Florida ABT Delinquent License Renewal

Missing your Florida alcoholic beverage license renewal deadline is one of those mistakes that feels small in the moment — until you realize what it actually takes to fix it.

If your license with the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) has expired, you can't just log in and pay online like a normal renewal. The process is more involved, and depending on how recently your license lapsed, your path forward will look different.

Here's exactly what you need to know.

What Is a Delinquent Renewal?

Florida alcoholic beverage licenses expire annually on March 31. If you miss that deadline — whether by a day or several months — your renewal is considered delinquent.

A delinquent renewal isn't just a late payment. It triggers a penalty on top of your standard renewal fee. According to the Florida Beverage Law, the penalty for a delinquent renewal is $5 for each month (or portion of a month) of delinquency, or 5% of the license fee — whichever is greater.

The longer you wait, the more expensive it gets. And operating with an expired alcoholic beverage license in Florida puts you at serious legal risk, including fines, suspension, and closure.

The Quick Check: Did Your License Just Expire?

Before you start filling out paperwork, make one phone call.

If your license recently expired, there's a chance the ABT can still process your renewal without requiring a full delinquent application. In some cases, you may be able to handle it over the phone — paying the renewal fee plus any applicable delinquent penalty — without submitting Form 6015 at all.

Call the DBPR Customer Contact Center at (850) 487-1395.

Ask specifically if you can still pay the invoice given its current status. If it is, you can resolve the situation significantly faster than going through the full delinquent application process.

This call is always worth making first. Don't assume you need the full application until you've confirmed it.

If the Phone Option Isn't Available: Form DBPR ABT-6015

If your license has been expired long enough that the ABT can no longer process a simple renewal, you'll need to complete a formal delinquent renewal application using Form DBPR ABT-6015 — the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Application for Delinquent Renewal.

Here's what you need to know about the process:

You Cannot Complete This Online

Unlike standard ABT license renewals, Form 6015 cannot be submitted through the DBPR Online Services portal. There is no digital submission option.

How to Submit Form 6015

You have two options:

Option 1 — Mail it in Complete the application packet and mail it directly to your local ABT district office. Make sure everything is in order before you send it — incomplete packets get rejected and delay the process further.

Option 2 — Submit in Person Bring your completed application packet to your local ABT licensing district office, either by dropping it off or scheduling an appointment. In-person submission gives you the ability to ask questions on the spot and confirm your packet is complete before it's accepted.

To find your local district office address and contact information, visit the ABT's district office directory on the DBPR website at myfloridalicense.com.

What the Application Packet Requires

The Form 6015 application is not a simple one-page form. It's submitted as part of a full application packet, which includes:

• The completed Form DBPR ABT-6015
• An Affidavit of Applicant — which must be signed in the presence of a notary
• Renewal fee plus applicable delinquent penalty - you will be invoiced once the application is processed, no need to submit payment with the application.

The notarization requirement is one of the most common points where applicants get tripped up. The affidavit must be signed by the right person — the individual applicant, a partner, a managing member of an LLC, or an authorized officer of a corporation — and that signature must happen in front of a licensed notary public. You cannot sign it ahead of time and have it notarized later.

Why Acting Fast Matters

The longer an alcoholic beverage license sits expired, the fewer options you have and the more expensive the resolution becomes. A license that expired two weeks ago and one that expired six months ago are in very different situations.

Beyond the growing penalty fees, operating your business without a valid ABT license — even unintentionally — exposes you to enforcement action from the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. ABT investigators do conduct routine compliance checks, and an expired license is not a technicality they overlook.

If your license has expired, the right move is to act today.

Steps to Take Right Now

1. Call (850) 487-1395 — Ask if your license can still be renewed by phone given its current status. This is your fastest option.
2. If phone renewal isn't available, download Form DBPR ABT-6015 from the ABT forms page at myfloridalicense.com.
3. Gather your full application packet including the notarized affidavit and any required supporting documents.
4. Submit to your local district office by mail or in person.
5. Do not operate under your expired license while the renewal is pending.

Need Help With Your Delinquent Renewal?

The delinquent renewal process is more involved than most people expect, especially the application packet, affidavit requirements, and notarization. A missing document or improperly completed form means starting over, which costs you more time and more money.

At Florida Business Blueprint, we help Florida business owners navigate the ABT licensing process from start to finish including delinquent renewals. We'll help you put together a complete, accurate application packet and make sure nothing slows down your approval.

We also provide notary services, so if you need that affidavit signed and notarized, we can handle that too.

Contact us today to get your delinquent renewal back on track →

Have questions about your specific situation? Reach out directly — delinquent renewal timelines and requirements can vary, and it's worth getting clarity before you submit anything.