# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 13. Baltimore County

### Subtitle 17. Transfer of Licenses; Substitution of Names on License

#### Section 13-1701

(a) The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 3 ("Transfer of Local Licenses; Substitution of Names on License") of Division I of this article apply in the county without exception or variation:

  (1) Sec. 4-303 ("Chain store, supermarket, or discount house");

  (2) Sec. 4-304 ("Compliance with Bulk Transfers Act required");

  (3) Sec. 4-305 ("Filing fee and endorsement"); and

  (4) Sec. 4-306 ("Substitution of names of officers on license").

(b) Section 4-302 ("Transfer of place of business; transfer of license and inventory") of Division I of this article applies in the county, subject to Sec.Sec. 13-1702, 13-1703, 13-1704, 13-1705, 13-1706, and 13-1707 of this subtitle.

#### Section 13-1702

(a) If the Board approves an application from a contract purchaser, an owner of the location, or a developer under Sec. 13-1404 of this title, the applicant may apply to transfer the license to an operator of the type of business for which the license was approved if:

  (1) the license is for a location in the site for which the license was approved; and

  (2) the application for transfer occurs within 5 years after the original application for the site is approved or construction at the location is completed, whichever is later.

(b) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Board may approve a change of location of a license issued under Sec. 13-1404 of this title if:

  (1) the license holder has engaged in an active alcoholic beverages business under the license for at least 1 year before applying for the change;

  (2)

    (i) the license holder has not engaged in an active alcoholic beverages business under the license; and

    (ii) the Board approved a change of location of the license from another location within the same election district at least 5 years before the application for the change of location under this item; or

  (3) the license was originally issued within the same election district and has been at the same location for at least 10 years.

#### Section 13-1703

(a) This section does not apply to a license issued as an exception to the population and numerical limitations specified in "Rule 19 - Population and Numerical Limitations" of the Rules and Regulations of the Board.

(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the Board, after a hearing, may approve a transfer of a Class B beer, wine, and liquor (on-sale) hotel and restaurant license to a Class D beer, wine, and liquor (on-sale) license if, before the annual renewal of the license:

  (1) the license holder is cited by the Board for violating the license restriction concerning the percent of food sold versus the percent of alcoholic beverages sold; or

  (2) because of hardship or economic conditions, the license holder:

    (i) knows that the food-alcoholic beverages restriction under item (1) of this paragraph is being violated on the licensed premises; and

    (ii) notifies the Board in writing of this violation and the reasons for requesting the transfer.

(c) A license may not be transferred unless, after a hearing, the Board finds that the transfer is in the best interest, health, safety, and welfare of the neighborhood in which the license transfer is to be granted.

#### Section 13-1704

The Board may not allow the transfer of a license unless the Board is presented with a receipt or certificate from the Director of Finance showing that all personal property taxes due the county or the State are paid.

#### Section 13-1708

(a)

  (1) Notwithstanding any license population quota limitation, the Board may issue not more than 10 Class B (SB) restaurant-service bar beer, wine, and liquor licenses for on-premises consumption in the "Pikesville Revitalization Area" or "Pikesville Town Center" for conversion purposes only, as provided under paragraph (2) of this subsection.

  (2)

    (i) Except for Class C licenses, not more than 10 beer, wine, and liquor (on-sale) retail licenses of any class that were in existence in the county on January 1, 1988, may be transferred into the "Pikesville Revitalization Area" or the "Pikesville Town Center" and converted into Class B (SB) licenses.

    (ii) Once transferred, a license may not be considered a license in the district from which it was transferred.

(b)

  (1) A license:

    (i) may be issued only for a location in the "Pikesville Revitalization Area", or the "Pikesville Town Center", as those terms are defined by the County Office of Planning and Zoning on or before July 1, 1988; and

    (ii) may not be issued for a location that has been licensed under any class of on-sale license within 2 years before the application for the Class B (SB) license is filed.

  (2) The license shall be:

    (i) used with the operation of a "restaurant" as defined by the rules of the Board; and

    (ii) restricted to restaurants that have table service, specifically excluding any type of service while the customer stands or accepts delivery of purchased food items other than while seated at a table.

  (3) The proposed location for the license shall otherwise comply with the zoning ordinances of the county.

  (4) The license may not be:

    (i) transferred outside of the "Pikesville Revitalization Area" or "Pikesville Town Center"; or

    (ii) converted to any other class of license.

  (5) The issuance qualifications, fee, and hours and days of sale for the license are the same as those for a Class B beer, wine, and liquor (on-sale) hotel and restaurant license.

#### Section 13-1710

(a)

  (1) In addition to the licenses authorized for issuance in the county, the Board may authorize the transfer to an establishment specified in subsection (c) of this section of a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license or a Class D beer, wine, and liquor license that:

    (i) was issued on or before December 31, 2016;

    (ii) was in existence in the same election district of the county as the proposed licensed premises on December 31, 2016; and

    (iii) is valid on the date of transfer.

  (2) To be transferred under this section, a license may not be a license that is prohibited from being transferred by statute or regulation.

  (3) On the date of transfer, a license shall be converted into a Class B beer, wine, and liquor (on-sale) service bar commercial revitalization district license (B-SB-CRD license).

(b) The qualifications for a license holder, the fee, and the hours and days of sale for a service bar license are the same as those for a Class B beer, wine, and liquor (on-sale) hotel and restaurant license.

(c)

  (1) A B-SB-CRD license may be issued only for a premises that is:

    (i) in a free-standing building with its own parking lot;

    (ii) zoned BL-CCC and in compliance with any applicable zoning ordinance; and

    (iii) at least 100 feet from a place of worship.

  (2) A B-SB-CRD license shall be used in conjunction with the operation of a restaurant, as defined in this article and in the regulations of the Board.

  (3) The hours during which the privileges conferred by the license may be exercised may not exceed the hours during which food is offered for sale.

  (4) The B-SB-CRD license shall be used to allow the sale and service of alcoholic beverages to patrons only as part of a meal at a dining table.

  (5) The licensed premises may not have a separate bar area for service of alcoholic beverages.

  (6) The B-SB-CRD license holder may not sell beer, wine, and liquor for off-premises consumption.

(d) A B-SB-CRD bar license issued under this section may not be converted into any other class of license.

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