Ohio calls them permits rather than licenses, and it sorts them into letter and number classes that mean nothing until somebody explains them. Two come up more than any others: the D-5 and the D-6.
They are not alternatives. A D-5 is the permit that lets you sell spirits for on premises consumption. A D-6 is an add on that lets you sell on Sunday. Plenty of Ohio bars hold both, and a new owner usually needs to think about both at once.
Here is what each does, what they cost, and where the quota bites.
What a D-5 permit allows
The Ohio Division of Liquor Control, part of the Department of Commerce, describes the D-5 as covering “spirituous liquor for on premises consumption only, beer, wine and mixed beverages for on premises, or off premises in original sealed containers, until 2:30am.” The division lists the annual fee at $2,344.
In plain terms, a D-5 is the full service permit for a bar, nightclub or restaurant. Spirits are for drinking on site. Beer, wine and mixed beverages can also go out the door in sealed containers. Service can run until 2:30 a.m., which is later than the permits that stop at 1:00 a.m.
That late hour is part of why the D-5 is the permit most operators want. The other D class permits stop earlier unless you add a D-3A:
- D-1: beer only for on premises consumption, or sealed containers to carry out, until 1:00 a.m., $376 a year
- D-2: wine and mixed beverages, same pattern, until 1:00 a.m., $564 a year
- D-3: spirituous liquor for on premises consumption only, until 1:00 a.m., $750 a year
- D-3A: extends permit privileges to 2:30 a.m., and requires at least a D-3, $938 a year
Carryout stores use the C class instead. A C-1 covers beer in sealed containers for carryout until 1:00 a.m. at $252 a year, and a C-2 covers wine and mixed beverages in sealed containers until 1:00 a.m. at $376 a year.
What a D-6 permit allows
A D-6 is the Sunday sales permit. Ohio Revised Code section 4303.182 provides that Sunday sales “authorized under a valid D-6 permit issued prior to, on, or after the effective date of this amendment may occur during the same hours that a permit holder may sell those products on Monday through Saturday.”
Two points matter for planning.
It sits on top of another permit. The statute lists the permit classes that can hold a D-6, including D-2, D-3, D-4 and D-5 variants and C-2 permits, along with special categories such as airports, hotels with 50 or more rooms, sports facilities, fairgrounds, outdoor performing arts centres and ski areas.
It usually depends on a local vote. Issuing a D-6 generally requires prior local approval through a local option election under the sections the statute lists, with exceptions for certain locations such as airports, hotels, fairgrounds, golf courses, ski areas and state parks.
That second point surprises people who assume Sunday trading is a state level question. In Ohio, whether alcohol can be sold on a Sunday in a given precinct can come down to how that precinct voted.
The division lists the D-6 annual fee in the range of $400 to $500 depending on the permit class it attaches to.
Where the quota comes in
Ohio caps the number of certain permits by population. Ohio Revised Code section 4303.29 provides that “one C-1 and C-2 permit shall be issued for each one thousand population or part of that population, and one D-1 and D-2 permit shall be issued for each two thousand population,” and that “not more than one D-3, D-4, or D-5 permit shall be issued for each two thousand population or part of that population.” In cities of 55,000 or more, one D-3 permit may be issued for every 1,500 population.
Several categories sit outside those limits, including permits for municipally owned airports, soldiers’ memorials, golf courses on public land, state fairgrounds, capitol square, the Ohio judicial center and zoological parks. The division also issues specialty D-5 classes, from D-5a through D-5o, aimed at specific venue types such as hotels, shopping malls, airports, museums, restaurants and casinos.
When the quota in your city or township is full, the options are the familiar ones: wait for a permit to become available, look at a quota exempt category if you qualify, or buy an existing permit from a current holder and transfer it. One Ohio law firm reports typical transfer prices in the range of $15,000 to $40,000 or more depending on location.
The division publishes availability and quota reports by jurisdiction, which is the first place to look before you sign a lease. If a permit has to be bought, you can compare what is currently listed and at what price through our liquor licenses for sale pages.
How to work out what you need
Start with the drinks list. Beer only points to a D-1. Wine and mixed beverages point to a D-2. Spirits point to a D-3 or a D-5.
Then look at closing time. If you want to serve past 1:00 a.m., you are looking at a D-5, or a D-3 with a D-3A attached.
Then add Sunday. If Sunday trading matters, you need a D-6, and you need to check whether your precinct permits Sunday sales.
Then check availability. Pull the division’s quota report for your city or township. If nothing is available, price a transfer.
Then check the location itself. Ohio has local option elections, so whether alcohol can be sold at all in a precinct, and on what days, is a local question with a documented answer.
Buying an existing permit
Transfers in Ohio follow the same shape as most states: you agree terms with the holder, apply to the division to transfer the permit to you and to your location, and wait for review. Local authorities can object, and the division considers those objections.
A few practical points:
- Confirm the class and any attached permits. A D-5 with a D-6 is worth more than a D-5 alone in a precinct that allows Sunday sales.
- Check the permit’s history. Violations can follow a permit and affect renewal.
- Confirm the location qualifies. Zoning, distance rules and local objections all apply to the new address.
- Put approval conditions in the contract. If the division denies the transfer, both sides need to know what happens to the deposit.
- Ask about economic development transfers. Ohio has mechanisms that allow permits to move in certain circumstances. An Ohio licensing attorney can tell you whether your situation qualifies.
If you want a second pair of eyes on a transfer, see our services page or contact us with the permit class and jurisdiction.
Frequently asked questions
What is a D-5 liquor permit in Ohio? It authorises spirituous liquor for on premises consumption, plus beer, wine and mixed beverages on premises or in sealed containers to go, with service until 2:30 a.m. The division lists the annual fee at $2,344.
What is a D-6 permit? A Sunday sales permit. It attaches to an eligible permit and allows sales on Sunday during the same hours the holder may sell Monday through Saturday.
Do I need both a D-5 and a D-6? You need a D-5 if you want to serve spirits on premises. You need a D-6 only if you want to sell on Sunday.
Does a D-6 require a local vote? Generally yes. Ohio Revised Code section 4303.182 ties D-6 issuance to prior approval at a local option election, with exceptions for certain venues such as airports, hotels, fairgrounds, golf courses, ski areas and state parks.
Are D-5 permits limited by population? Yes. Under section 4303.29, no more than one D-3, D-4 or D-5 permit is issued for each 2,000 population or part of that population, with a different ratio for D-3 permits in cities of 55,000 or more.
What happens if no permits are available in my city? You can join the waiting list, look at quota exempt categories if your venue qualifies, or buy an existing permit and apply to transfer it.
How much does an Ohio permit cost to buy? The state fee is fixed by class, for example $2,344 a year for a D-5. The purchase price on the private market is separate. One Ohio law firm cites $15,000 to $40,000 or more depending on location.
Sources and further reading
- Ohio Division of Liquor Control permit class types and fees
- Ohio Revised Code section 4303.182, D-6 permit
- Ohio Revised Code section 4303.29, population limits
- Ohio Division of Liquor Control availability and quota reports
- Walter Haverfield: Overview of Ohio liquor permitting
This article is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Ohio Division of Liquor Control or a licensed attorney.
