Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
District of Columbia Wholesale Distribution Reference
Three-tier distribution reference for out-of-state suppliers of wine, beer, spirits and cider. General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with state authorities. Listed agency fees are not Compliant Bootlegger service fees.
District of Columbia — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes – but only to holders of an “Importation Permit” where the ABRA has been satisfied that the brands being distributed are not available to that permit holder from another licensee based in the District
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- None; however, while non-local wineries are not required to be licensed to have their products sold in the District, only parties licensed to import wine into the District may actually bring it in
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- n/a
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Maximum of 3 liters per brand, only to a retailer who has not purchased that brand before
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – D.C. distributors may only purchase products from the primary American source
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.30 per gallon of still wine with an ABV no more than 14%; $0.40 per gallon of still wine with an ABV greater than 14%; $0.45 per gallon of all sparkling wine
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
District of Columbia — beer
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- None required
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes – $325 annual fee; required to deliver samples and solicit orders for vendors represented
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Licensed Solicitors may provide no more than 3 gallons of any brand, limited to brands not purchased by retailer in previous 12 month
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – D.C. distributors may only purchase products from the primary American source
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $2.79 per barrel
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
District of Columbia — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, D.C. is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes, but only to holders of an "Importation Permit" where the ABRA has been satisfied that the brands being distributed are not available to that permit holder from another licensee based in the District of Columbia.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- D.C. does not require a license for out-of-state suppliers to sell to in-state wholesalers; however, while non-local distillers are not required to be licensed to have their products sold in the District, only parties licensed to import spirits into the District may actually bring it in.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- n/a
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No, you do not need money held in bond to obtain a license in D.C.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No, D.C. does not require an in-state representative for suppliers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No, D.C. does not require product brand/labels to be registered before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, D.C. does not require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, D.C. does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, D.C. does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, D.C. does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In D.C., a spirits supplier may provide samples of a maximum of 3 liters per brand, and only to a retailer who has not purchased that brand before.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, there are no franchise rules in D.C. that restrict a spirit's supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- No, D.C. does not have sourcing restrictions on whom wholesalers can purchase from.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No, there are no specific come to rest provisions noted in D.C.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- D.C. imposes an excise tax on spirits of $1.50 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, D.C. does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit the excise taxes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- D.C. does not require out-of-state suppliers to file any follow-up reports on their sales to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
District of Columbia — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, D.C. is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes, an out-of-state cider manufacturer may self-distribute to retailers in D.C., but only to holders of an "Importation Permit" where the ABRA has been satisfied that the brands being distributed are not available to that permit holder from another licensee based in the District.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- D.C. does not require out-of-state cideries to hold a license to sell into the district. However, while non-local cideries are not required to be licensed to have their products sold in the District, only parties licensed to import cider into the District may actually bring it in.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No, D.C. does not require suppliers' representatives to be licensed.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No, D.C. does not require that cider brands/labels be registered with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, D.C. does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, D.C. does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, D.C. does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, D.C. does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In D.C., suppliers can provide a maximum of three liters per brand as samples to retailers, and only to a retailer who has not purchased that brand before.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, in D.C. there are not franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- No, D.C. does not have sourcing restrictions on from whom wholesalers can purchase.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No, D.C. does not require cider to come to rest at a wholesaler warehouse before being delivered to retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- D.C. imposes a tax on cider of $0.30 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, D.C. wholesalers, not out-of-state suppliers, are required to pay the excise tax on ciders sold in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- D.C. does not require out-of-state cider suppliers to file a report on their sales to wholesalers in the District.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.