primary interest and activity to which the sale of liquor or malt and brewed beverages shall be only secondary ...
Lodges, posts and social clubs; members and guests.
Beer distributor, cases to go (D)
"Distributor" shall mean any person licensed by the board to engage in the purchase only from Pennsylvania manufacturers and from importing distributors and the resale of malt or brewed beverages, except to importing distributors and distributors.
Pennsylvania's beer store, not a wholesaler; sells cases, kegs and now six-packs to the public.
Importing beer distributor (ID)
"Importing distributor" shall mean any person licensed by the board to engage in the purchase from manufacturers and other persons located outside this Commonwealth and from persons licensed as manufacturers of malt or brewed beverages and importing distributors under this act, and the resale of malt or brewed beverages.
A beer store that can also bring beer in from out of state and sell to other distributors.
Winery, up to 200,000 gallons (LK)
"Limited winery" shall mean a winery with a maximum output of two hundred thousand (200,000) gallons per year.
A Pennsylvania winery; tasting room and satellite locations come with the license.
Stadium or arena restaurant (public venue)
"Public venue" shall mean a stadium, arena, convention center, museum, zoo, amphitheater or amusement park ... situated on at least forty (40) acres of land regardless of seating capacity, or similar structure.
Concessions and restaurants inside a large venue.
Theater or concert hall bar
"Performing arts facilities" shall mean those halls or theaters in which live musical, concert, dance, ballet and legitimate play book-length productions are performed. Performing arts facilities shall not mean those halls or theaters in which burlesque shows or reviews are performed.
Lobby and intermission bars.
Retirement community dining room
"Continuing care retirement community" shall mean the building or complex operated by a nonprofit entity incorporated under 15 Pa.C.S. Pt. II Subpt. C (relating to nonprofit corporations) which primarily houses persons over the age of sixty-two. At least one hundred persons residing in the building or complex must be over the age of sixty-two.
A dining room and lounge for residents and guests.
Source: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/1951/0/0021..HTM, checked 2026-09-21.
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