Apply to sell and deliver alcohol at an auction

If you want to sell liquor through an auction and deliver it (for a fee), you’ll need an auction event permit. 

This permit doesn’t allow you to serve liquor at an auction event. 

The permit also doesn’t allow people who buy the liquor to drink it at the event. The auction needs to take place at a location that isn’t someone’s home (common areas of condo or apartment buildings are allowed). You can also host the auction online.

To qualify for an auction liquor permit, you need to be:

• A charitable organization
• An administrator or executor of an estate
• A police officer acting within the scope of your duties

Non-profit organizations can’t apply for an auction liquor permit.

The cost of an auction liquor permit is $75 per event.

Here’s what you’ll need to fill out the auction liquor permit application:

• The name of the person responsible for the event
• Event name and details
• Dates and times (start and end time)
• Location (online, in person or both) 

To get an auction liquor permit, you’ll first need to create an account on the iAGCO portal . Once you’ve set up your iAGCO account, you can:

• Apply for your liquor permit
• Check the status of your application
• Ask for changes and print the permit once it’s approved

Apply for a permit now

The AGCO needs at least 30 days is needed to process an auction event application.

Once approved, you need to prepare for and run your event the right way. Read the next section to make sure you follow with the standards and requirements established by the Registrar.

As a permit holder, you are responsible for meeting all Registrar’s Standards that apply to your permit. Check the standards that apply to your permit type.

You must also make sure your event follows all applicable laws and regulations such as the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (including O. Reg. 747/21 for permits), and any Terms and Conditions applied to your permit, if applicable. (See section below on Special conditions for events that are at higher risk to public safety for details.) 

Read the Special Occasion Permit Guide for detailed help with the application and other important information including buying and storing liquor for your event.

If you fail to comply with these responsibilities, it could result in a monetary penalty.
 

Storing and delivering liquor

When you're selling alcohol at an auction, you need to tell bidders that the liquor they're bidding on may not have been tested by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). You can’t sell homemade wine and beer through auction. Manufacturers can’t donate liquor for auction. Donated liquor from a manufacturer is only allowed if the auction is for a charity event.
If you receive a multi-day auction liquor permit, you need to store the liquor according to the standards and requirements established by the Registrar.
 

Other important information

For more information about liquor permits for private events, including understanding what you need to do as the holder of a liquor permit, read:  

• Special Occasion Permit Guide
• Ontario regulations under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019, regarding liquor permits
• Registrar’s interim standards and requirements for liquor 

Special conditions for events that are a higher risk to public safety

Some events pose a greater risk to public safety or to non-compliance with the law due to the type of event, location, number of attendees, etc. If the AGCO assesses your event may have higher risk, we will contact you and attach conditions to your permit to mitigate those risks. 

Conditions might include, for example, limiting the hours of sale and service of liquor, or requiring that the event be limited to attendees who are at least 19 years of age. A full list of possible risk-based permitting conditions is available. 

To make a change to the permit after it’s been issued, you’ll need to submit a change request through the iAGCO portal . You may need a new permit depending on the kind of change.

Request a change