How to Start a Brewery in Newfoundland and Labrador
Start a brewery in Newfoundland and Labrador: the federal excise licence first, then the NLC brewery licence and the pre-licensing inspection.
How to Start a Brewery in Saskatchewan
Start a brewery in Saskatchewan: the federal excise licence, the SLGA manufacturer permit, and the Liquor Consumption Tax licence.
Applies in: Saskatchewan
The short answer
Get the federal excise licence first, then the SLGA manufacturer permit. In Saskatchewan, the manufacturer permit comes from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), whose Liquor Licensing Branch processes liquor permit applications for all commercial facilities, including manufacturers. The application fee is $525 and is non-refundable.
This guide covers only the Saskatchewan mechanics. The national steps that apply everywhere are in our How to Start a Brewery Business in Canada guide. Do not use another province's regulator or fees for Saskatchewan — the regulator, the fee, and the permit classes are different here.
Step 1: Get the federal excise licence first
A brewer's licence is required to manufacture beer, and a licence is required for each physical business location where any manufacturing takes place, where brewing equipment is kept or used, or where products of brewing are kept or stored. That is the rule in the Canada Revenue Agency's Excise Duty Circular ED200-1.
For each location, complete Form L1, Application for a Brewer's Licence, Form E110, Description of Premises, and Form E111, Description of Vessels and Utensils, and submit them with a floor plan and the supporting documents the circular lists to your regional excise office.
Step 2: Apply for the SLGA manufacturer permit
Apply to SLGA with the Commercial Liquor Permit Application, revised July 2025. The manufacturer permit applies where the primary business on the premises is the manufacture of craft alcohol by fermentation or distillation, the manufacture of beverage alcohol by fermentation or distillation, or the bottling of beverage alcohol.
Return the form with the completed application package and attach a cheque or money order for $525.00, non-refundable, made payable to the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, or call to pay by credit card. Submit by email to LiquorLicensing@slga.com, by mail to Box 5054, 2500 Victoria Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 3M3, or by fax to (306) 787-8981. Allow about 15 business days after submitting all required documents. Applying for a liquor permit does not guarantee approval.
The $525 is the application fee only. The annual manufacturer permit fee is separate and depends on where the brewery is: $525 a year in a city, $263 in a town, and $158 in a village, hamlet, resort, or seasonal location. Permits may be issued for up to three years, and the permit and endorsement fees may be paid up front or annually — if you pay annually, the permit is only valid for years two and three once that year's fee is received. A permit transfer costs $105.
Step 3: Get the Liquor Consumption Tax licence
All applicants, except Home Delivery Permit and U-Brew or U-Vin Operation Permit applicants, are required to apply for a Liquor Consumption Tax licence from the Ministry of Finance. Do this alongside the SLGA application so the tax licence is in place before the permit is issued.
Step 4: Register the business and clear the site
Register the business in Saskatchewan and get a Canada Revenue Agency business number. Confirm zoning, building, and fire rules for the exact address with the municipality before you sign a lease or start fitting out the site. A brewery combines brewing, storage, and possibly a taproom, and the building must meet the municipal and fire requirements for the address.
Step 5: Follow the manufacturing policy manual
The Saskatchewan Alcohol Manufacturing Policy Manual, effective June 1, 2025, sets out the requirements and responsibilities for each permit class. It covers the application, permit and renewal fees, the manufacturing requirements, and the craft alcohol producer rules, including the craft brewery section. Read the sections for your permit class before you file, because the manual is the document SLGA points applicants to for the detailed rules.
Step 6: Set up the supply route and the records
Plan how the beer reaches buyers through SLGA channels. SLGA warehouses and distributes most alcohol in the province, and its Liquor Wholesale and Distribution Division handles product selection and procurement. Keep production records, inventory records, and excise records from the first batch, not from the first sale.
What the opened pages do not state
The pages do not publish the production levy and mark-up rates for beer in the application package itself — the policy manual points to the SLGA craft producers page for those rates — so this guide states no levy or mark-up figure. Confirm the current rates with SLGA before you set prices.
Related guides:
- How to Start a Brewery Business in Canada — the national brewery steps, including the federal excise licence and the business registration that apply in every province.
- How to Start a Brewery in Ontario — Ontario's brewery licence and LCBO listing route, a different regulator from Saskatchewan's.
- How to Start a Brewery in Manitoba — Manitoba's brewery licence route, for comparison with Saskatchewan's SLGA permit.
- How to Get a Liquor Licence in Saskatchewan — the Saskatchewan liquor permit for serving alcohol, a different permit from the manufacturing permit.
- How to Start a Restaurant in Saskatoon — Saskatoon restaurant mechanics, including the SLGA liquor permit classes for restaurants.
- How to Start a Brewery in Alberta — Alberta's brewery licence route, for comparison with Saskatchewan's SLGA permit.
Starting a brewery in Saskatchewan, in six steps
- Get the federal excise licence firstApply to the Canada Revenue Agency for a brewer's licence with Forms L1, E110, and E111. A licence is needed for each physical location where beer is made or stored.
- Apply for the SLGA manufacturer permitApply to the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority with the Commercial Liquor Permit Application. The application fee is $525 and is non-refundable, and processing takes about 15 business days after all required documents are submitted.
- Get the Liquor Consumption Tax licenceApply to the Ministry of Finance for a Liquor Consumption Tax licence. The SLGA application package states that all applicants except Home Delivery and U-Brew or U-Vin applicants must hold one.
- Register the business and clear the siteRegister the business in Saskatchewan and confirm zoning, building, and fire rules for the exact address with the municipality.
- Follow the manufacturing policy manualThe Saskatchewan Alcohol Manufacturing Policy Manual, effective June 1, 2025, sets out the requirements for each permit class, including craft brewery and brewery.
- Set up the supply routePlan how the beer reaches buyers through SLGA channels, and keep production and sales records from the first batch.
Questions people ask
Do I need a federal licence to start a brewery in Saskatchewan?
Yes. A brewer's licence from the Canada Revenue Agency is required to manufacture beer for sale. Apply with Form L1, Form E110, and Form E111 for each physical location where beer is made, brewing equipment is kept, or beer is stored. The provincial manufacturer permit does not replace the federal licence.
Who issues the manufacturer permit for a brewery in Saskatchewan?
The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, known as SLGA, issues the manufacturer permit. Its Liquor Licensing Branch processes liquor permit applications for all commercial facilities, including manufacturers. Apply with the Commercial Liquor Permit Application.
How much does the SLGA manufacturer permit application cost?
The Commercial Liquor Permit Application fee is $525, and it is non-refundable. Attach a cheque or money order for $525 made payable to the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, or call to pay by credit card.
How long does the SLGA permit application take?
Allow about 15 business days after submitting all required documents. The application package states that applying for a liquor permit does not guarantee approval, so allow adequate time for processing.
What kinds of brewery permits does SLGA offer?
The manufacturer permit covers craft brewery and brewery, as well as craft winery, craft distillery, craft cidery, craft refreshments, winery, distillery, cidery, refreshments, and bottling. The craft manufacturer permit is split into Craft Manufacturer Type 1 and Craft Manufacturer Type 2.
Do I need a Liquor Consumption Tax licence as well?
Yes, in most cases. All applicants, except Home Delivery Permit and U-Brew or U-Vin Operation Permit applicants, are required to apply for a Liquor Consumption Tax licence from the Ministry of Finance.
Sources
- Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, Commercial Liquor Permit Application Package — the $525 non-refundable application fee, the 15-business-day processing time, the manufacturer permit eligibility, the Liquor Consumption Tax licence requirement, the annual manufacturer permit fees by place size, the up-to-three-year permit term, and the $105 transfer fee.
- Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, Commercial Liquor Permits General Information — the Liquor Licensing Branch role, the manufacturer permit classes including craft brewery and brewery, and the Craft Manufacturer Type 1 and Type 2 split.
- Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, Saskatchewan Alcohol Manufacturing Policy Manual — the manufacturing requirements by permit class, effective June 1, 2025.
- Canada Revenue Agency, ED200-1 Licensing requirements for manufacturers of beer or malt liquor, wort, yeast, or malt products — the brewer's licence requirement, one licence per physical location, and Forms L1, E110, and E111.