Title 32. Wicomico County — Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 32-901 (2026)
Title 32. Wicomico County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 32–901LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license.
(b)
(1)
A license may be issued only to an establishment that has been:
(i)
issued a Class B license; and
(ii)
continually operating as a restaurant in the county since at least 3 months before the application for the license.
(2)
The Board may not issue a license to an establishment that is a corporation or limited liability company unless the license applicant owns 75% of the total issued capital stock of the corporation or the limited liability company.
(3)
The Board may issue not more than three licenses in the county.
(c)
(1)
Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor, at retail at the place described in the application, for off–premises consumption.
(2)
The place described in the application:
(i)
may not exceed 20% of the area normally used in the operation of the restaurant business; and
(ii)
shall be contiguous to and adjoin the restaurant establishment.
(d)
The license 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.
(e)
(1)
The license holder shall purchase liquor for retail sale from a county dispensary or from a wholesaler.
(2)
A dispensary may not charge the license holder more than 15% above the wholesale operating cost to the dispensary.
(f)
The annual license fee is $4,400 and is in addition to the fee paid for the Class B license.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 32-902 (2026)
Title 32. Wicomico County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 32–902LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license.
(b)
(1)
The Board may issue the license for use by:
(i)
a hotel that has:
(1)
at least 25 rooms;
(2)
a lobby with registration, mail desk, and seating facilities; and
(3)
a dining room that serves full–course meals at least twice daily; or
(ii)
a restaurant that:
(1)
has a proper and adequate dining room with facilities for preparing and serving regular meals;
(2)
not counting seating at a bar or counter, has table seating for at least 40 individuals; and
(3)
has average daily receipts from the sale of food, not counting foodstuff contained in a mixed drink, that each month exceed the average daily receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages.
(2)
The seating requirement in paragraph (1)(ii)2 of this subsection does not apply to a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license holder who held the license on July 1, 1978.
(c)
The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at a hotel or restaurant at retail at the place described in the license, for on–premises consumption.
(d)
(1)
In this subsection, “lounge area” means an area that includes:
(i)
a bar where alcoholic beverages are served; and
(ii)
an entertainment facility in the same area as the bar.
(2)
The license holder may:
(i)
prohibit an individual under the legal drinking age from entering the lounge area after 9 p.m. unless the individual is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is of the legal drinking age; and
(ii)
charge an entertainment fee for each individual who is present while live entertainment is in progress in the lounge area.
(e)
(1)
Notwithstanding § 32–306 of this title, the license holder may purchase liquor for retail sale from a county dispensary or from a licensed wholesaler.
(2)
A county dispensary may not charge the license holder more than 15% above the wholesale operating cost to the county dispensary.
(f)
The annual license fees are:
(1)
$1,980 for a hotel; and
(2)
$1,320 for a restaurant.
(g)
(1)
The Board may issue a wine permit to a holder of the license for use by a restaurant that:
(i)
at least 5 days per week, offers for sale and describes in a printed menu:
(1)
breakfast and lunch;
(2)
breakfast and dinner; or
(3)
lunch and dinner; and
(ii)
has an area used for the preparation and consumption of food and beverages that is at least 80% of the area of the premises.
(2)
Off–sale alcoholic beverages receipts shall be included in the calculation of average daily receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages under § 32–901(c)(2)(i)3 of this subtitle.
(3)
The wine permit authorizes the license holder to sell, at retail, at the place described in the license:
(i)
beer, wine, and liquor for on–premises consumption; and
(ii)
wine for off–premises consumption.
(4)
The term of the wine permit is the same as the term of the Class B license.
(5)
If the premises is open for business as a restaurant, the hours and days of sale for the wine permit are:
(i)
10 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday; and
(ii)
12:30 p.m. to midnight on Sunday.
(6)
Wine sold under the wine permit may not have an alcohol content greater than 15.5%.
(7)
An applicant for the wine permit shall complete the form that the Board provides.
(8)
Advertising, posting of notice, and public hearing requirements for the wine permit are the same as those for Class B licenses.
(9)
The Board may adopt regulations to carry out this subsection, including a limit on the number of wine permits to be granted.
(10)
The annual permit fee is $1,500.
(h)
The holder of a Class B beer, wine, and liquor restaurant license that has been issued a Class 9 limited distillery license may sell products manufactured under the distillery license at the place described in the Class B license in a manner consistent with the underlying Class B license for on– and off–premises consumption.
(i)
(1)
The Board may issue a temporary to–go event permit under § 32–1104 of this title to a holder of a license under this section if the licensed establishment is located within or immediately adjacent to a special event area identified in a Class C per diem municipal to–go beer, wine, and liquor license issued under § 32–1314 of this title.
(2)
The temporary to–go event permit authorizes the holder to sell at retail beer, wine, and liquor in approved to–go cups that may be carried outside the licensed establishment and into the designated special event area.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 32-903 (2026)
Title 32. Wicomico County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 32–903LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is:
(1)
a 6–day Class C beer, wine, and liquor license; and
(2)
a 7–day Class C beer, wine, and liquor license.
(b)
The Board may issue the license for use by a nonprofit fraternal, social, or veterans’ club that:
(1)
has been incorporated for at least 5 years immediately before the application for the license is made;
(2)
is in a clubhouse or premises that is used principally for club purposes;
(3)
during the year immediately before the filing of the application:
(i)
except as provided in item (ii) of this item, has at least 100 dues–paying members; or
(ii)
if the club is composed only of members who served in the armed forces of the United States, has at least 50 dues–paying members; and
(4)
has facilities for preparing and serving food on the premises to members and guests.
(c)
The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at a club at the place described in the license for on–premises consumption.
(d)
A license holder shall purchase alcoholic beverages for retail sale, except beer and wine, from the Liquor Control Board or from a wholesaler.
(e)
(1)
The annual license fees for a 6–day license, depending on the size of the dues–paying membership of the club, are:
(i)
$275, for a membership of 50 to 399;
(ii)
$550, for a membership of 400 to 599; and
(iii)
$825, for a membership of at least 600.
(2)
The annual license fees for a 7–day license, depending on the size of the dues–paying membership of the club, are:
(i)
$400, for a membership of 50 to 399;
(ii)
$675, for a membership of 400 to 599; and
(iii)
$950, for a membership of at least 600.
(3)
A license fee shall be established on the maximum number of dues–paying members during the calendar year immediately before the filing of the application for the license.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 32-904 (2026)
Title 32. Wicomico County
Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
§ 32–904LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is a Class D beer, wine, and liquor license.
(b)
The Board may issue the license for use by a tavern that, not including the dance floor or bar area, has seating for at least 140 individuals.
(c)
The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at retail at the place described in the license for on–premises consumption 7 days a week.
(d)
An individual under the legal drinking age may not enter the licensed premises.
(e)
The license may not be issued for use by a drugstore.
(f)
The annual license fee is $2,200.