Liquor Licenses

About Liquor Licenses:

Pursuant to Wyoming State Statutes §12-4-101 through §12-4-702, Counties within the state shall license and regulate, or prohibit, the retail sale of alcoholic and malt beverages within their Counties. There are several different licenses that can be applied for. When an application to renew a license, transfer the location where alcohol will be sold, or transfer ownership of a license is received by the Clerk's Office, notice will be placed upon the premises shown by the application as the proposed place of sale, a notice will also be published in a newspaper of local circulation for two consecutive weeks, and a notice will also be posted on the official website of the County.

Below is an explanation for each type of license and how many are permitted to be issued by Albany County:

24-Hour Malt Beverage Permit (W.S.S. §12-4-502):

Albany County is authorized to issue a 24-hour permit to sell malt beverages. Alcoholic liquor is prohibited from being sold while dispensing liquor under the authority of a malt beverage permit. In order to qualify for a malt beverage permit, an applicant does not need to hold a retail liquor license. These malt beverage permits may be issued to, "any responsible person or organization for sales at a picnic, bazaar, fair, rodeo, special holiday or similar public gathering." (W.S.S. §12-4-502(a)). These permits are only valid for a period of 24-hour hours. However, if an event is multiple days long only one application is required. Albany County currently charges $50.00 per day for 24-hour malt beverage permits. To apply for a 24-hour malt beverage permit please look for the appropriate application under the Clerk's Office Forms and return that form to the Albany County Clerk's Office (525 Grand Ave, Laramie).

24-Hour Catering Permit (W.S.S. §12-4-502):

Licensees of a 24-hour catering permit are authorized to sell malt beverages and alcoholic liquors. In order to qualify for a catering permit, an applicant must hold a retail liquor license. That retail liquor license may be issued by any authorized licensing agency within the State of Wyoming. When applying for a catering permit, applicants will need to show a copy of their current retail liquor license, they will need to present written authorization from their licensing authority if that authority is not Albany County, and they will need written permission from the landowner where the event will be held. The purpose of these licenses is to permit the sale of alcoholic and malt beverages for meetings, conventions, private parties, and dinners or at other similar gatherings not capable of being held within the licensee's licensed premises. Albany County currently charges $50.00 per day for 24-hour catering permits. To apply for a 24-hour catering permit please look for the appropriate application under the Clerk's Office Forms and return that form to the Albany County Clerk's Office (525 Grand Ave, Laramie).

Retail Licenses (W.S.S. §12-4-201):

A retail liquor license is the authority under which a licensee is permitted to sell alcoholic liquor or malt beverages for use or consumption. A retail liquor license allows a licensee to sell package liquor as well as alcohol for consumption at the time of sale. These licenses are granted based on population limits. Each town within the County is granted at least two retail liquor licenses. The county itself is granted one retail liquor licenses for every 500 residents outside of cities and towns. Therefore, Albany County has been granted ten (10) retail liquor licenses. At this time all ten of those licenses are issued. These licenses are renewed annually and are effective between July 10th  and July 9th of the following year. The fee for a retail liquor license is $1000.00 annually unless the location where alcohol will be sold is within five miles of any incorporated town and therefore license is $,1500.00. To apply for a retail liquor license, or apply to transfer that license, please look for the appropriate application under the Clerk's Office Forms and return that form to the Albany County Clerk's Office (525 Grand Ave, Laramie).

For 2022-2023, the ten retail liquor licenses have been granted to:

Bear Bottom, LLC dba Bear Bottom Bar & Grill

Burco, LLC dba Vee Bar Guest Ranch

Cavalryman II LLC dba Cavalryman Steakhouse (within 5 miles of the incorporated city)

Hubbard Mt. Cupboard, LLC dba Hubbard Mountain Cupboard

PENS Retreat, LLC dba Woods Landing Resort

Sentinel Station, LLC dba The Friendly Store

SKIWYO, LLC dba Snowy Range Ski & Recreation Area

Snowy Range Resorts, Inc. dba Albany Lodge

Trading Post Centennial, LLC dba Trading Post Centennial

WYColo Lodge, LLC  dba WYColo Lodge  

Malt Beverage Permits (W.S.S. §12-4-201(f)):

Counties are permitted to issue a malt beverage permit outside any incorporated town. This permit is the authority under which the licensee is permitted to sell malt beverages only. There is no limit on the number of Malt Beverage Permits that a County is permitted to issue. However, the establishment must be at least five (5) miles outside of an incorporated town. The fee for a malt beverage permit is $1,000.00, annually. To apply for a malt beverage permit, please look for the appropriate application under the Clerk's Office Forms and return that form to the Albany County Clerk's Office (525 Grand Ave, Laramie). 

Currently, Albany County does not have any Malt Beverage Permits:

Special Club Licenses (W.S.S. §12-4-301):

Club licenses are granted to bona fide clubs as defined by W.S.S. §12-1-101(a)(iii). At least 51% of the club's membership is required to sign a petition indicating their desire to secure a limited retail liquor license. If approved, these clubs are then permitted to sell alcoholic liquor or malt beverages for consumption anywhere on the licensed premises. Consumption is limited to club members and their approved guests (as approved by the licensing authority). There is no limit on the number of special club liquor licenses that can be granted. Currently, Albany County has one club license issued. To apply for a special club license, please look for the appropriate application under the Clerk's Office Forms and return that form to the Albany County Clerk's Office (525 Grand Ave, Laramie).

For 2022-2023 one license has been granted: 

BCR, Inc. dba Fox Run

Restaurant Liquor Licenses (W.S.S. §12-4-407):

Restaurants, as defined by W.S.S. §12-1-101(a)(xiv), may be issued a restaurant liquor license. There is no limit on the number of restaurant liquor licenses that can be granted. However, when it is time to renew a restaurant liquor license an applicant must show that at least 60% of gross sales from the preceding 12 months of operating with a restaurant liquor license was derived from food service. There are several regulations and restrictions regarding the dispensing of liquor, and other certain activities, that are associated with restaurant licenses. Those restrictions are found in W.S.S. §12-4-410. To apply for a restaurant liquor license, please look for the appropriate application under the Clerk's Office Forms and return that form to the Albany County Clerk's Office (525 Grand Ave, Laramie). A valid food service permit is also required for this type of application.

For 2022-2023 one license has been granted:  

Old Corral Mountain Lodge, Inc. dba Old Corral

Microbrewery & Winery Permits (W.S.S. §12-4-412):

Microbrewery and winery permits allow permit holders to brew a malt beverage or wine and dispense that alcohol for on-premises and limited off-premises personal consumption. If a licensee holds a microbrewery or winery permit, that licensee is allowed to also hold a retail, resort, or bar and grill liquor license as well. Albany County is authorized to issue six microbrewery and six winery permits outside of any incorporated town. At this time Albany County has two microbrewery permits and one winery permit. To apply for a microbrewery or winery permit, please look for the appropriate application under the Clerk's Office Forms and return that form to the Albany County Clerk's Office (525 Grand Ave, Laramie).

For 2022-2023 three licenses has been granted: 

Sheep Mountain Brewery, LLC dba Sheep Mountain Brewery (microbrewery permit)

SkiWyo LLC, Snowy Range Ski Area (microbrewery permit)

Weston Wineries, LLC dba Weston Wineries (winery permit)

Bar & Grill Liquor Licenses (W.S.S. §12-4-413):

Bar and grill liquor licenses are very similar to restaurant liquor licenses. For instance, a bar and grill liquor licensee is still required to show that at least 60% of gross sales from the preceding 12 months of operating with a restaurant liquor license was derived from food service. The only real difference between the two licenses is that a bar and grill licensee is permitted to have a lounge and that drinks must be dispensed from a "room" separate from the dining room. Bar and grill licenses are granted based on population.

Currently, Albany County does not have any Bar & Grill Liquor Licenses

For more information about liquor licensing please visit the Wyoming Liquor Division website.