# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 12. Baltimore City

### Subtitle 14. Applications for Licenses

#### Section 12-1401

(a) The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 1 ("Applications for Local Licenses") of Division I of this article apply in the City without exception or variation:

  (1) Sec. 4-102 ("Applications to be filed with local licensing board");

  (2) Sec. 4-103 ("Application on behalf of partnership");

  (3) Sec. 4-104 ("Application on behalf of corporation or club");

  (4) Sec. 4-106 ("Payment of notice expenses");

  (5) Sec. 4-108 ("Application form required by Executive Director");

  (6) Sec. 4-111 ("Payment of license fees");

  (7) Sec. 4-112 ("Disposition of license fees");

  (8) Sec. 4-113 ("Refund of license fees"); and

  (9) Sec. 4-114 ("Fees for licenses issued for less than 1 year").

(b) Section 4-110 ("Required information on application -- Petition of support") of Division I of this article does not apply in the City and is superseded by Sec. 12-1405 of this subtitle.

(c) The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 1 ("Applications for Local Licenses") of Division I of this article apply in the City:

  (1) Sec. 4-105 ("Application on behalf of limited liability company"), subject to Sec. 12-1402 of this subtitle;

  (2) Sec. 4-107 ("Criminal history records check"), subject to Sec. 12-1403 of this subtitle; and

  (3) Sec. 4-109 ("Required information on application -- In general"), subject to Sec. 12-1404 of this subtitle.

#### Section 12-1402

An authorized person of a limited liability company who holds a license for the use of the limited liability company that was granted on or before June 1, 2012, need not be a registered voter in the City.

#### Section 12-1403

The Board shall obtain criminal history record information of each applicant for a license from the Central Repository.

#### Section 12-1404

The statement and acknowledgment required under Sec. 4-109(b) of this article authorizing inspection and search without warrant of the premises is not required when an applicant applies for a license under Sec. 12-1603(c) of this title if the applicant:

(1) files an affidavit that the applicant is the lessee of the premises; and

(2) provides a copy of the executed lease with the affidavit.

#### Section 12-1405

The application shall include a petition signed by at least three residents who are owners of real property and registered voters in the City stating that:

(1) the applicant:

  (i) is personally known to the signers of the petition; and

  (ii) is a resident or taxpayer of the City at the time the applicant presents the application to the signers of the petition;

(2) if the applicant is a corporation, at least one of the applicants:

  (i) is personally known to the signers of the petition;

  (ii) is a resident or taxpayer of the City at the time the applicant presents the application to the signers of the petition; and

  (iii) is a registered voter in the State; and

(3) if the applicant is a partnership, all members of the partnership are residents of the City at the time the applicants present the application to the signers of the petition.

#### Section 12-1406

(a) In this section, "community association" means:

  (1) a nonprofit association, corporation, or other organization that is:

    (i) composed of residents of a community within which a nuisance is located;

    (ii) operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare and general neighborhood improvement and enhancement; and

    (iii) exempt from taxation under Sec. 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code; or

  (2) a nonprofit association, corporation, or other organization that is:

    (i) composed of residents of a contiguous community that is defined by specific geographic boundaries, within which a nuisance is located;

    (ii) operated for the promotion of the welfare, improvement, and enhancement of that community; and

    (iii) in good standing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

(b) If a community association and an applicant for the issuance or renewal of an alcoholic beverages license have entered into a memorandum of understanding that expressly acknowledges the authority of the Board under this article, the Board may make the issuance or renewal of the license conditional on the substantial compliance of the applicant with the memorandum of understanding.

(c) The existence of a memorandum of understanding does not affect any requirement of any individuals to file a protest under Sec. 4-406 of this article or a complaint under Sec. 4-603 of this article.

#### Section 12-1407

(a)

  (1) The Board or the Board's designee shall examine each application for the issuance or transfer of a license within 45 days of receipt of the application to determine whether the application is complete.

  (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, an application for the issuance, transfer, or renewal is not complete unless the applicant has:

    (i) obtained zoning approval or verification of zoning if the application is for renewal;

    (ii) submitted all documents required in the application;

    (iii) paid all fines and fees that are due; and

    (iv) for the renewal of a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license, a Class A-2 beer, wine, and liquor license, or a Class A-7 beer, wine, and liquor license, submitted an affidavit as required by Sec. 12-1804.2 of this title.

  (3) An application for the issuance, transfer, or renewal of a Class B-D-7 license that may be issued under Sec. 12-1603(c)(8) of this title in the Old Goucher Revitalization District under Sec. 12-1603(e) of this title is complete without an applicant obtaining zoning approval or verification of zoning.

(b)

  (1) A license hearing may not be scheduled unless the Board determines that the application is complete.

  (2) A complete application with all submitted documents shall be posted online at least 14 days before the hearing date.

  (3) The postponement of a hearing shall be posted online not less than 72 hours before the hearing date.

(c)

  (1) To incorporate a change in the application document after the Board or the Board's designee has determined the application to be complete, the applicant shall submit the change to the Board not later than 15 days before the scheduled hearing.

  (2) After the hearing on the application, an applicant may change the application only at a new hearing.

(d) The Board shall impose a fine that it determines for failure to comply with the requirements under this section.

#### Section 12-1408

(a)

  (1) On or before January 1, 2027, the Board shall establish a standard template for memoranda of understanding between applicants for alcoholic beverages licenses and local neighborhood associations in accordance with this title.

  (2) Individual neighborhood associations may include additional information on the standard template established under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(b) If an applicant for the issuance of a new, transferred, or expanded alcoholic beverages license is required to submit a memorandum of understanding, the Board may not consider the application to be complete unless a completed memorandum of understanding is included with the application.

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Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)