Surety Bond Encyclopedia

Beer and Wine Retail Sales ($750) Bond - Houston County, GA in Georgia

Brief Summary

A store selling beer and wine in unincorporated Houston County answers to two licensing authorities, the county and the Georgia Department of Revenue. The $750 bond belongs to the county side of that process. It is a small bond, quick to issue, and it keeps your local license application from stalling.

Retailers selling beer and wine under a Houston County, Georgia license post a $750 surety bond with the county. Alcohol sales in the county are governed by Chapter 6 of the Houston County Code of Ordinances, Alcoholic Beverages, which the Board of Commissioners amended in 2026 to update retail and wholesale license fees. A separate state retail license is filed with the Georgia Department of Revenue.

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How to Apply for a Beer and Wine Retail Sales ($750) Bond:

Confirm the store location is in unincorporated Houston County and not inside a city with its own license.
Get the current local license application and fee schedule from Houston County.
Have the legal business name exactly as it appears on the county application.
Provide owner name, home address and Social Security number for the credit review.
Pay the premium and receive the executed $750 bond.
File the bond with the county application, then apply for the state retail license through the Georgia Tax Center.

Detailed Information About the Georgia Beer and Wine Retail Sales ($750) Bond:

The county license and the state license are separate

The most common mistake is treating one license as enough. The Georgia Department of Revenue issues the state retail license through the Georgia Tax Center, and its own instructions tell applicants to contact their local licensing authority for the local alcohol retail license requirements. In unincorporated Houston County that authority is the county, under Chapter 6 of the Houston County Code of Ordinances. The $750 bond is posted with Houston County as part of the local license.

Chapter 6 changed in 2026

The Houston County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on June 2, 2026 on amendments to Chapter 6. The changes corrected a state code reference, defined retail package liquor stores, changed distance rules for those stores, and redefined the fees for retail and wholesale licenses. If you are working from an older fee sheet, get the current one from the county before you file.

What the bond guarantees

The bond promises Houston County that the licensee will follow the county alcohol ordinance and pay what it owes the county under the license. If the retailer fails to do so, the county can make a claim, and the retailer repays the surety. Confirm the current bond form and filing steps with Houston County before the bond is issued.

State renewal timing

DOR runs alcohol license renewals from the first business day of September through December 31. Renewing before November 1 gets the state license to you before January 1. Keep the county bond current through the same period so the local and state licenses stay aligned.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Georgia Beer and Wine Retail Sales ($750) Bond:

Bond amount of $750.
Houston County named as obligee.
Business name on the bond matching the county license application.
Compliance with Chapter 6 of the Houston County Code of Ordinances.
A separate Georgia Department of Revenue retail license.

Georgia Beer and Wine Retail Sales ($750) Bond FAQs:

Does my state alcohol license cover Houston County?

No. The Georgia Department of Revenue license is the state license. Houston County issues its own local license under Chapter 6 of the county code, and the $750 bond goes with that local license.

Did the county fees change recently?

Yes. The Board of Commissioners amended Chapter 6 in 2026, including a redefinition of retail and wholesale license fees. Get the current fee schedule from the county before filing.

When do I renew the state license?

DOR accepts renewals from the first business day of September through December 31. Renew before November 1 to receive the license before January 1.

What does the bond cost?

You pay a one time premium for each bond term, which is a small amount at this bond size and depends mostly on the owner's credit. Apply to see an exact quote.