Ada County
Ada County Recorder's Office
In short
Ada County Recorder's Office issues 2 permits we publish for Ada County, last verified 2026-10-14. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.
What this agency issues
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada County Alcohol Beverage License (beer, wine, liquor by the drink, winery)only if it applies to you | Ada County Recorder's Office | County fees per annum under Ada County Code 4-3-11: beer, bottled, none consumed on the premises, $25.00; bottled beer that may be consumed on the premises, $75.00; draft beer (with or without bottled beer) for consumption on or off the premises, $100.00; retail wine in closed containers, $100.00; wine by the drink, $100.00; combined retail wine and wine by the drink, $100.00; winery selling at retail or by the drink, $100.00; liquor by the drink, "25 percent of the amount of the license fee collected by the director of the Idaho state police pursuant to the provisions of Idaho Code, chapter 9, title 23". The Recorder's Alcohol Beverage License page lists liquor at "$187.50 By the drink on-premise consumption only" and "$100.00 By the drink for on-premise consumption only at racing facilities and eligible golf courses". Transfer fee $5.00 per transfer. These county fees are in addition to the state license fee. | license year June 1 (or the date of issue) through May 31, as the Recorder's page states; licenses expire at 1:00 a.m. on May 31 under Ada County Code 4-3-12 | 2026-10-14 |
| Alcohol Beverage Catering Permit (events in unincorporated Ada County)only if it applies to you | Ada County Recorder's Office | $20 per day the permit is in effect, up to five consecutive days; nonrefundable (Ada County Code 4-3-9 B) | the event dates, not to exceed five consecutive days (Ada County Code 4-3-9 A 2) | 2026-10-14 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
About each permit
Ada County Alcohol Beverage License (beer, wine, liquor by the drink, winery)
Ada County Code Title 4, Chapter 3 states: "It shall be unlawful for any person to sell alcoholic beverages at retail for consumption on or off the premises within the boundary of Ada County until a license is granted by the board of county commissioners as provided by this chapter." The county license therefore applies inside and outside the cities. The Recorder's page lists the steps as "1. Apply and obtain license from the State of Idaho 2. Apply and obtain license from Ada County 3. Apply and obtain license from respective city (if applicable)". The Recorder's Office takes the application, sends new applications to the Ada County Sheriff for review, and the Board of Ada County Commissioners decides. As set in ordinance section 4-3-11, the county fees per annum are: beer $25.00, $75.00 or $100.00 by type; wine $100.00 for each of the three wine licenses; winery $100.00; and for liquor by the drink "25 percent of the amount of the license fee collected by the director of the Idaho state police". The Recorder's page shows liquor at $187.50 by the drink, or $100.00 at racing facilities and eligible golf courses. It also states: "you must have a beer license to be eligible for a wine or liquor license. Wine is included in the liquor license price." The code requires a liquor or wine application to include a copy of the county and state beer licenses. Under 4-3-13 and the Recorder's page, a transfer costs $5.00. Card payments carry a processing charge of 3% plus $1 per transaction, according to the Recorder's page. Section 4-3-12 sets expiry at 1:00 a.m. on May 31, and the page states licenses are valid from June 1, or the date of issue, through May 31. Section 4-3-10 adds conditions for premises outside an incorporated city. An on-premises license needs written consent from at least 75% of the resident owners or occupants within 1,000 feet, with no signature over 180 days old; renewals and transfers are excused. A certificate of zoning from the county must be filed with the application. An on-premises license may not be granted where the nearest entrance is within 300 feet of a public school or place of worship, unless the Board finds good cause. Contact the Ada County Recorder's Office, 200 W. Front St., First Floor (mail: Room 1208), Boise, ID 83702, (208) 287-6840, alcohol.licensing@adacounty.id.gov.
Alcohol Beverage Catering Permit (events in unincorporated Ada County)
The Recorder's Catering Permits page states: "A county catering permit is required for events serving liquor, beer or wine in unincorporated parts of Ada County. Within city limits, individuals need to check with their City Clerk on the specific requirements." The applicant must be the licensee on record. Under Ada County Code 4-3-9, the application gives the state license number, the event dates and hours ("not to exceed five (5) consecutive days"), the sponsors and the address. The clerk forwards it with "a nonrefundable fee in the amount of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each day the permit is to be effective" to the Sheriff for a recommendation, and the Board approves, conditions or denies it. The county page states: "Permits cost $20 per day, with a maximum of five consecutive days." It also states that fees are non-refundable whether the permit is approved or denied. Applications should be submitted and paid at least three weeks before the event, and the venue should first confirm with Development Services that it is an approved event center. The page adds that a permit submitted with incorrect information must be resubmitted with the processing fee paid again, and that card payments carry a 3% plus $1 charge. Contact the Ada County Recorder's Office, 200 W. Front St., First Floor (mail: Room 1208), Boise, ID 83702, (208) 287-6840, alcohol.licensing@adacounty.id.gov.
Contact
- Jurisdiction
- Ada County
- Phone
- 208-287-6840
Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.
Sources
Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Ada County Code 4-3-9 to 4-3-13 (catering permit; location restrictions; retailers' license fees; expiration and renewal; transfer)Ada County (Code of Ordinances, American Legal Publishing) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
- Ada County Code Title 4, Chapter 3, Alcoholic Beverages (license applications and Board review)Ada County (Code of Ordinances, American Legal Publishing) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
- Ada County Code Title 4, Chapter 3, Alcoholic Beverages (short title, purpose and license requirement)Ada County (Code of Ordinances, American Legal Publishing) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
- Alcohol Beverage LicenseAda County Recorder's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
- Catering PermitsAda County Recorder's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-14
Other offices serving Ada County
The full permit list for this jurisdiction
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