Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Yes
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
- Vendor’s permit
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $700, initially; $265 for annual renewal
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
- Controlled wines must be “listed” with the state
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- n/a
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- n/a
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
- Only one case per brand made be used as samples during any single month-long period; samples must be purchased from the PLCB
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- n/a
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- No
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
- Instead of excise taxes, the PLCB imposes a standard mark-up on all wines
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.
Pennsylvania — 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
- No specific license is required; however, sales may only be made to licensed Importers or Importing Distributors, who can only be Pennsylvania residents; OOS manufacturers must notify the PLCB of their distribution relationships, and receive an LID number for reporting, which is assigned upon first registering a label with the PLCB
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
- Yes – Label
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
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes
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
- Permitted; must comply with regulations including labeling and representative requirements
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – Pennsylvania wholesalers may only purchase from OOS suppliers when they have been authorized to do so
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.08 per gallon
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
- Yes – Monthly REV-1052 Report
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Pennsylvania — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Yes, Pennsylvania is a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Yes, Pennsylvania requires a Vendor's License for out-of-state spirits suppliers to sell to the control board.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Pennsylvania charges $265, plus a $700 filing fee for first time applicants, for its license for out-of-state spirits suppliers to sell to the control board.
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
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
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
- Registered agents of licensed vendors may provide samples to Pennsylvania retailers, but only if the samples are clearly marked as such and were purchased from the PLCB directly.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- No, Pennsylvania does not require a follow up reports from spirits suppliers for sales to its control board.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Control-board listing process
- Who may present a listing
- There are no specific regulations on who may represent a licensed Vendor before the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Listing representative license
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Listing schedule
- The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board meets in the Spring and Fall to consider new listings.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Container size limits
- Pennsylvania does not impose size limits on spirits product listings.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Listing submission information
- Vendors must file a New Item Submission Sheet for consideration by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. If the product passes the PLCB's initial scoring, the PLCB will invite the Vendor to provide a sample followed by a formal presentation to category managers. At the formal presentation, the Vendor must provide a completed Standard Quotation and Specification Form for each product they are offering, along with any other information the Vendor deems appropriate.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Board pricing
- Pennsylvania operates under a "flexible pricing" model for brands identified as the top 150 most sold brands in the state, under which the state will negotiate with the Vendor for the final price (for spirits, the top 150 brands do not mix product category types, so if a brand's vodkas are in the top 150 brands, that brand's gins are not necessarily also included). For brands that are not in the top 150, the PLCB applies a variety of taxes and fees for a complex calculation to determine the price. It is recommended that Vendors contact the PLCB for more information on the details of pricing.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price changes
- Price changes must be formally submitted to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for approval 90 days prior to their taking effect. Price changes may only occur on the first of February, May, August or November in a year.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Product codes
- Pennsylvania uses NABCA product codes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Further listing guidance
- Contact the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board: https://www.lcb.pa.gov/Wine-and-Spirits-Suppliers/Managing-Existing-Business/Documents/Policies_and_Procedures_for_Wine_and_Spirits_Vendors.pdf.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Pennsylvania — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Yes, Pennsylvania is a control state, but cider is sold in the private sector.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state cider manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Pennsylvania.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Pennsylvania does not require out-of-state cideries to hold a specific license to sell to wholesalers in the state. However, sales may only be made to licensed Importers or Importing Distributors, who can only be Pennsylvania residents. Out-of-state manufacturers must notify the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board of their distribution relationships, and recieve an LID number for reporting, which is assigned upon first registering a label with the PLCB.
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
- Pennsylvania does not require suppliers to hold a bond in the state to apply for a license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- No, Pennsylvania 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
- Yes, Pennsylvania requires that cider products are registered per label 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, Pennsylvania does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Pennsylvania requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes, Pennsylvania requires 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, Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, suppliers can provide samples to retailers but they must comply with regulations including labeling and representative requirements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, in Pennsylvania there are 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
- Yes, in Pennsylvania wholesalers may only purchase from OOS suppliers when they have been authorized to do so.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, Pennsylvania requires 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
- Pennsylvania imposes a tax on cider of $0.08 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Yes, Pennsylvania requires out-of-state cider makers to remit themselves the excise tax on ciders they sell into the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Pennsylvania requires out-of-state cider suppliers to file the Monthly REV-1052 Report.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.