Maharashtra excise licences for restaurants are classed FL-II (beer and wine) and FL-III (Indian Made Foreign Liquor and imported spirits). The fee, timeline, and document set depend on corporation ward, seating count, and whether the location is in a notified dry pocket.
Licence classes that matter for restaurants
| Class | What you can serve | Typical annual fee (Mumbai/Pune) |
|---|---|---|
| FL-II | Beer + wine only | ₹2.5–4L |
| FL-III | Full bar (IMFL + beer/wine) | ₹4–8L |
| Beer shop (retail) | Off-premise only — not a restaurant licence | N/A |
Documents you'll need
- FSSAI licence copy (state licence for FL-III)
- Shop & Establishment / trade licence
- Fire NOC with occupancy load matching seating
- Society / landlord NOC for liquor service
- Bar layout plan signed by licensed architect
- Police NOC (ward-dependent; Mumbai often stricter)
- GST registration
Timeline: realistic vs optimistic
Optimistic: 45–60 days if the bar is designed compliant from day one. Realistic for first-time applicants in Mumbai: 90–120 days — police NOC and ward excise inspection are the long poles. Pune PMC wards are typically 60–90 days.
Do not sign a lease assuming liquor revenue from month one unless the licence application is already filed and the bar layout is pre-approved. Dry openings with a liquor licence pending are a common year-one cash trap.
Economics: does liquor pay for the licence?
Rule of thumb: liquor must contribute 25–35% of revenue for FL-III to justify fee + inventory + compliance overhead. A 60-seat casual dining at ₹12L monthly revenue needs ₹3–4L from liquor to clear the licence cost and working capital tied up in stock.
Open the licence checklist →