Veterans & Fraternal Club Licenses

An alcoholic beverage license that allows qualifying veterans’ or fraternal clubs to serve all types of alcoholic beverages.

What Kinds of Clubs Qualify?

Veterans’ clubs

Veterans’ clubs are organizations where military veterans gather to support one another, socialize, and serve their community. Examples include the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Fraternal clubs

Fraternal clubs are groups with shared interests, values, or goals that meet regularly for socializing, community service, or charitable activities. Examples include the Knights of Columbus, Elks Club, Rotary Clubs, and Freemasons.

Qualifying Requirements

To qualify, the club must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Have operated at the same location for at least five years, or have held the license within the past 10 years.
  • For a veterans license: be a post of a nationally chartered veterans’ organization serving enlisted personnel, non-commissioned officers, and officers.
  • For a fraternal license: be part of a nationally chartered fraternal organization with a substantial program of activities.
  • Be part of a nationally chartered organization established before January 1, 1949.

Note: This is not a quota license. Licenses issued after January 1, 1949, are non-transferable, meaning they may not be sold.

Costs

For Veterans

  • City license: $250 to $650, for clubs inside city limits or within five miles of a city or township.
  • County license: $250, for clubs outside the five-mile city limit.
  • Application processing fee: $400. This is a one-time fee for new applications, not for renewals.
  • Renewal fee: $250 to $650.

For Fraternal Clubs

The Fraternal Club License should follow the MCA fee schedule below (16-4-501, MCA):

  • County New License Fee: $400
  • City New License Fee: Based on population; gambling restricted; not a quota license

How to Apply

Renewal Date

A veterans or fraternal club license must be renewed every year by June 30.

What an Approved Licensee May Do

Once approved, a Veteran or Fraternal Club Licensee may:

  • Operate between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.
  • Apply for an alcohol catering endorsement.
  • Apply for up to three special permits per year. See the Special Permit Booklet (PDF) for details.

What a Licensee May Not Do

  • Enter into a new concession agreement, unless covered by the grandfather clause below.
  • Apply for gambling privileges. This applies to any new licenses issued after May 8, 2025.

Grandfather Clause for Concession Agreements

This applies to licensees with approved concession agreements in effect, or concession agreements submitted to CARD for approval before January 1, 2021. These licensees:

  • May have more than three existing concession agreements if they were previously approved or applied for, unless they elect to comply with 16-4-418, MCA.
  • May keep those agreements in effect until the licensee applies for and receives department approval to change ownership or location of the license.
  • May be assigned to new concessionaires operating in the same premises if the provisions of the concession agreements are otherwise unmodified with Department review and approval.

The grandfather clause also allows veteran and fraternal organizations that had a license under 16-4-201(8), MCA, and a concession agreement in place on or after January 1, 2016, to use or obtain a veteran or fraternal license and enter into concession agreements.

License Quotas and Limits

Quota limits do not apply when considering Veterans Licenses.

City vs. County Licenses

  • City License: Used by a club located inside the city limits of an incorporated city or township, or within five miles of the city limits.
  • County License: Used by a club anywhere in a county, except within five miles of a city or township.

Questions?

Contact an alcohol licensing specialist.

Legal References

All licensees and permit holders must comply with all federal and Montana alcoholic beverage laws and rules. See 16-4-110, 16-4-201(7) and 16-4-201(8), 16-4-209, 16-4-418, and 16-4-501, MCA.

August 2025. Information in department communications may have been modified, superseded, or made obsolete by changes in federal or state law or the Administrative Rules of Montana. To verify the current validity of any Department of Revenue communication, please contact DORCARDEducation@mt.gov.