# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 23. Howard County

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

#### Section 23-1601

(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.

#### Section 23-1602

(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.

#### Section 23-1603

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.

#### Section 23-1606

(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.

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