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June 19, 2015
Last updated

Fuel Alcohol Permit: The Ultimate Guide

Owner of Clawhammer Supply

How To Apply For A Fuel Alcohol Permit

How to Get a Fuel Alcohol Permit

In order to legally make fuel alcohol one must have the proper permits. A federal fuel alcohol producer permit is available for free from the TTB. The application must be submitted and approved by the TTB before fuel alcohol is manufactured. The TTB is the division of the government that is in charge of regulating and overseeing distillation. TTB stands for Alcohol And Tobacco Tax And Trade Bureau which is part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Even though the Federal Government allows the manufacture of fuel alcohol with a permit it is important to realize that some states don’t allow fuel alcohol production. State distilling laws vary from state to state. Some states have no laws on owning a still, but prohibit the distillation of alcohol while other states prohibit possession of a still unless it's for fuel alcohol. States such as as North Carolina requires a state fuel alcohol permit as well as the federal fuel permit. Some states may prohibit possession of distillation equipment and distilling altogether. It is important to research local state laws before applying for a federal fuel permit.

Download the federal fuel permit here and follow along with our guide to properly fill out the alcohol fuel plant application. Our guide will focus on the small fuel alcohol production plant as production with a Clawhammer Supply, LLC still will produce less than 10,000 proof gallons a year.

1)Type Of Plant: If using a Clawhammer Supply still check the Small – 10,000 Proof Gallons or Less box.
2) Amended Permit: Leave this blank when applying for a new permit
3)Name of Owner: Type in first / middle/ and last name
4) Daytime Telephone Number: Enter full phone number
5) EIN - Enter your EIN- Employer Identification Number 
6) DOB: Enter the DOB for the applicant or applicants.
7) Location: Type in the street name where the small distillation plant will be located.
8) Mailing address: If the mailing address is different than the plant location enter it here. If the mailing address is the same as the plant location leave it blank.
9) Premise for Alcohol Fuel Plant Are: If you own the premise check owned by the applicant and skip to number 11.
10) If the premise is rented fill out section 10 which must be signed by the property owner.
11) Stills For Fuel Production On Plant Premises:
a) Still Manufacturer: Clawhammer Supply, LLC
b) Serial Number: The Serial Number for Clawhammer Supply, LLC is on a sticker on the condenser
c) Kind of Still: Pot Still
d) Capacity – The Clawhammer Supply, LLC still is a pot still and a pot still may be shown by giving the wine gallon capacity of the pot still.
a. The 1 gallon Clawhammer Supply, LLC still 1 gallon
b. The 5 gallon Clawhammer Supply, LLC still 5 gallons
c. The 10 gallon Clawhammer Supply, LLC still 10 gallons

12) Basic Materials to be used in production of spirits: If you are planning on using a variety of fermentables select the appropriate boxes. We selected grain, sugar based crops, and fruit or fruit products as those were the fermentables we were using when we made mash for fuel alcohol
13) Security Measures: On our property we had a fenced in yard and a lock on the  distilled spirits building.
14) Diagram of plant premise: The diagram of your plant premises may be drawn by hand and does not have to be drawn to scale.
15) I will comply with the clean water act: Check I will comply with the clean water act. Don’t discharge into navigable waters of the U.S. Navigable waters are waterways that provide a channel for commerce and transportation of people and goods.
16) Skip: Only applies to Medium and Large Alcohol fuel plant applications
17) Sign the form
18) Title: Owner
19) Enter the date

Print out 3 copies of the TTB application and any attachments (the drawing of the premise); make sure the attachments are labeled with first and last name and are printed on the same size paper as the application. Mail the completed application to: Director, National Revenue Center, 550 Main St Ste 8002, Cincinnati, OH 45202-5215. If required by your state, submit a copy of your approved application to the alcohol beverage agency or other State agency. It took 3 months to receive our fuel alcohol permit.

Kyle Brown is the owner of Clawhammer Supply, a small scale distillation and brewing equipment company which he founded in 2009. His passion is teaching people about the many uses of distillation equipment as well as how to make beer at home. When he isn't brewing beer or writing about it, you can find him at his local gym or on the running trail.

  • Can you help me with the laws in Florida

    Posted by Harold on December 16, 2020
  • Two quick questions:
    First, do you send three copies to the TTB?
    Secondly, for hydrosol and essential oil extraction, do you need the permit anyway? I apologize for the redundancy of the questions, but reply’s are not posted here.

    Posted by STeve on September 09, 2020
  • To complete my permit, do I need to mail all three copies of the application in?

    Posted by Adam on May 14, 2020
  • Do I need a bond for a small fuel plant permit. It’s asking me for abond

    Posted by Shane daniel on April 24, 2020
  • I live in Mandeville Arkansas right next to Texarkana and how far do churches have to be away from the plant location and what are the standards for steel production is it okay to manufacture my own distiller

    Posted by Cody on October 31, 2019
  • I live in SC. What are the restrictions for producing drinking alcohol?

    Posted by Bob on April 02, 2019
  • How about SC. What are the legal restrictions on how much alcohol you can make for drinkingi

    Posted by Bob on April 02, 2019
  • interested in the history and how the process is done and how to adjust the ingredents or resceipts

    Posted by Liz on December 27, 2018
  • Can you help me with the laws in Florida

    Posted by Joshua Trythall on February 27, 2018
  • Live in SC, filled out forms sent them in and got a return letter stating I need a ein number not sure about jumping thru the hoops

    Posted by Gambo on February 08, 2018
  • HELLO WOULD YOU KNOW WHERE OR HOW i COULD Apply For A Fuel Alcohol Permit TO MAKE ethanol fuel FOR MY OWN USE IN CANADA ? WITH MY OWN STILL . tHANK YOU FROM fLOYD .

    Posted by Floyd on January 28, 2018
  • HELLO WOULD YOU KNOW WHERE OR HOW i COULD Apply For A Fuel Alcohol Permit TO MAKE ethanol fuel FOR MY OWN USE IN CANADA ? WITH MY OWN STILL . tHANK YOU FROM fLOYD .

    Posted by Floyd on January 28, 2018
  • What forms do you need to send to the fed after you make your moonshine? Do they want to know how much you have made and when?

    Thanks in advance

    Posted by aLTON r on November 29, 2017
  • I live in Canada Toronto Ontario where would I get the PERMITS you are talking about to make SPIRTS WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO ME SO I COULD GET THE INFO INNEED TO MAKE SPIRIST

    Posted by domenico Monteleone on September 04, 2017
  • Why are you telling uncle Sam what you’re doing? Have they ever visited your house unannounced? Just do it

    Posted by Ted on July 12, 2017
  • any updates?

    Posted by copper on October 24, 2016
  • I was under the impression that I could distill eight gallons per year for personal consumption…True or not?

    Posted by Phil Jones on October 22, 2016
  • im in virginia and ive been jumping through thier hoops also they ttb told me i have to apply for a ein also even though im not selling ethenol they also told me to purchase a still which is againist the law without the permit what a bunch of morons
    Posted by arthur bright on April 07, 2016
  • Could you give me more info on where you got this info. I live in Rhode Island and was under the impression that it was not legal to distill.

    Posted by CRaig on October 23, 2015
  • FYI I started this application in the beginning of July 2015 and I am still jumping through hoops. they have made a recent change, august 2015, in which you need to apply for an ein, you can no longer simply use your ss#. so now i have to pretend i have started a new business and apply for an ein. it is becoming a hassle.

    i live in rhode island and it is legal to distill for personal home use in ri, took forever to get that answer from the state, but remember, as far as the feds are concerned, you can only distill if you are making alcohol for fuel purposes.

    Posted by ez hacks on September 10, 2015

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