# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 33. Worcester County

### Subtitle 9. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses

#### Section 33-901

(a) There is a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license.

(b)

  (1) The Board may issue the license to an individual for use at:

    (i) a store previously operated by the Department of Liquor Control;

    (ii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an establishment outside a 10-block radius of a store previously operated by the Department of Liquor Control that is in Ocean City; or

    (iii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an establishment outside a 1-mile radius of a store previously operated by the Department of Liquor Control that is not in Ocean City.

  (2) A distance restriction described in paragraph (1)(ii) or (iii) of this subsection on issuing licenses to establishments expires on the earlier of:

    (i) July 1, 2017; or

    (ii) the date a license is issued for use by a store previously operated by the Department of Liquor Control to which the distance restriction applies.

(c)

  (1) The license 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, and liquor in a sealed package or container.

  (3) The package or container may not be opened and its contents may not be consumed on the premises where the beer, wine, or liquor is sold.

(d) The annual license fee is $4,500.

#### Section 33-902

(a) There are:

  (1) a Class B beer, wine, and liquor 6-day license; and

  (2) a Class B beer, wine, and liquor 7-day license.

(b)

  (1) The Board may issue a 6-day license for use in:

    (i) a hotel that has at least 20 rooms and serves meals regularly; or

    (ii) a restaurant that has seating at tables for at least 70 individuals.

  (2) The Board may issue a 7-day license for use in:

    (i) a hotel that:

      (1) has at least 20 rooms and serves meals regularly;

      (2) provides services ordinarily found in hotels;

      (3) has a lobby with a registration and mail desk and seating facilities; and

      (4) has an enclosed dining area that serves full-course meals from menus at least two times a day; or

    (ii) a restaurant that has:

      (1) a seating capacity at tables for at least 70 individuals;

      (2) an enclosed dining area that serves full-course meals from menus at least two times a day; and

      (3) average daily receipts from the sale of food that exceed the average daily receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages during the license term.

  (3) The Board may not issue a license under this section for use in a hotel or restaurant unless the hotel or restaurant is:

    (i) operated in a clean and sanitary manner; and

    (ii) has proper restroom facilities.

  (4) Before a license under this section may be issued for a premises in a municipality, the license application:

    (i) shall be approved by the Board; and

    (ii) may be subject to approval by the mayor and town council of the municipality.

(c) A 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 or on- and off-premises consumption.

(d)

  (1) The annual license fees are:

    (i) $1,750 for a 6-day license; and

    (ii) $2,000 for a 7-day license.

  (2)

    (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, all license fees shall be distributed to the general fund of the county.

    (ii) If the licensed premises is located in a municipality, 75% of the license fees shall be distributed to the municipality.

(e)

  (1) The Board may issue a temporary to-go event permit under Sec. 33-1105 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 Sec. 33-1311 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.

#### Section 33-903

(a) There are:

  (1) a Class C (fishing club) beer, wine, and liquor license;

  (2) a Class C (fraternal/sororal/service organization) beer, wine, and liquor license;

  (3) a Class C (golf, tennis, or swimming club) beer, wine, and liquor license; and

  (4) a Class C (veterans' organization or club) beer, wine, and liquor license.

(b)

  (1) This section does not apply to a "bring your own bottle" social function at which alcoholic beverages are provided only by the participants or guests.

  (2) If such a social function is held in a facility open to the public, the function shall be held during the hours of operation allowed under a Class C license.

(c)

  (1) The Board may issue the fishing club license for use by a club that:

    (i) is organized to promote the sport of fishing;

    (ii) owns its own building;

    (iii) has been in existence for at least 5 years before the application for the license is made;

    (iv) has at least 25 members paying dues of at least $25 per year per adult member;

    (v) operates only for the use of its members and guests when accompanied by members; and

    (vi) meets in a clubhouse principally used for its members and guests.

  (2) The Board may issue the fraternal/sororal/service organization license for use by a lodge or chapter of a nationwide nonprofit fraternal, sororal, or service organization that:

    (i) is composed of inducted members;

    (ii) was operating in the county for at least 5 years before the application for the license was made;

    (iii) has at least 40 members paying dues of at least $5 per year per member; and

    (iv) owns or operates a home or clubhouse principally used for members and guests when accompanied by members.

  (3) The Board may issue the golf, tennis, or swimming club license for use by a country club, not including a miniature golf course, that:

    (i) has been incorporated for at least 1 year before the application for the license was made;

    (ii) has at least 100 members paying dues of at least $10 per year per adult member;

    (iii) has facilities for preparing and serving food on the premises to members and guests when accompanied by members; and

    (iv) owns or operates on the premises a clubhouse principally used for its members and guests.

  (4) The Board may issue the veterans' organization or club license for use by a local unit of a nationwide nonprofit organization or club that:

    (i) is composed only of members who served in the armed forces of the United States in a war in which the United States has been engaged;

    (ii) has held a charter from a national veterans' organization for at least 5 years before the application for the license is made;

    (iii) has at least 15 members paying dues of at least $5 per year per member;

    (iv) operates only for the use of its members and guests when accompanied by members; and

    (v) meets in a clubhouse principally used for its members and guests.

(d) 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.

(e) To qualify for a 7-day license, a club shall:

  (1) have an enclosed dining area that has a seating capacity for at least 60 individuals; and

  (2) serve full-course meals from menus at least twice daily.

(f) A club or organization that is issued a Class C license may:

  (1) serve, sell, provide, or dispense alcoholic beverages to its members or guests;

  (2) keep alcoholic beverages for its members or guests;

  (3) allow on-premises consumption by its members or guests of any alcoholic beverages that have been reserved or purchased from the club by its members or guests;

  (4) from the supplies that its members or guests have previously purchased or reserved, serve or provide alcoholic beverages or allow alcoholic beverages to be consumed by members or guests after legal closing hours; or

  (5) sell, dispense, serve, keep, or allow to be consumed any setups or other component parts of mixed alcoholic drinks to its members or guests.

(g) The annual license fees:

  (1) for a 6-day license is $500; and

  (2) for a 7-day license is $750.

#### Section 33-904

(a) There are:

  (1) a 6-day Class D beer, wine, and liquor license; and

  (2) a 7-day Class D beer, wine, and liquor license.

(b) The Board may issue a license under this section only for premises within:

  (1) the corporate limits of Ocean City;

  (2) the boundary lines of the 10th taxing district;

  (3) the area bounded by U.S. Route 50 to the south, Turville Creek and Herring Creek to the east, St. Martin River to the north, and Maryland Route 589 to the west;

  (4) the area bounded by Maryland Route 589 to the north and east, U.S. Route 50 to the south, and U.S. Route 113 to the west;

  (5) from the intersection of Maryland Route 589 and U.S. Route 50, an area bounded by a line that extends 1,500 feet south of U.S. Route 50, east to the boundary of the 10th taxing district, north along the 10th taxing district boundary to U.S. Route 50, and west to the intersection of Maryland Route 589 and U.S. Route 50;

  (6) the corporate limits of the Town of Berlin; and

  (7) the corporate limits of the Town of Snow Hill.

(c) A 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 and beer and wine for off-premises consumption.

(d) The annual license fees, set by the County Commissioners, may not be less than:

  (1) $3,000 for a 6-day license; and

  (2) $3,500 for a 7-day license.

(e)

  (1) The Board may issue a temporary to-go event permit under Sec. 33-1105 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 Sec. 33-1311 of this title.

  (2) The temporary to-go 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.

#### Section 33-905

(a) There are:

  (1) a 6-day Class H beer, wine, and liquor license; and

  (2) a 7-day Class H beer, wine, and liquor license.

(b) The Board may issue a license under this section for a hotel or restaurant.

(c) A 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.

(d) The annual license fees are:

  (1) $1,700 for a 6-day license; and

  (2) $2,400 for a 7-day license.

#### Section 33-906

(a) There is a Class I beer, wine, and liquor license.

(b)

  (1) The Board may only issue the license for a premises within:

    (i) the corporate limits of Ocean City;

    (ii) the boundary lines of the 10th election district;

    (iii) the boundary lines of the 2nd precinct of the 3rd election district; or

    (iv) the area bounded by Maryland Route 589 to the north and east, U.S. Route 50 to the south, and U.S. Route 113 to the west, all of which lie within the 1st precinct of the 3rd election district.

  (2) 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.

(c)

  (1) A license holder may purchase:

    (i) wine and liquor from:

      (1) the Department of Liquor Control for the county; or

      (2) a licensed wholesaler; and

    (ii) beer from a licensed wholesaler.

  (2) The Department of Liquor Control for the county shall charge a license holder the lesser of the following prices set by the Department:

    (i) 85% of the retail price of the wine or liquor; and

    (ii) the special sale price or discount price.

(d) The license holder may sell beer, wine, and liquor during the hours and days as set out for a Class I beer, wine, and liquor license under Sec. 33-2005(e) of this title.

(e)

  (1) The license fees, set by the County Commissioners, may not be less than:

    (i) $2,500 for a 6-day license; and

    (ii) $3,000 for a 7-day license.

  (2)

    (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, license fees shall be distributed to the general fund of the county.

    (ii) If the licensed premises are in a municipality, 75% of the fees shall be distributed to the municipality.

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