Title 12. Baltimore City — Subtitle 25. Unlicensed Establishments
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-2501 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 25. Unlicensed Establishments
§ 12–2501LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This subsection applies to an establishment that is not licensed by the Board but that is:
(1)
open to the public;
(2)
a place of public entertainment; or
(3)
a place at which setups or other component parts of mixed alcoholic beverages are sold under a license issued under the Business Regulation Article.
(b)
Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, an establishment that is not licensed by the Board, at a location under control or possession of the establishment, may not:
(1)
serve or keep alcoholic beverages; or
(2)
allow alcoholic beverages to be consumed.
(c)
A restaurant that is not licensed by the Board may allow a customer to consume alcoholic beverages from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. the following day if:
(1)
the alcoholic beverages are brought to the restaurant by the customer;
(2)
the alcoholic beverages are consumed with a meal;
(3)
there is no charge for admission to the restaurant; and
(4)
the Baltimore City Fire Department determines that the maximum seating capacity of the restaurant is 50.
(d)
(1)
The Baltimore City Police Department may immediately close all operations of an establishment if the Department determines that the establishment is in violation of this section and that the public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action.
(2)
The establishment shall be closed until the Baltimore City Police Department determines that the public health, safety, or welfare has been restored.
(3)
The owner or operator of the establishment shall be given an opportunity to request a prompt hearing in circuit court on when the establishment may reopen.
(e)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-2502 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 25. Unlicensed Establishments
§ 12–2502LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section or otherwise provided by law, from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on any day, an individual may not consume alcoholic beverages:
(i)
in an establishment open to the public;
(ii)
in a place of public accommodation; or
(iii)
in a place at which setups or other component parts of mixed alcoholic drinks are sold.
(2)
The prohibition against consumption in paragraph (1) of this subsection is in effect if any form of entertainment, live or recorded, is offered at the place or at the establishment, regardless of whether the establishment or place is licensed under this article or other State law.
(b)
By regulation, the Board may restrict the hours and days for the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the inner perimeter of a rectangle bounded by 31st Street on the south, Greenmount Avenue on the east, 32nd Street on the north, and Barclay Street on the west.
(c)
The owner or manager of the establishment or place may not knowingly allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages that is prohibited by this section.
(d)
An individual who consumes alcoholic beverages at an establishment described in this section or an owner or a manager of the establishment who knowingly allows the consumption prohibited by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not more than 3 years or a fine of not more than $5,000 or both.