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The Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore City (BLLC) is responsible for limiting and/or restricting the number of establishments permitted to sell alcohol in Baltimore City. The BLLC is responsible for processing applications for and transfers/renewals of licenses to sell beer, wine and liquor; conducting period inspections of licensed businesses; collecting all license fees and fines; fining, suspending, or revoking licenses; and licensing and regulating adult entertainment business in Baltimore City.
Are there different liquor licenses in Baltimore City?
Yes, there are various types of liquor licenses that can be obtained in Baltimore City depending on the purpose for which the licensed will be used. The licenses consist of (1) Beer and Wine, or (2) Beer, Wine, and Liquor. Each category includes different classes depending on the type of establishment, purpose for the license, how the liquor will be sold, days the liquor will be sold, and times the liquor will be sold in Baltimore City.
How do you apply for a Baltimore City Liquor License?
To apply for a Baltimore City liquor license, an application must be filed with the BLLC for license transfer, expansion, renewal, or a new restaurant license if certain parameters are met. The application packet consists of various documents and forms that are to be filed with the BLLC, and strict compliance with the application packet and requisite documents is mandatory. Specifically, there is an application checklist which lists all the necessary documents to be submitted, however, even with the checklist in hand, this is still a complicated process and attention to detail is important. These various forms and documents include financial forms, floor plan diagrams, a background check confirmation report, corporate papers, an agreement of sale, etc. An application fee must accompany the application packet at the time the application is submitted.
More information about the application process can be found here: Application Process | Liquor License Board (baltimorecity.gov)
What happens after the application is submitted?
After the application and all required supplemental documents/forms have been submitted to the BLLC, a hearing will be scheduled and held. Hearings are open to the public and generally take place at City Hall. The schedule for all upcoming hearings is on the BLLC website and can be found here: Liquor License Hearing Schedules.
Can a liquor license issuance, transfer or renewal be protested?
Yes, during a liquor license hearing, citizens are permitted to protest any issuance of a new license, a transfer of location, or a transfer of ownership of an establishment in various ways. Under Alcoholic Beverages & Cannabis Article 12- 1508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, if more than fifty percent of the real property owners and certain tenants object to the issuance of the license in a precise manner, the Board must deny the application.
Under Alcoholic Beverages & Cannabis Article 4-406, if ten or more residents and/or property owners in the immediate vicinity in which the licensed place of business is located object to the renewal of the license based on specific complaints, the BLLC may not renew the license until a public hearing has been held,
The Board may also, on its own initiative, protest the renewal of a licensed premises based on specific complaints.
What happens after the issuance, transfer, or renewal of a liquor license?
Even after successful completion of the liquor license application and hearing process, there are additional steps that must be taken to finalize the issuance, transfer and/or renewal of a liquor license. The BLLC provides a Hearing Receipt, which sets forth additional steps and required documents to be submitted before formal issuance of the liquor license, including but not limited to, payment of outstanding taxes, obtaining a trader’s license, obtaining a certificate of occupancy, taking an alcohol awareness course, and obtaining a sales and use tax license.
Navigating the Baltimore City liquor license application and hearing process can be a difficult and stressful process. If you are currently applying or thinking of applying for a new liquor license or the transfer/renewal of an existing liquor license, we encourage you to speak to our experienced attorneys who can assist with navigating this process from start to finish.
Contact an experienced liquor license attorney.
If you have questions regarding liquor licenses in Baltimore City or would like assistance in other hospitality, zoning, or real estate matters, please do not hesitate to contact Silverman Thompson or reach out to liquor license expert Joeseph R. Woolman III, Esq. directly:
jwoolman@silvermanthompson.com
(410) 385-2225
(410) 385-2225