# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 12. Baltimore City

### Subtitle 18. Renewal of Licenses

#### Section 12-1801

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

  (1) Sec. 4-402 ("Eligibility for renewal; process");

  (2) Sec. 4-403 ("Renewal application");

  (3) Sec. 4-407 ("Denial of renewal application");

  (4) Sec. 4-408 ("Issuance of renewed licenses");

  (5) Sec. 4-409 ("Multiple licenses"); and

  (6) Sec. 4-410 ("Chain store, supermarket, or discount house").

(b) Section 4-404 ("Filing period for renewal application") of Division I of this article does not apply in the City and is superseded by Sec. 12-1802 of this subtitle.

(c) The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 4 ("Renewal of local licenses") of Division I of this article apply in the City:

  (1) Sec. 4-405 ("Contents of renewal application"), subject to Sec.Sec. 12-1803 and 12-1804 of this subtitle; and

  (2) Sec. 4-406 ("Protests"), subject to Sec. 12-1805 of this subtitle.

#### Section 12-1802

To renew a license, the license holder annually shall file an application with the Board between March 1 and March 31, inclusive.

#### Section 12-1803

(a) This section applies only to a license that is issued in, transferred into, or transferred to a different location within the following areas of the 46th alcoholic beverages district if the application for the issuance or transfer was received by the Board after December 31, 1995:

  (1) ward 1, precincts 2, 3, 4, and 5;

  (2) ward 2, in its entirety;

  (3) ward 3, precinct 3; and

  (4) ward 26, precinct 10.

(b) A license holder shall file with a license renewal application a copy of the valid seating capacity rating issued by the Baltimore City Fire Department for the licensed premises.

(c)

  (1) If the seating capacity rating for the licensed premises exceeds 150 persons, the Board may require the license holder to submit with the license renewal application an accounting of the gross sales for the previous license year.

  (2) The accounting described in this subsection shall:

    (i) be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and

    (ii) at a minimum, specify separate figures for:

      (1) total sales, not including sales of novelty items, income from vending machines, or other sales not directly related to food or beverages;

      (2) alcoholic beverages sales; and

      (3) food sales.

#### Section 12-1804

(a) This section applies only to a license holder of a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license for use in a restaurant in the 46th Alcoholic Beverages District.

(b) A license holder shall file with a license renewal application:

  (1) a statement that verifies average daily receipts; and

  (2) an affidavit of a licensed certified public accountant that verifies compliance with Sec. 12-903(c)(2)(ii)1 or (3)(iii) of this title.

#### Section 12-1804.1

When determining whether a license should be renewed and, if so, whether any conditions should be attached, the Board may consider the performance of the license holder for the 4-year period immediately before the date of the renewal application.

#### Section 12-1804.2

(a) This section applies only to a holder of:

  (1) a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license;

  (2) a Class A-2 beer, wine, and liquor license; and

  (3) a Class A-7 beer, wine, and liquor license.

(b)

  (1) A license holder shall maintain and operate a digital surveillance system on the licensed premises in accordance with this section and regulations adopted by the Board under subsection (c) of this section.

  (2) The digital surveillance system shall be equipped with high-definition cameras that provide continuous, 24-hour video monitoring without audio recording capacity placed inside and outside the licensed premises.

  (3) The cameras must be placed in such a way that:

    (i) the exterior of each entryway into the licensed premises is monitored;

    (ii) the interior of each entryway into the licensed premises is monitored; and

    (iii) the cash register or till is monitored.

  (4) The video recorded from the surveillance system shall be retained for not less than 14 days.

  (5) A license holder must post appropriate signage notifying individuals on the premises they are being recorded.

(c)

  (1) On or before December 31, 2020, the Board shall adopt regulations relating to digital surveillance in consultation with the Baltimore Police Department.

  (2) The regulations adopted in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:

    (i) require that licensed establishments retain video recordings from the surveillance system for not less than 14 days but not more than 30 days;

    (ii) require that a notice be placed in a conspicuous location on the interior and exterior of the premises location notifying the public that the licensed establishment is subject to 24-hour video surveillance monitoring;

    (iii) include details regarding the specifications for what types of video surveillance systems are acceptable;

    (iv) require that the Baltimore Police Department may request video footage only in connection with a criminal investigation and that video footage obtained in violation of this section is inadmissible in a criminal proceeding;

    (v) include details on how and when the Board will verify that an acceptable video surveillance system has been installed as well as penalties for failure to comply with this section; and

    (vi) provide for the issuance of temporary waivers to license holders who purchased and installed noncompliant surveillance systems prior to October 1, 2020.

(d) Beginning January 1, 2021, a license holder applying for a license renewal shall file with the license renewal application an affidavit verifying compliance with subsection (b) of this section.

#### Section 12-1805

To hear and determine a protest filed against a license renewal, the Board:

(1) shall consider only issues with respect to a specific complaint as to the operation of the licensed premises; and

(2) may not consider zoning issues.

#### Section 12-1806

Section 12-1508 of this title does not apply to an application for a license for the same premises by way of renewal.

#### Section 12-1807

Section 12-2103 of this title applies to a holder of a license that has been renewed.

#### Section 12-1808

(a) An applicant for license renewal shall pay a renewal application fee of $78 to the Director of Finance in addition to the license fee.

(b) A license renewal application that the Board receives after March 31 may be:

  (1) rejected; or

  (2) subject to a late fine of $50 for each day the application is late, up to a maximum amount of $1,500.

#### Section 12-1809

The requirement for a criminal history records check under Sec. 4-107 of this article does not apply to applicants for license renewal.

#### Section 12-1810

Notwithstanding Sec. 12-1503 of this title, the Board may renew a Class A or Class D beer license, beer and light wine license, or beer, wine, and liquor license originally issued to a holder of an out-of-state alcoholic beverages license.

#### Section 12-1811

Notwithstanding Sec. 12-1504 of this title, a person that has an interest in more than one Class A license may renew the licenses.

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