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On-Premise Resort Licenses - MCL 436.1531
About On-Premise Resort Licenses
MCL 436.1531 grants MLCC the power to issue a limited number of liquor licenses to stimulate economic development and tourism.  

On-Premise Resort Licenses may be issued for Class C, B-Hotel, A-Hotel, and Tavern classifications.  While the original 550 On-Premise Resort Licenses may be transferred to a new location, it is not possible to transfer the location of any new On-Premise Resort or Resort Economic Development Licenses.  All types of On-Premise Resort Licenses may transfer ownership.
 
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No need for a tiki bar.
Resorts come in all types.
Availability
On-Premise Resort Licenses are very limited in number.  

There are 550 of the "original" transferable On-Premise Resort Licenses.

Up to 5 new non-transferable On-Premise Resort Licenses may be issued each year.

Up to 15 new "Resort Economic Development Licenses" may be issued each year.
On-Premise Resort License Types
In addition to the various "classifications" of On-Premise Licenses (e.g. Class C, Tavern), On-Premise Resort Licenses are furthered divided into three types:
  1. Original Transferable Resort Licenses - MCL 436.1531(2)
  2. Non-Transferable On-Premise Resorts - MCL 436.1531(3)
  3. Resort Economic Development Licenses - MCL 436.1531(4)

Applying for an On-Premise Resort License
The process for obtaining an On-Premise Resort License is similar to the process of applying for a Quota On-Premise License.

An application must be submitted with a $70 inspection fee; however, it is not necessary to submit the license fee until and unless a Resort License is issued.

While the annual renewal fees for Resort Licenses are the same as those for their quota-limited counterparts, the initial license fee is much higher - $20,000.

In the event that a Resort License is not issued in the year that an applicant submits the application, the applicant may request that the commission carry over the application from one year until the next.
 
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Palm Trees are Optional
Requirements for On-Premise Resort Licenses
Applicants for a specific type of On-Premise Resort Liquor License must meet the qualifications for both a regular quota license and a resort license.  For example, an applicant for an Resort Tavern License must meet the qualifications for a Quota Tavern License.  
Additional Resort License requirements:


For any new On-Premise Resort License
Applicants must:
  • Be an establishment "designed to attract and accommodate tourists and visitors to [a] resort area"
  • Show the number of employees currently employed or the number of employees who will be hired
  • Describe the number, type, and variety of meals offered daily
  • Indicate the number of months the dining room will operate
  • Describe the recreation facilities at or near the establishment and list any facilities in which the applicant has a financial interest
  • List the number of sleeping, meeting, banquet, conference, and convention rooms at the facility
  • Submit two 5 x 7 photographs showing the interior and exterior of the premises (if not constructed, must show blueprints to the investigator).

For a Non-Transferrable On-Premise Resort License 
In addition to the requirements above, the applicant must:
  • If Class C or Tavern: Have seating capacity of 100, or 50 in counties with a population of less than 50,000.
  • If A-Hotel or B-Hotel: Have seating capacity of 50, if dining facilities are present
  • The business must have a capital investment of at least $75,000 in the real property leasehold improvements and fixtures for the premises.

For a Resort Economic Development License
In addition to the requirements above, the applicant must:
  • Have at least $1,500,000 investment in real property, leasehold improvements, fixtures, and inventory.
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