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1. Who needs an alcoholic beverage license?

The State of Texas requires that any person or establishment that sells or provides alcoholic beverages, whether to take out or consume on the premises, must have a license. This includes temporary permits for special events.

2. Who issues the alcoholic beverage license?

The Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission (TABC) is responsible for issuing licenses and enforcing licensing laws. TABC has a list of requirements that need to be met before a license is issued and should be the first agency to contact. You can find licensing information online.

Regional TABC office contact information is:
Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission
100 N Getty Street
Uvalde County Court House, Box 2
Uvalde, TX 78801
Phone: 830-278-3415
Fax: 830-591-0398

3. How is the City of Eagle Pass involved in alcoholic beverage licenses?

One of Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission's (TABC) requirements is that the application for a license be certified by the City Secretary of the community where the proposed business will be located. In order to do this, the City Secretary must first confirm that the property has been assigned the proper classification/designation in accordance with local laws as follows:

• For a business where alcoholic beverages will be sold to take out such as any grocery store, gasoline station, liquor store, etc, the property must be located within a commercial zone. Please contact the Planning Department to confirm zoning classification of properties.
• For a business where alcoholic beverages will be sold or dispensed to consume on the premises such as in a club, restaurant, bar, etc, the property must be included on the list of areas where alcoholic beverages may be consumed on-premises or what we commonly call a wet zone. Please contact the Office of the City Secretary to confirm wet zone designation.

4. What if my property is already zoned commercial or designated as a wet zone?

Congratulations, you are already ahead of the pack! All you need is to bring the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission  (TABC) application to the City Secretary who will certify the status of your property. Charge for each certification is $15.

5. What if my property is not zoned commercial?

All properties within city limits have a zoning district classification such as:

• Apartment
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Residential

In order to change the classification, an ordinance has to be passed by the City Council. In considering zoning changes, several factors are substantially reviewed, such as:

• Abutting property owners' objections/comments
• Aesthetics
• Compliance with City Master Plan
• Harmony of use within area

The process takes approximately 3 months, starts with an application and ends with adoption of the ordinance. Cost for application is $150. Please contact the Planning Department for more information.

6. What if my property is not designated as wet?

The process to designate a property as a wet zone is very similar to a zoning change except for small differences in the application and list of requirements. An ordinance also has to be passed by the City Council. 

In considering a designation, several factors are substantially reviewed, such as:

• Abutting property owners' objections/comments
• Harmony of use within area
• Nearness to schools, churches, hospitals, or libraries
• Number of similar establishments within same block
• Ratio of number of businesses to population
• Zoning classification

The process takes about 4 months. Application cost is $150. Please contact the Office of the City Secretary for more information.

7. What if I want to hold a special or temporary event?

Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission (TABC) issues temporary permits in two scenarios:

• License holders may be eligible to obtain a temporary permit to sell or serve alcoholic beverages at an event taking place at a location separate from their TABC-licensed property.
• Civic, religious or charitable organizations may be eligible to obtain a temporary permit to sell or serve alcoholic beverages at a special event not being held on TABC-licensed property.

Again, as part of TABC's process, the City is required to certify the application as to the proper classification or designation. Please contact TABC for more information on temporary permits.

8. What if my building was not constructed for these types of establishments?

Please note that conversion of an existing building from its original use to a store, bar or restaurant will require the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. This involves a City review of the property to determine compliance with the zoning and building safety codes. Please contact the Planning Department for more information.

9. Where do I find city ordinances on these processes?

You can view the Eagle Pass Code of Ordinances online. Ordinances regulating alcoholic beverages are found in Chapter 5. Zoning changes are addressed in Section 22 of Appendix A. Building regulations are addressed in the International Building Code.

10. What is the contact information for the city?

For information about alcoholic beverage licenses, you can contact Imelda Rodriguez, City Secretary, or contact Vanesa Rosales-Herrera, Planning Director.