# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 18. Charles County

### Subtitle 16. Licensing Conditions; Multiple Licensing Plans

#### Section 18-1601

(a)

  (1)

    (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Board may not issue more than one of any license with an off-sale privilege for every 1,350 residents in an election district in the county, as determined by the latest federal census.

    (ii) In the sixth election district, the Board may not issue more than one of any license with an off-sale privilege for every 2,700 residents in the election district, as determined by the latest federal census.

  (2) The Board may not approve the transfer of a license issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection from one election district to another.

  (3) The Board may not issue a new license in an election district unless the issue may be made without exceeding the quotas provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(b)

  (1) This section does not require the forfeiture or revocation of a license in effect on October 1, 1992.

  (2) In an election district in which a quota established in subsection (a)(1) of this section was exceeded as of October 1, 1992, the total number of licenses may be reduced only:

    (i) by the voluntary relinquishment of a license by the license holder;

    (ii) by the bankruptcy of the license holder; or

    (iii) in accordance with another provision of this article.

(c)

  (1) Notwithstanding the license quota limitations established in subsection (a) of this section, when a license is relinquished by a license holder or revoked by the Board, the Board may hold the license in abeyance until the earlier of:

    (i) the date the Board issues the license to a new license holder; or

    (ii) 1 year.

  (2) If the Board does not issue the license to a new license holder within 1 year after the date the license is relinquished or revoked the license shall be considered extinguished.

#### Section 18-1602

(a)

  (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Board may not issue a license:

    (i) with an on-sale privilege, for an establishment that is within 500 feet of a school accredited by the State Board of Education; or

    (ii) with an off-sale privilege, for an establishment that is within 1,000 feet of a school accredited by the State Board of Education.

  (2) The distance from the establishment to the school is to be measured in a direct line from the nearest wall of the establishment to the property line of the school.

(b) The prohibition against issuing a license in subsection (a) of this section does not apply to:

  (1) a Class B (on-sale) beer, wine, and liquor license issued for an establishment located in a municipality in the county;

  (2) a school that locates its building within 500 feet of an existing licensed premises; or

  (3) the renewal or transfer of a license issued before May 1, 2014.

#### Section 18-1605

(a) There is a Class B-BLX (luxury restaurant) on-sale beer, wine, and liquor license.

(b)

  (1) The Board may issue the license for use by a luxury-type restaurant that has:

    (i) a capital investment of at least $550,000 for dining room facilities and kitchen equipment, not including the cost of land, buildings, or leases; and

    (ii) seating for at least 150 individuals.

  (2) The license authorizes the on-premises consumption of beer, wine, and liquor.

(c) A person may not have a direct or indirect interest in any combination in more than six Class B-BLX licenses.

(d) An indirect interest is presumed to exist between any combination of persons if any of the following conditions exist between them:

  (1) a common parent company;

  (2) a franchise agreement;

  (3) a licensing agreement;

  (4) a concession agreement;

  (5) dual membership in a chain of businesses commonly owned and operated;

  (6) a sharing of directors, stockholders, partners, or members, or a sharing of directors, stockholders, partners, or members of parents or subsidiaries;

  (7) common direct or indirect sharing of profit from the sale of alcoholic beverages; or

  (8) a sharing of a common trade name, trademark, logo, or theme, or mode of operation identifiable by the public.

(e) Subject to the requirements of subsection (b) of this section, the Board shall define "luxury-type restaurant" by regulation.

(f) The annual license fee is $2,400.

#### Section 18-1606

(a) A person may not have a direct or indirect interest in more than two of the following licenses in any combination:

  (1) Class B-H (hotel) on-sale beer, wine, and liquor licenses issued under Sec. 18-902 of this title;

  (2) Class B-R (restaurant) on-sale beer, wine, and liquor licenses issued under Sec. 18-904 of this title; and

  (3) Class B-RB (restaurant/bar) on-sale beer, wine, and liquor licenses issued under Sec. 18-905 of this title.

(b) An indirect interest is presumed to exist between any combination of persons if any of the following conditions exist between them:

  (1) a common parent company;

  (2) a franchise agreement;

  (3) a licensing agreement;

  (4) a concession agreement;

  (5) dual membership in a chain of businesses commonly owned and operated;

  (6) a sharing of directors, stockholders, partners, or members, or a sharing of directors, stockholders, partners, or members of parents or subsidiaries;

  (7) common direct or indirect sharing of profit from the sale of alcoholic beverages; or

  (8) a sharing of a common trade name, trademark, logo, or theme or mode of operation identifiable by the public.

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