ALBERT LEA, Minn. — The Albert Lea City Council is set to hold a public hearing Monday on potential increases in liquor license fees, marking the first proposed changes in years.

The council says it wants to address rising costs related to administration and public safety.

The proposed changes include an increase in the off-sale liquor license fee from $450 to the state maximum of $560. The city has not raised this fee in seven years. For on-sale licenses, the fee could rise from $2,000 to $2,800. While there is no state cap for this fee, city officials say the proposed amount remains lower than what other cities charge, which can range from $3,000 to $9,000 annually. The city says it has not increased the on-sale fee for 21 years.

The city highlights its no-cost Alcohol Server Aware

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