Title 23. Howard County — Subtitle 16. Licensing Conditions; Multiple Licensing Plans
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-1601 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 16. Licensing Conditions; Multiple Licensing Plans
§ 23–1601LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section does not apply to a Class A license issued for use in an existing shopping center or in a proposed shopping center development for which a building permit has been issued that contains 200,000 or more square feet of commercial retail space.
(b)
(1)
The Board may issue up to six Class A licenses in each election district in the county.
(2)
Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Board may issue more than six Class A licenses in an election district, provided that the total number of Class A licenses in any election district does not exceed one Class A license of any type for every 4,000 residents of the election district, as determined by the latest federal census.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-1602 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 16. Licensing Conditions; Multiple Licensing Plans
§ 23–1602LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Board may not issue:
(i)
a Class B license for a restaurant that is within 400 feet of the nearest point of a public school building; or
(ii)
any other license for an establishment that is within 500 feet of the nearest point of a public school building.
(2)
A decision of the County Board of Education to locate a public school building within 500 feet of the premises of a license holder may not be the basis to revoke or deny the renewal or transfer of the license.
(b)
For a license issued on or before June 30, 1971, the Board may renew the license or approve the transfer of the license to a new license holder for the same establishment and type of license.
(c)
The prohibition against issuing a license in subsection (a) of this section does not apply to the issuance of a gift basket permit.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-1603 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 16. Licensing Conditions; Multiple Licensing Plans
§ 23–1603LinkCopy Citation
The Board may not issue any license with an off–sale privilege for use in a business that is intended to be operated as a drive–through sales facility at which alcoholic beverages are:
(1)
sold at retail; and
(2)
dispensed through a window or door to a purchaser in or on a motor vehicle for off–premises consumption.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-1606 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 16. Licensing Conditions; Multiple Licensing Plans
§ 23–1606LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Board may issue to an individual or for the use of a person one of the following groups of licenses but not both:
(i)
one Class D (on– and off–sale) beer, wine, and liquor license, five Class B (on–sale) beer, wine, and liquor licenses, and six Class BLX (luxury restaurant)(on–sale) beer, wine, and liquor licenses; or
(ii)
one Class D (on– and off–sale) beer, wine, and liquor license and eight Class BLX (luxury restaurant)(on–sale) beer, wine, and liquor licenses.
(2)
The licenses specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection are for separate premises.
(b)
A person may not have a direct or indirect interest in any combination of more than one Class D and nine Class B and Class BLX licenses.
(c)
For purposes of this section, an indirect interest is presumed to exist between two persons if both:
(1)
have a common parent company;
(2)
are linked by a franchise agreement, licensing agreement, or a concession agreement;
(3)
are part of a chain of businesses commonly owned and operated;
(4)
share:
(i)
directors, stockholders, partners, or members; or
(ii)
directors, stockholders, partners, or members of parents or subsidiaries;
(5)
share, directly or indirectly, profit from the sale of alcoholic beverages; or
(6)
share a common trade name, trademark, logo, or theme, or mode of operation identifiable by the public.