16-3-503. Distributor's license -- fee, MCA

Montana Code Annotated 2025

TITLE 16. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA

CHAPTER 3. CONTROL OF LIQUOR, BEER, AND WINE

Part 5. Beer and Table Wine Distribution

Distributor's License -- Fee

16-3-503. Distributor's license -- fee. (1) A person desiring to sell and distribute beer, table wine, or sacramental wine at wholesale to licensed retailers or table wine to agency liquor stores under the provisions of this code shall apply to the department for a license to do so and shall submit with the application the initial license fee of $400. The department may issue licenses to qualified applicants in accordance with the provisions of this code.

(2) A distributor's license expires at midnight on June 30 following the date of its issuance.

(3) A license fee may not be imposed on distributors by a municipality or any other political subdivision of the state.

(4) The license must be prominently displayed in the distributor's licensed premises at all times.

(5) (a) An applicant must have:

(i) a fixed place of business;

(ii) sufficient capital; and

(iii) the facilities, storehouse, and receiving house or warehouse for the receiving, storage, handling, and moving of beer, table wine, or sacramental wine in large and jobbing quantities for distribution and sale in original packages to other licensed distributors or licensed retailers or table wine to agency liquor stores.

(b) A distributor is entitled to only one license, which must be issued for the distributor's licensed premises in Montana. A license may be issued for each subwarehouse operated by the distributor. The license must be prominently displayed at the subwarehouse at all times.

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 637, L. 2025.