Alcoholic beverages

To obtain an alcohol license within the city of Cedar Rapids you must apply with the City Clerk's Office and the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. The licensing process takes at least 30 days to complete and requires City Council approval prior to issuance. Please refer to the application checklist for additional information. 

APPLICATION CHECKLIST      LICENSE APPLICATION       Background Check Form

Per the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 32 of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Code, any business holding a license for the sale of alcohol or cigarettes/tobacco/nicotine/vapor will now be required to self-certify their alcohol and tobacco (including nicotine and vapor products) related use level:

Level I - Total Sales are made up of 50% or less from alcohol/tobacco sales
Level II - Total Sales are made up of more than 50% from alcohol/tobacco sales

Alcohol/Tobacco Use Certification        Alcohol/Tobacco Zoning Information

Certain businesses applying for a new alcohol or cigarette/tobacco/nicotine/vapor permit may also be required to apply for additional permits with the Development Services Department. For questions, please contact the Development Services Department at (319) 286-5836 or by emailing development@cedar-rapids.org.
  

To apply for an outdoor service area or to make license changes, select one of the following:

OUTDOOR SERVICE AREA        LICENSE TRANSFER        UPDATE OF PREMISES

Temporary Outdoor Service Conditions        Outdoor Service Area Information               


More information, including the complete fee schedule, is available from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.

Cigarettes, tobacco, nicotine and vapor

Any retailer selling cigarettes, tobacco, alternative nicotine or vapor products within city limits must submit a completed permit application to the City Clerk's Office. All permits expire June 30.

Cigarette/tobacco/nicotine/vapor permits are issued by the State of Iowa and administered by the City of Cedar Rapids as the local authority. More information is available from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.

Fee:
$100 if issued in July, August or September
$75 if issued in October, November or December
$50 if issued in January, February or March
$25 if issued in April, May or June

Get the Application


Per the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 32 of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Code, any business holding a license for the sale of alcohol or cigarettes/tobacco/nicotine/vapor will now be required to self-certify their alcohol and tobacco (including nicotine and vapor products) related use level:

Level I - Total Sales are made up of 50% or less from alcohol/tobacco sales
Level II - Total Sales are made up of more than 50% from alcohol/tobacco sales

Alcohol/Tobacco Use Certification        Alcohol/Tobacco Zoning Information

Certain businesses applying for a new alcohol or cigarette/tobacco/nicotine/vapor permit may also be required to apply for additional permits with the Development Services Department. For questions, please contact the Development Services Department at (319) 286-5836 or by emailing development@cedar-rapids.org.