Title 23. Howard County — Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-901 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 23–901LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There are:
(1)
a Class A–1 beer, wine, and liquor 7–day license; and
(2)
a Class A–2 beer, wine, and liquor 6–day license.
(b)
(1)
A license under this section authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at retail at the place described in the license.
(2)
The license holder shall sell the beer, wine, or liquor in a sealed package or container that may not be opened or its contents consumed on the licensed premises.
(c)
A license under this section may not be issued for a drugstore unless the applicant:
(1)
has been doing business at the location applied for in the license for at least 1 year before the date of the application for the license;
(2)
is the assignee of a business established for at least 1 year before the date of the application for the license at the location applied for; or
(3)
has been engaged in the retail drug business for at least 3 years.
(d)
The annual license fees are:
(1)
$900 for a Class A–1, 7–day license; and
(2)
$700 for a Class A–2, 6–day license.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-902 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 23–902LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license.
(b)
The Board may issue the license to the owner of a hotel that:
(1)
is in a building at least three stories tall that was originally constructed for hotel purposes;
(2)
has a capital investment of at least $500,000; and
(3)
contains:
(i)
at least one passenger elevator;
(ii)
at least 100 rooms to accommodate the public; and
(iii)
a dining room with facilities for preparing and serving regular meals for at least 125 individuals at one seating.
(c)
The license authorizes the license holder to sell at a hotel or restaurant at the place described in the license:
(1)
beer, wine, and liquor at retail for on–premises consumption; and
(2)
beer, wine, and liquor in sealed containers for off–premises consumption only to a person who has purchased prepared food from the licensed premises.
(d)
(1)
The license holder may not display or provide shelving for beer, wine, or liquor for off–premises sales in areas of the establishment that are accessible to the public.
(2)
Off–sale alcoholic beverages receipts collected under the license shall be included in the calculation of average daily receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages in a restaurant under § 1–101 of this article.
(3)
The license holder may sell beer, wine, and liquor for off–premises consumption only when the licensed premises is open for business as a hotel or restaurant.
(e)
The Board may limit the quantity of alcoholic beverages sold in a single transaction for off–premises consumption under the license.
(f)
The Executive Director may issue one Class 8 farm brewery license and one Class 7 micro–brewery license to a license holder that holds not more than five Class B and six Class BLX beer, wine, and liquor licenses.
(g)
The annual license fee is $1,000.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-903 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 23–903LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is a Class BLX beer, wine, and liquor license.
(b)
The Board may issue the license to:
(1)
a holder of:
(i)
a Class B (on–sale) beer, wine, and liquor license; or
(ii)
a Class BLX beer, wine, and liquor license; or
(2)
an applicant that does not hold another alcoholic beverages license.
(c)
(1)
The Board may issue the license only for use in a restaurant:
(i)
that has a minimum capital investment of $750,000 for restaurant facilities, not including the cost of land or buildings;
(ii)
for which construction began on or after July 1, 1992; and
(iii)
that has seating for at least 125 individuals.
(2)
The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor for on–premises consumption.
(d)
The license holder may sell beer, wine, and liquor during the hours and days as set out under § 23–2004(c) of this title.
(e)
The annual license fee is $2,000.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-904 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 23–904LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is a 7–day Class C beer, wine, and liquor license.
(b)
The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at retail for on–premises consumption at the place described in the license.
(c)
The Board shall determine the annual license fee.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 23-905 (2026)
Title 23. Howard County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 23–905LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is:
(1)
a Class D beer, wine, and liquor (on–sale) 6–day license;
(2)
a Class D beer, wine, and liquor (on–sale) 7–day license;
(3)
a Class D beer, wine, and liquor (on– and off–sale) 6–day license; and
(4)
a Class D beer, wine, and liquor (on– and off–sale) 7–day license.
(b)
(1)
An on–sale license under this section authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at retail at the place described in the license for on–premises consumption.
(2)
An on– and off–sale license under this section authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at retail at the place described in the license for on– and off–premises consumption.
(c)
The license may not be issued for use by a drugstore.
(d)
(1)
Before the initial issuance of a license under subsection (a)(4) of this section, the owner shall attest in a sworn statement that gross receipts from food sales will be at least equal to 20% of the gross receipts from the sale of food and alcoholic beverages.
(2)
Before each renewal of a license issued under subsection (a)(4) of this section, the owner shall attest in a sworn statement that the gross receipts from food sales for the 12–month period immediately preceding the application for renewal were at least equal to 20% of the gross receipts from the sale of food and alcoholic beverages.
(e)
The annual license fees are:
(1)
$600 for a 6–day (on–sale) license;
(2)
$1,000 for a 7–day (on–sale) license;
(3)
$800 for a 6–day (on– and off–sale) license; and
(4)
$1,000 for a 7–day (on– and off–sale) license.