General Information

The State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has determined that Walnut Creek has an undue concentration of alcohol licenses. Should you require Police Department approval for your alcohol license, the Walnut Creek Police Department will review your business plan. We will review the operation and nature of your business to determine if your business would serve the public convenience or necessity. We may place conditions and restrictions upon your business plan based upon the needs of the community and the amount of police resources your business may consume. After reviewing all the information, the Police Department may or may not recommend approval of your application to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Public Notice

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control requires applicants of retail licenses to mail notices (as supplied by ABC) to property owners within a 500-foot radius of the premises if the local jurisdiction provides the names and addresses free of charge. The Planning Division of the City of Walnut Creek will provide the list free of charge upon request. Call 925-943-5834

How to Proceed

Start by submitting a business plan to the Investigations Division Commander for the Police Department. Review the standard conditions that the Police Department requests for your type of alcohol license, and reflect those conditions in your business plan. (Click here for a sample business plan form)

Make sure you have checked with the Planning Division to see what types of land use or building permits are required. These could include: 1) a conditional use permit for full alcohol sales, dancing or live entertainment, 2) design review approvals for any exterior changes or signage, and 3) a building permit for any structural alterations. Dance permits are applied for separately from the Police Department. Applications are available from the Investigations Division Commander.

Once you have obtained approval from the Police Department and Planning Division, you will also need to obtain a Business License from the City of Walnut Creek.

Public Safety

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control works closely with the Walnut Creek Police Department. Failure to adhere to an approved business plan, or failure to run a responsible business could result in legal action being taken against the holder of the alcohol license. The Police Department is interested in cooperative relationships with business owners in Walnut Creek. Our goal is to work with the business community to ensure public safety. There is an expectation that every business share this goal, particularly those businesses that sell alcohol.

Contact Information

For more information please contact the Police Department at 925-943-5868, the Planning Division at 925-943-5834 or the Business License Division at 925-943-5821. Information about the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is available at www.abc.ca.gov