BC Special Event Permit: cost, how to apply and rules for weddings and parties
To serve or sell alcohol at a wedding, party or fundraiser in British Columbia somewhere that isn't licensed, you need a Special Event Permit (SEP) from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. A private event costs $25 a day and a public event $100 a day. This guide covers how to apply online, how early, who needs server training, the hours, and the maximum drink prices you can charge.
By Pratham Shankwalker · checked against official sources · last reviewed 2026-10-29
Quick answer
A BC Special Event Permit costs $25 a day per location for a private event and $100 a day for a public one. Apply online 4 to 6 weeks ahead. Servers need Special Event Server training, and drink prices are capped, from $7 for a beer.
- Private event
- $25 a day per location
- Public event
- $100 a day per location
- Apply ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks (30 days for 500+ guests)
- Indoor service
- 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Max beer price
- $7.00 incl. PST
What a Special Event Permit costs
The fee is charged per day and per location. A private event, including a family event such as a wedding, costs $25 a day. A public event costs $100 a day. Fees are not refunded.
A two-day wedding weekend at one venue is $50. The same weekend split across two locations is $100.
Step by step
- 1
Check whether you need a permit
A licensed venue's licence may cover the event. A private residence needs no permit, but there alcohol can only be served, not sold.
- 2
Decide private or public
A private event is for invited guests, including family events. Tickets for a private event can't be sold at the door. Anything open to the public is a public event.
- 3
Apply online
Apply through the LCRB's Special Event Permit site with a BC Services Card or a BCeID. Corporations need a BCeID. The applicant must be 19 or older.
- 4
Train the people serving
Servers need Special Event Server training. The permit holder and managers need it too, or Serving It Right for events of 500 or more.
- 5
Buy in BC and run the bar
Buy alcohol in BC from BC Liquor Stores, private liquor stores or BC manufacturers' stores. Keep to the permit hours and the drink price caps.
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How and when to apply
Apply online through the LCRB's Special Event Permit site. You sign in with a BC Services Card or a BCeID, and a corporation must use a BCeID. The applicant must be 19 or older.
The province recommends applying 4 to 6 weeks before the event, and at least 30 days. Small family events are usually approved in 7 to 14 days. Events with 500 or more guests need a police review, so allow at least 30 days.
Who needs server training
Everyone serving alcohol needs Special Event Server training. For events under 500 guests, the permit holder and managers need Special Event Server training too. At 500 guests or more they need Serving It Right.
Anyone who already holds a Serving It Right certificate doesn't need Special Event Server as well.
Hours and drink prices
Indoors, service runs from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Outdoors, it runs from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Drinks must be finished and removed within 30 minutes of the end of service.
For events on or after 24 August 2026, the maximum prices, including PST, are $7.00 for a beer, cider or cooler, $10.00 for 5 oz of wine and $7.00 for 1.5 oz of spirits. With GST added, those become $7.35, $10.50 and $7.35.
| Drink | Max price incl. PST | With GST |
|---|---|---|
| Beer, cider or cooler | $7.00 | $7.35 |
| Wine, 5 oz | $10.00 | $10.50 |
| Spirits, 1.5 oz | $7.00 | $7.35 |
Buying the alcohol
Alcohol for the event must be bought in BC, for example from BC Liquor Stores, private liquor stores or a BC manufacturer's on-site store. PST applies.
Keep the receipts with the permit. They show where the alcohol came from if an inspector asks.
What venues should put in the hire agreement
If clients bring their own permit, a short alcohol clause protects the booking and the building.
- Whether the venue is licensed, and if so that only venue staff may serve alcohol.
- If the venue is unlicensed, who applies for the permit, the date you must see it by, and that the bar does not run without it.
- The server training the province expects, and that the client provides proof of it.
- The latest service time and the time all alcohol must be cleared from the room.
- Event liability insurance, naming the venue where your insurer requires it.
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BC Special Event Permit: questions from Canada
How much is a liquor licence in BC for a private event?
A Special Event Permit for a private event, including a wedding or other family event, costs $25 a day per location. Fees are not refunded.
How much is a Special Event Permit for a public event in BC?
$100 a day per location.
How long does a BC Special Event Permit take?
Small family events are usually approved in 7 to 14 days. Apply 4 to 6 weeks ahead, and at least 30 days for events with 500 or more guests.
Do I need a permit for a party at home in BC?
No permit is needed in a private residence, but alcohol there can only be served, not sold.
What can I charge for drinks under a Special Event Permit?
From 24 August 2026, no more than $7.00 for a beer, cider or cooler, $10.00 for 5 oz of wine and $7.00 for 1.5 oz of spirits, including PST.
More for Canada venues
- Alberta special event liquor licence: AGLC fees and rules for weddings and parties
- Food handler certificate in Canada: what caterers and venues need, province by province
- Ontario Special Occasion Permit: cost, deadlines and rules for weddings and parties
- Special event liquor licences in Canada: Ontario, BC and Alberta compared
- All Canada guides
Sources
- Government of BC: prepare and apply for a Special Event Permit (checked 2026-10-29)
- LCRB: Special Event Permit policy manual (August 2026) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Government of BC: Special Event Server training (checked 2026-10-29)
- LCRB bulletin 26-04: higher maximum drink prices for Special Event Permits (checked 2026-10-29)
- Government of BC: do you need a Special Event Permit? (checked 2026-10-29)
- Government of BC: before your event (checked 2026-10-29)
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the authority linked above before you apply or sign.
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