# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 22. Harford County

### Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses

#### Section 22-1501

(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. 4-213 ("Replacement licenses"); and

  (6) Sec. 4-214 ("Waiting periods after denial of license applications").

(b) 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. 22-1502 of this subtitle;

  (2) Sec. 4-203 ("Prohibition against issuing multiple licenses to individual or for use of entity"), subject to Sec.Sec. 22-1503 and 22-1504 of this subtitle and Subtitle 13, Part III, Subtitle 16, Part II, and Sec. 22-1005.2 of this title;

  (3) Sec. 4-204 ("Prohibition against issuing multiple licenses for same premises"), subject to Sec.Sec. 22-1503 and 22-1504 of this subtitle and Subtitle 13, Part III of this title;

  (4) Sec. 4-208 ("Notice of license application required"), subject to Sec. 22-1505 of this subtitle;

  (5) Sec. 4-210 ("Approval or denial of license application"), subject to Sec.Sec. 22-1506 and 22-1507 of this subtitle;

  (6) Sec. 4-211 ("License forms; effective date; expiration"), subject to Sec. 22-1508 of this subtitle; and

  (7) Sec. 4-212 ("License not property"), in addition to Sec. 22-1509 of this subtitle.

#### Section 22-1502

(a) In addition to food cooked or prepared on the licensed premises, a license holder may sell other goods that the Board specifies, including nonalcoholic drinks and food prepared off the licensed premises.

(b) The Board shall print a list of the saleable goods under subsection (a) of this section and provide a copy to each license holder when the license is issued.

(c) If the Board makes a change to the list, the Board shall immediately mail a copy of the revised list to each license holder.

#### Section 22-1503

(a)

  (1) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not have interest in more than one license.

  (2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection applies whether the license is held or controlled by direct or indirect ownership, by franchise operation, by stock ownership, by interlocking directors or interlocking stock ownership, or in any other manner, directly or indirectly.

(b) Under subsection (a) of this section, an indirect ownership interest is presumed to exist between any combination of individuals, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, limited partnerships, joint ventures, associations, or other 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; or

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

#### Section 22-1504

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 wine licenses; and

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

#### Section 22-1505

(a) Before holding a hearing for an application for a license, the Board shall:

  (1) publish notice of the application two times in 2 successive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation published in the county; or

  (2) post notice of the application hearing online at least 14 days before the application hearing date.

(b)

  (1) For a hearing for an application for a new license or an upgrade to an existing license, the Board shall post a notice in a conspicuous location on the exterior of the location described in the application.

  (2) The notice shall be on a sign that measures at least 12 by 18 inches and include:

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

    (ii) the name of the applicant; and

    (iii) the date, time, and location for the application hearing.

  (3) The notice shall remain posted for 20 days before the hearing.

(c)

  (1) The Board shall publish its decision on an application for a new license, an upgrade of an existing license, or a change of location of an existing license:

    (i) in one newspaper of general circulation published in the county; or

    (ii) on the Board's website.

  (2) The decision shall state the name of the license holder, the type of license, and the location of the premises.

#### Section 22-1506

The Board may not issue a license to a person or an agent of the person who has been convicted in a federal or State court of:

(1) a felony; or

(2) a violation of the laws governing:

  (i) the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages;

  (ii) maintaining or operating a brothel; or

  (iii) gaming.

#### Section 22-1507

Before the Board issues a license, the Board shall consider and determine as suitable:

(1) the moral character and financial responsibility of the applicant;

(2) the general fitness of the applicant to uphold the public trust; and

(3) the appropriateness of the location described in the application, taking into consideration:

  (i) the number of existing licenses; and

  (ii) any objections from property owners living in the immediate neighborhood of the location described in the application.

#### Section 22-1508

(a) A license shall describe the location of the licensed premises.

(b)

  (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the decision of the Board becomes effective 5 days after the date of publication of the decision.

  (2) The Board may waive the 5-day period if no written or oral objection is raised to the Board's decision by the end of the application hearing.

#### Section 22-1509

A license is not subject to:

(1) a writ of execution by a judgment creditor of a license holder;

(2) a distraint for rent; or

(3) sale or transfer, unless the license accompanies the business for which the license was issued.

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