One of the most common questions asked by callers to the local liquor boards is whether a liquor license is available for a particular location? The answer varies depending upon the local jurisdiction governing alcoholic beverage licenses.

But Baltimore County is typical of many locales. The maximum number of alcoholic beverage licenses in each of the 15 Election Districts within Baltimore County is limited to one On Sale License for each 2,500 of population of each Election District and one Off Sale License for each 4,000 of population of each Election District.

Population reports are updated annually by the County Department of Planning. The County’s population is growing, so many years there are new licenses available on a first come basis in some but not all Election Districts.

No license is transferable from the Election District in which it was originally located.

Of course you can purchase a license from an existing license owner within the Election District and the price of licenses varies greatly. In fact most licenses are purchased from a third party, some in prime Election Districts for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But the real action in Baltimore County and many other locales are in the Exception Licenses that are generally available from the government without cost. There is an exception from the population requirements for an office building having at least 60,000 square feet of leased commercial office space (down from 75,000 square feet last year) allowing one Class B (On Sale) beer, wine and liquor license.

Hotel and motels having a minimum of 100 rental units are entitled to one On Sale beer, wine and liquor license.

Shopping Centers having a minimum of 200,000 square feet of leased store space (down from 250,000 square feet last year), a minimum of 10 tenants having existing leases for remaining terms of not less than one year each and parking facilities to accommodate a minimum of 400 automobiles are entitled to one Class A (Off Sale) beer, wine and liquor license and one On Sale beer, wine and liquor license.

One additional Off Sale beer, wine and liquor license and one additional On Sale beer, wine and liquor license are available in any shopping center having a minimum of 400,000 square feet of leased store space (down from 500,000 square feet last year) and at least 20 tenants having existing leases for terms of not less than one year each and contiguous off street parking facilities to accommodate a minimum of 800 automobiles.

One additional Off Sale beer, wine and liquor license and one additional On Sale beer, wine and liquor license are available in a shopping center for each additional 200,000 square feet of leased store space (down from 250,000 square feet last year).

Mixed use development licenses may be obtained in addition to other licenses available and the square footage used in calculating mixed use development Exception Licenses shall not also be considered for purposes of determining other Exception Licenses. No more than 5 On Sale Exception Licenses of any type may be issued for use at any location or mixed use development.

And there are also Club licenses that are excluded from the population and numerical requirements.

Again, a major advantage of obtaining a new license from the government, be it by population or an exception beyond its actual availability, is that it can be had at no cost, that is, beyond an application fee it does not have to be purchased.

As one might imagine, the availability of liquor licenses is actually quite elastic and not just in Baltimore County. If you have questions about the availability of an alcoholic beverage license or if we can otherwise assist you in obtaining a license so not hesitate to give us a call.