City Clerk - Megan Dunneisen

phone: 920-262-4006

Beverage Operator's License (Bartender)

Beverage Operator's Licensing Information:

All Beverage Operator's License applicants are required to complete a Beverage Operator's License Application and submit it to the City Clerk for review and background check.  A new application and background check is only required every other year, provided the license does not lapse.  The City of Watertown licensing period is from July 1st through June 30th.  Current license holders will not be notified to renew their license.

The fee for all new or renewal Beverage Operator's Licenses is $35.00 per year.

According to the Department of Revenue's Alcohol Beverage Bill, Wisconsin Act 259 of the Wisconsin State Statutes, and Watertown Municipal Code 9.01(5)(k), all applicants must complete a Responsible Beverage Server training course if:

  • You have never held a beverage operator license in the City of Watertown.
OR
  • You have held a beverage operator license in a different Wisconsin municipality but it expired over two years ago. 

The following online courses are approved by the State of Wisconsin Department of Revenue:  

Applicants are exempt from taking the course if they have taken one within the last two years OR have held a valid license within the past two years.  If either of these exemptions are applicable, the applicant must provide a copy of the certificate of completion or previous license held.

Please consider this notification that a Beverage Operator License may be granted but not issued until a certificate of completion or other required exemption documents are provided to the City Clerk. 

Provisional Operator’s (Bartender) License

A provisional operator’s license is valid for two months (60 days) and allows an individual to serve alcohol without another licensed bartender present.  If the applicant has not yet completed the Responsible Beverage Server training course, they must provide proof of enrollment in order to receive a provisional operator's license.

The fee for a provisional operator's license is $15.  Applicants must pay $35 for the beverage operator's license in addition to the $15 in order to receive a provisional operator's license ($50 total).

For questions, contact the City Clerk's office at (920) 262-4010.