People and organizations needing a special event permit (SEP) to serve liquor at events like community festivals, family gatherings and private functions can now apply through a new online portal developed to speed up application processing.

Effective Sept. 21, 2021, all current and previous SEP applicants must use the new application portal hosted by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB): https://justice.gov.bc.ca/lcrb  
Applications are no longer accepted through the previous portal hosted by the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB).

While application requirements are unchanged, the new portal streamlines processing for quicker – and, in many cases, immediate – approval.

To ensure secure access to the new portal and verify the identity of each of its users, applicants will need either a BCeID or a BC Mobile Card. Applicants can visit the new LCRB application portal for details about how to obtain one of these electronic identity confirmation options. A business or non-profit organization should allow one to two weeks for processing if they are setting up a new Business BCeID.

Applicants who have approved but unpaid special event permits as of Sept. 21, 2021, must pay for and download their permits through the LDB’s online system before it is decommissioned Oct. 4, 2021. Applicants with applications still under review as of Sept. 21 will receive notification of the outcome of their application from the LDB system soon after. They, too, must pay for and download their permits within the LDB system before Oct. 4, 2021.

Applicants and permittees must be aware of, and comply with, any provincial restrictions in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time of their event or be subject to fines or other enforcement action.