Inyo County Liquor License Rules For Bishop And The Unincorporated Towns
California's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) counted 104 active retail licenses in Inyo County as of June 30, 2026. Of those, 42 were in Bishop. An Inyo County liquor license runs through ABC's Bakersfield District Office. It also runs through one of two local planning systems, the City of Bishop's or the county's.
Liquor License Agents helps owners, buyers, and sellers here work out which license is obtainable. The statewide rules are in our guide to the California liquor license process.
Who Reviews An Inyo County Liquor License Application
ABC assigns Inyo County to its Bakersfield District Office at 4800 Stockdale Highway, Suite 213, phone (661) 395-2731. ABC mails a copy of each application to local officials. For a premises in Bishop, the copy goes to the police department, city council, and city planning department. In the unincorporated county, it goes to the sheriff's department, board of supervisors, and district attorney.
Zoning is decided separately under two local codes.
- Unincorporated county, including Lone Pine, Independence, and Big Pine. Inyo County Code Title 18 permits eating and drinking establishments and liquor sales in the CB zone. It permits bars and liquor stores in C-1, and "Restaurant and bar" in C-5.
- County C-2 highway zone. Section 18.48.020 permits an "Eating establishment, including liquor" and liquor stores. Section 18.48.030 makes an "Establishment where liquor is sold for consumption on the premises" a conditional use, decided by the Planning Commission.
- City of Bishop. Municipal Code Title 17 permits restaurants and "Establishments where alcoholic beverages are served" in the C-1 and C-H districts.
- Downtown Bishop overlay. In the MUO-DT Mixed Use Downtown Overlay Zone, "Taverns, lodges or private clubs" are conditional uses.
Which License Types Can Be Obtained Here In 2026
Inyo County is not in the list of counties ABC announced on August 17, 2026 for new or intercounty general licenses. ABC states that the only other way to obtain a general license is to purchase an existing one of the same type within the same county. ABC's Type 20 moratorium table, dated January 1, 2023, also marks Inyo County "Yes".
| License | Active in Inyo County, June 30, 2026 | How it is obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Type 41, restaurant beer and wine | 38 | ABC application, year-round |
| Type 47, restaurant with spirits | 18 | Buy an existing county license |
| Type 48, bar with spirits | 3 | Buy an existing county license |
| Type 21, store with spirits | 16 | Buy an existing county license |
| Type 20, store beer and wine | 17 | Buy, or the BPC 23817.7 exception |
Under ABC's 2026 fee schedule, the original application fee for a Type 41 license is $1,135. The person-to-person transfer fee is $1,565 when the application includes a general license and $420 when it does not.
The county once had its own statute, BPC 23826.14, for up to five additional on-sale general licenses. Its window ran from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019. A license issued under it cannot be transferred to another county.
What Liquor License Agents Handles On An Inyo County Deal
Full liquor licenses here are bought from existing holders, so our work covers both sides of a transfer as well as new applications.
- Site review. We look at your concept, site, and floor plan, starting with whether the address falls under Bishop's Title 17 or the county's Title 18.
- Apply or buy. We advise whether a beer and wine application fits, or whether you need to buy and transfer an existing license.
- The deal. We help with valuation, negotiation, and escrow coordination, as outlined in our guide on how to buy a California liquor license. We also assist owners who want to sell a liquor license.
- Filing. We prepare the ABC application, premises diagrams, and disclosures.
- Review. We coordinate with Bishop or county planning staff, follow ABC's review, and help you answer questions, protests, or proposed conditions.
The county code does not say how a restaurant with a bar is classed in the C-2 zone. That question goes to the county Planning Department at (760) 878-0263.
Bishop And Inyo County Liquor License FAQs
1. Which ABC office handles a license application for Inyo County?
The Bakersfield District Office does. ABC's county table assigns Inyo County to that office, which also covers Kern County. Its listed hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and its phone number is (661) 395-2731.
2. Did ABC authorize any new full liquor licenses for Inyo County in 2026?
No. Inyo County is not in the list ABC published on August 17, 2026, and it was not in the 2025 list either. A Type 47, Type 48, or Type 21 here is obtained by purchasing an existing license of the same type within the county.
3. Can a market in Inyo County get a new Type 20 beer and wine license?
Inyo County is a Type 20 moratorium county, so a Type 20 is normally bought from an existing holder. BPC 23817.7 lets ABC approve an application in a moratorium area if the applicant shows public convenience or necessity and the section's conditions are met.
4. Does a tavern in downtown Bishop need a use permit?
Within the MUO-DT downtown overlay, a tavern is a conditional use permitted only if the Planning Commission approves it. The base C-1 district, by contrast, permits places where alcoholic beverages are served. Confirm with Bishop Planning whether the address is inside the overlay.
5. How many of the county's licenses are in Bishop?
ABC's count as of June 30, 2026 puts 42 of the county's 104 retail licenses in Bishop, including 17 Type 41 and 7 Type 47 licenses. Bishop held 1 of the county's 3 Type 48 licenses.
6. Where does an appeal of a use permit decision go?
A decision of the Inyo County Planning Commission can be appealed to the Board of Supervisors within fifteen calendar days under Section 18.81.270. In Bishop, an appeal on a use permit goes in writing to the City Council within five days.
To talk through a purchase, a sale, or a new beer and wine application in Bishop, Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine, or elsewhere in Inyo County, call (800) 799-9081 and schedule an appointment with Liquor License Agents.