City to Distribute Liquor Licenses Using Sealed Bid Process
Published on July 03, 2025
The City of Sioux Falls will soon distribute four on-sale and five off-sale liquor licenses using the sealed bid process, allowing applicants to submit sealed bids for liquor licenses to be awarded to the highest bidder(s).
The bid period for the on-sale and off-sale liquor licenses begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2025, and is open until 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Sealed bids must be submitted in person to the City Licensing Specialist or designee at City Hall (224 West Ninth Street) during regular business hours. There is a $100 nonrefundable application fee for each application. All sealed bids will be time-stamped as they are received, which will serve as the basis for determining the order of tie bids.
An on-sale liquor license is needed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises where they are sold, like bars and restaurants. The minimum bid for an on-sale liquor license is $240,646, which meets the state-determined minimum. An off-sale license is needed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises where they are sold, like convenience stores or liquor stores. The minimum bid for an off-sale liquor license is $500, which meets the state-determined minimum.
Sealed bids will be opened at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025, in Attorney Conference Room 103 at City Hall. The public is welcome to attend.
Bidders will be notified in writing of their award, which is conditional upon the applicant’s eligibility, suitability of the premises for the license, use of the on-sale license within two years from issuance, use of the off-sale license within 90 days from issuance, and compliance with all other state law and City ordinances. The names and amounts of bids for those conditionally awarded will be published online within five business days of the date on the written notice of the conditional awards.
Full details, bid forms, and instructions are available at www.siouxfalls.gov/liquorlicense.