(a) Criteria for establishment. As a general rule, if a person intends to establish a bonded warehouse, other than one established on the bonded premises of a distilled spirits plant qualified for the production of spirits or contiguous to such premises, the proposed warehouse must have a minimum capacity of 250,000 wine gallons of bulk spirits and the need for such a warehouse must be clearly shown. TTB may consider an application to establish a bonded warehouse with less capacity provided a need is clearly shown.

(b) Application. The applicant must submit a separate written request along with the application for registration explaining the need for the bonded warehouse. TTB may approve the application for registration if:

(1) The proposed location for the warehouse will not jeopardize the revenue; and

(2) The applicant provides evidence showing sufficient need for establishing such a warehouse.

(c) Special conditions. Based on the application and request, TTB may limit the type of operations that may be conducted at the bonded warehouse. The proprietor of a warehouse approved for a limited type of operation may not expand or change the operation to include any other type of operation without application to and approval of the appropriate TTB officer.

(26 U.S.C. 5171 and 5178)