# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 18. Charles County

### Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses

#### Section 18-1501

(a) The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 2 ("Issuance or Denial of Local Licenses") of Division I of this article apply in the county without exception or variation:

  (1) Sec.?4-205?("Chain store, supermarket, or discount house");

  (2) Sec.?4-206?("Limitations on retail sales floor space");

  (3) Sec.?4-207?("Licenses issued to minors");

  (4) Sec.?4-209?("Hearing");

  (5) Sec.?4-211?("License forms; effective date; expiration");

  (6) Sec.?4-212?("License not property"); and

  (7) Sec.?4-213?("Replacement licenses").

(b) Section 4-208 ("Notice of license application required") of Division I of this article does not apply in the county and is superseded by Sec. 18-1504 of this subtitle.

(c) The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 2 ("Issuance or Denial of Local Licenses") of Division I of this article apply in the county:

  (1) Sec.?4-202?("Authority of local licensing boards"), subject to Sec. 18-1502 of this subtitle;

  (2) Sec.?4-203?("Prohibition against issuing multiple licenses to individual or for use of entity"), subject to Sec. 18-1503 of this subtitle and Subtitle 13, Part III and Subtitle 16, Part II of this title;

  (3) Sec.?4-204?("Prohibition against issuing multiple licenses for same premises"), subject to Sec. 18-1503 of this subtitle and Subtitle 13, Part III of this title;

  (4) Sec.?4-210?("Approval or denial of license application"), subject to Sec. 18-1505 of this subtitle; and

  (5) Sec.?4-214?("Waiting periods after denial of license applications"), subject to Sec. 18-1507 of this subtitle.

#### Section 18-1502

The Board may not issue a Class A or Class D beer license, beer and light wine license, or beer, wine, and liquor license to a person that holds an out-of-state alcoholic beverages license.

#### Section 18-1503

Multiple licenses may be issued for the same premises or to an individual for the use of that individual, a partnership, a corporation, an unincorporated association, or a limited liability company if:

(1) the licenses are Class D beer or Class D beer and light wine licenses; and

(2) each premises is a bowling establishment that has at least 30 lanes with automatic pinsetters.

#### Section 18-1504

(a) Before the Board may approve an application for a license, the Board shall publish notice of the application two times in 2 successive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation in the county.

(b)

  (1) An applicant for a new license or an upgrade of an existing license shall post the notice in a conspicuous place in the location described in the application for 20 consecutive days before the application hearing.

  (2) The Board shall supply the applicant with the notice on a sign that measures at least 24 by 36 inches and includes:

    (i) the class of license for which the application is made;

    (ii) the name and trade name of the applicant;

    (iii) the date, time, and location of the application hearing; and

    (iv) contact information for the applicant.

  (3) An applicant shall pay to the Board a one-time posting fee of $35 for a new license or an upgrade of an existing license.

(c) If the location described in the application is under construction or renovation or is not easily accessible to the public, the applicant shall post an additional notice on the perimeter of the location that is easily accessible to the public, such as:

  (1) the entrance to the location;

  (2) a driveway to the location; or

  (3) the curb of the location.

(d) The Board may hold a hearing and act on the license application without full compliance with the posting requirements under this section if the applicant demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that the applicant substantially complied.

#### Section 18-1505

In a hearing on an application or a protest, the general reputation of the following is admissible:

(1) the applicant or license holder;

(2) the location described in the application; and

(3) the persons who congregate at the location described in the application.

#### Section 18-1506

(a) The Board may:

  (1) give tentative approval to issuing a license for an establishment that is not completed, based on plans and specifications that accompany the application; and

  (2) issue the license when construction is completed in accordance with the plans and specifications.

(b) This section does not apply to the renewal or transfer of a license issued before May 1, 2014.

#### Section 18-1507

The waiting periods specified in Sec. 4-214(a) of this article do not apply if the grounds for the denials were that:

(1) the license was not necessary to accommodate the public;

(2) under the license, the premises would not be suitable for the sale of alcoholic beverages; or

(3) the Board determined the applicant not to be a proper license holder.

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