Alcohol Licenses

Emanuel County’s county clerk manages all aspects of alcohol licensing, including applications, renewals, compliance with regulations, and communication with state agencies. Alcohol licenses are the only type of license required by the county. For businesses needing documentation for regulatory or financial purposes, the County Clerk can provide a "does not require" letter confirming that business licenses are not required by Emanuel County.

Businesses operating within a city limits should contact their respective city hall or review local ordinances to determine whether additional business licenses are required at the municipal level. However, all businesses in the county are required to comply with applicable state and federal licensing regulations.

Role of the County Clerk in Alcohol Licensing

Application Processing: The county clerk receives, reviews, and processes all alcohol license applications while providing assistance and guidance to applicants as needed. The clerk ensures that applications are complete and compliant with local requirements before moving forward.
Proof of Local Licensure: The county clerk submits proof of local licensure to the state for new licenses as required by Georgia law.
Coordination: The clerk also collaborates with the county administrator to verify application accuracy, works with Building Inspection and Code Enforcement and the county fire marshal to confirm compliance with structural and safety standards, and requests background checks from the sheriff's office for all applicants.
Public Notices and Legal Ads: The county clerk places legal advertisements with local media and posts public hearing notices on the county website to meet transparency and legal requirements.
License Renewals and Updates: The county clerk handles annual license renewals and processes updates such as changes in ownership or personal information for licensees.

For XYZ purpose, we've made available a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to apply for an alcohol license in Emanuel County.

Fee Schedule

This table provides a breakdown of the fees associated with alcohol licenses in Emanuel County. The amounts listed apply to both new license applications and annual renewals.
Beer & Wine Retail	$300
Beer & Wine Consumption On Premises (COP)	$300
Beer & Wine Retail and COP	$300
Liquor Retail	$1,750
Liquor, Beer, & Wine Retail	$2,050
Beer & Wine COP and Liquor by the Drink	$2,300

2025 Licensees

This table lists businesses currently holding alcohol licenses in Emanuel County for the year 2025. This information is provided solely for transparency purposes and does not constitute an endorsement or advertisement by the county.
Licensee	Licensed Establishment Name	License Type & Number
Kimberly Christian	Coleman Lake Restaurant	Beer & Wine COP and Liquor by the Drink \| #469
Patricia Conner	McKinney's Pond Restaurant	Beer & Wine COP \| #473
Belinda Denmark	Pat's Store	Beer & Wine Retail \| #468
Karen Faircloth	JB&D Farms	Beer & Wine COP \| #470
Faye Holloway	Mill Pond Trading Post	Beer & Wine Retail \| #466
Tonya Moore	The Rustic Grill	Beer & Wine COP & Liquor by the Drink \| #476
Bhupendrakumar Patel	Neighbors Food Mart	Beer & Wine Retail \| #471
Rajnikant Patel	5 Points Grocery	Beer & Wine Retail \| #467
Sunilkumar Patel	OAM Ganga, OAM Shiv	Beer & Wine Retail & COP (OAM Ganga) \| #475 Liquor Retail (OAM Shiv) \| #474
Swatiben Patel	Carraway's	Beer & Wine Retail \| #472
Cassandra Smith	Smith's Canoochee Store	Beer & Wine Retail \| #477
Wayne Scott	Westside One Stop	Beer & Wine Retail \| #465
Jeremy Williams	Swainsboro Raceway	Beer & Wine COP and Liquor by the Drink \| #478

License Duration, Application Timeline, and Renewal Process

License Duration

Alcohol licenses issued by Emanuel County are valid from the date of approval until December 31 of the same year, regardless of the date the license is granted. Licenses are non-transferable between individuals or businesses. If ownership of the business changes, the new owner must apply for a separate license.

Timeline for New License Applications

The process for obtaining a new alcohol license typically takes upward of a month, though it may be completed in as little as two weeks under ideal circumstances. Several factors can influence the timeline, including inspections, background checks, and publication requirements.

Legal Advertisement Requirement

Applications must be advertised in the county’s legal organ (a weekly publication) twice prior to the next commission meeting. At this meeting, a public hearing will be held, followed by a vote on the application. Attendance at the public hearing is recommended but not required. If the application is approved, the county clerk will notify you by phone if you are not present. Please note it is the applicant’s responsibility to track when their application will appear on the commission’s agenda. Reminder calls are not provided.

Inspections and Background Checks

Emanuel County Building Inspection and Code Enforcement as well as the county fire marshal both must inspect the site for compliance. These inspections are generally completed after the application is preliminarily approved.

A GCIC background check must also be processed for all applicants.

While these steps are typically completed promptly, unforeseen delays may occur due to scheduling or compliance issues. To account for potential delays, applicants are encouraged to budget additional time for the licensing process. Circumstances vary by applicant, and additional time may be required if repairs, modifications, or other compliance steps are needed.

Renewal Process

The renewal process begins each year in November, when the county clerk sends out renewal letters to current license holders. Licenses can be renewed any time after receiving the letter, but applicants must call ahead to schedule their visit.

Renewals take approximately 15 minutes for the county clerk to complete.

Alcohol License Public Hearing Notices

Public Hearing: Alcohol License Application for Gail Greenway

The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 16, 2025 at 6 PM to consider Gail Greenway's application for an alcohol license. Read more about her application and the hearing... Read on...
Public Hearing: Alcohol License Application for Ricky Hooks, Jeremy Faircloth, and Greg Bennett

The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 16, 2025 at 6 PM to consider Ricky Hooks, Jeremy Faircloth, and Greg Bennett's [joint] application for an alcohol license. Read more about their application and the hearing... Read on...