Selling a Licence IV or III in Calvados
Calvados (14) has 526 towns and villages and 709,441 residents, in the Normandy region. Its prefecture is Caen. Plans to open bars, restaurants and hotels usually focus on the most populated towns: Caen, Hérouville-Saint-Clair and Lisieux.
A licence located in a small village still keeps its value: it can be transferred to a more dynamic town in the département, where buyers are looking for one.
Depending on your timetable, you have two options: a buyback by the firm, with payment within 48 hours of signing, or a sale to project owners in the area, at the best price. Either way, the valuation is free and you pay no fees.
Where can your licence find a buyer?
Your licence can be transferred to any town in the département able to receive it. It can also move to a neighbouring département, with the authorisation of the prefect of the destination département. Calvados borders the following 3 départements:
- Calvados
- Neighbouring départements
- Towns with 10,000 or more residents
Your buyer can therefore come from much further afield than your town. A licence transferred to another département cannot move again for eight years.
If your Licence IV is the last one in its town, transferring it to another town requires the mayor's approval. We check this as soon as we value your licence.
The most populated towns in Calvados
| Town | Postcode | Residents | Cap on Licence III and IV premises |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caen | 14000 | 109,400 | 243 |
| Hérouville-Saint-Clair | 14200 | 23,470 | 52 |
| Lisieux | 14100 | 19,645 | 43 |
| Vire Normandie | 14500 | 17,457 | 38 |
| Bayeux | 14400 | 12,659 | 28 |
| Ifs | 14123 | 11,937 | 26 |
| Mondeville | 14120 | 10,331 | 22 |
| Mézidon Vallée d'Auge | 14140 | 9,766 | 21 |
| Ouistreham | 14150 | 9,212 | 20 |
| Souleuvre en Bocage | 14260 | 8,629 | 19 |
Resident population: Insee, legal populations in force in 2026. Indicative cap: one 3rd or 4th category drinks establishment per 450 residents (article L3332-1 of the French Public Health Code), not counting tourist accommodation capacity. Where it is reached, no new Licence III can be created: existing licences are more sought after there.
Towns with 10,000 or more residents
The 7 towns with 10,000 or more residents in Calvados have their own page:
The steps of the sale
- Free valuationYou tell us the town where your licence is. Within 24 working hours, an expert calls you with a price and our buyback offer.
- ChecksCategory, holder, date it was last operated: we check the licence before making any offer.
- Signing and paymentOur lawyers draw up the sale agreement. With a buyback, you are paid within 48 hours; with a sale to a buyer, on signing with the buyer.
Is your licence still valid?
A licence that has not been operated for more than five years is cancelled (article L3333-1 of the French Public Health Code). If your premises are closed, check your deadline: you need to allow time to sign the sale and complete the transfer.