U.S. state · federal alcohol permits

Alcohol permits in California

Every TTB Federal Basic Permit holder in California - wineries, distilleries, importers, and wholesalers, from the public List of Permittees.

21,002
Total permits
#1
National rank
53.9
Very high density · per 100k
895
Cities covered

Count rank ≠ density rank

California holds 21,002 federal alcohol permits (#1 of 52 by count) but ranks #3 at 53.9 per 100,000 residents — count rank and density rank diverge on this state.

#1
by total permits
#3
by permits per capita
21,002
permits in state
53.9/100k
residents

Source: TTB List of Permittees (August 2026) · Census Vintage-2023 population.

Comparing more than one state? Save California to your Permit Explorer watchlist to keep this state alongside the others you are reviewing. The watchlist stays in your browser and its comparison link preserves the selected states, permit class, and sort order.

Data updated September 2026

California vs all states by federal permit count

Where this state's TTB Basic Permit count sits among every state and territory on PlainAlcohol

21,002 1st of 52 the highest of 52 states

States, banded by federal alcohol Basic Permit count

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source TTB List of Permittees · August 2026

Permit mix

How California's 21,002 permits split across the four classes.

Wholesalers9,346 · 45%
Wineries6,400 · 30%
Importers4,684 · 22%
Distilleries572 · 3%

Top cities in California

Bar length = federal alcohol permit holders in the city

permits
Source TTB List of Permittees As of August 2026

California alcohol industry score

One composite grade from California's own TTB permit data, benchmarked against every other state and territory PlainAlcohol tracks (not an external industry standard). A state missing an input is graded on the remaining dimensions alone -- the missing weight moves to them rather than deflating the score.

C 59
Producer density A+
53.9 / 100k residents

TTB-permitted producers per 100,000 residents

Industry diversity D
66/100

1 minus the Herfindahl index across distillery/winery/importer/wholesaler permit shares -- higher means no single permit type dominates

City coverage F
2.3 / 100k residents

Distinct cities with a TTB-permitted producer, per 100,000 residents

Source: TTB List of Permittees, August 2026, and U.S. Census Vintage-2023 population. See methodology.

All permit holders (21,002)

Page 182 of 421
Name Class
International Vines, INC. Wholesaler
International Wine

International Wine, LLC

Wholesaler
Phipps Family Cellars

Interpangea, LLC

Wholesaler
Intervine INC. Wholesaler
Intervine INC. Wholesaler
Intrepid Spirits USA INC. Wholesaler
Lacy + Company

Investor's Group International, LLC

Wholesaler
Liparita Cellars

Investors Wine Company, INC.

Wholesaler
Invigorate Vineyards, LLC Wholesaler
Canopy Wine Selections

Invoer Ekke LLC

Wholesaler
Ion Vodka

Ion Beverages, LLC

Wholesaler
Ipedro, LLC Wholesaler
Ippindo U.S.A.

Ippindo U.S.A. INC.

Wholesaler
Iredowl INC

Iredowl INC

Wholesaler
Venmex Sales Wine

Irene Arroyo Solorio

Wholesaler
Iris Imports LLC Wholesaler
Irish Vineyards Wholesaler
Iron Diamond Vineyards

Iron Diamond Vineyards, INC.

Wholesaler
Iron Mountain Winery

Iron Mountain Vineyards, LLC

Wholesaler
Iron Oak Beer Company

Iron Oak Brewing, INC.

Wholesaler
Red Tag Wine

Irtronix, INC.

Wholesaler
Isabella Morano Wines LLC Wholesaler
Isayes

Isayes LLC

Wholesaler
Isetta Family

Isetta Family, LLC

Wholesaler
Ishtar Beverage LLC Wholesaler
Iskaranu

Iskaranu

Wholesaler
Copper Cane Spirits

Isla de Califa LLC

Wholesaler
Dirt

Island in the SKY INC.

Wholesaler
Island Life Corporation Wholesaler
Island Rum Punch

Island Rum Punch LLC

Wholesaler
Island Tings LLC Wholesaler
Iso Wine LLC Wholesaler
Israeli Wine Direct, LLC Wholesaler
Ital Culture Trading, LLC Wholesaler
Italia Wine Imports, LTD. Wholesaler
Italia Wine Imports, LTD. Wholesaler
Itinc Group

Itinc Group, INC

Wholesaler
Itri Cellars

Itri Cellars LLC

Wholesaler
Itsko Imports INC. Wholesaler
Itty Bitty Viti

Itty Bitty Viti, LLC

Wholesaler
Ivan Salazar Wholesaler
Ivdc Wines, LLC Wholesaler
Ives Bay

Ives Bay, LLC

Wholesaler
Ivv Merchants, LLC Wholesaler
Ivy House Wines

Ivy House Wines LLC

Wholesaler
Izee Enterprises, LLC Wholesaler
Iztok LLC Wholesaler
Palarm Liquor

J & a Cha Company INC

Wholesaler
J & L Beverages

J & L LLC

Wholesaler
J & R Wine Negociants, INC. Wholesaler
← Previous Page 182 of 421 Next →

What to do with California's numbers

California's permit count only matters next to a peer state or the national landscape.

TTB List of Permittees, published August 2026; per-capita rates use U.S. Census Bureau Vintage-2023 population.

Data & reports

Frequently asked questions

How many federal alcohol permits are in California?

California has 21,002 active federal alcohol Basic Permits - 6,400 wineries, 572 distilleries, 4,684 importers, and 9,346 wholesalers. That is the 1st most of any U.S. state or territory.

What is California's per-capita permit rate?

California has 53.9 federal alcohol permits per 100,000 residents (U.S. Census Vintage-2023 population), ranking 3rd by density. Per-capita rates are high in wine- and spirits-producing states with smaller populations.

Which California city has the most permit holders?

Napa leads California with 1,811 federal alcohol permit holders, followed by Los Angeles, Paso Robles, Santa Rosa.

Are breweries included?

No. Breweries do not hold an FAA Basic Permit, they operate under a Brewer's Notice (IRC §6103, protected from disclosure), so they are not in the public TTB List of Permittees this directory is built from.

Where does this data come from?

The TTB FOIA "List of Permittees," published August 2026, public U.S. government data, reformatted without alteration.

Source: TTB FOIA List of Permittees, published August 2026, public U.S. government data, reformatted without alteration. Per-capita rates use U.S. Census Bureau Vintage-2023 population (Verify with the Census Bureau →). Confirm any record against the official TTB Public Permit Search. For informational purposes only; see our disclaimer.

Reading California's wholesalers-led permit book

California's 21,002 permits are wholesalers-led (9,346, 45% of the book), ranking #1 nationally by count and #3 by per-capita density. Federal Basic Permits authorize FAA Act activity, not retail sale, and are not a substitute for the state ABC license.