Official Seal Board of Liquor License
Commissioners for
Washington County, Mayland
Photo of glasses

Procedure For Filing An Application

Applicant(s) for new license or Buyer(s) for transfer of license have the same requirements.  They will complete an Application, a Waiver for Alcoholic Beverages Inspector Records Review, and an Affidavit which are dated, signed and notarized.

  1. Applicant or at least one selling licensee and one buyer shall present application to the Board on a Wednesday morning time and date previously set per conversation with office staff between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.
  1. At this time, if approved by the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County, applicant or buyer will pay a $300.00 processing fee.  This constitutes $100.00 administration fee and $200.00 advertising fee. $75.00 per applicant for fingerprinting.
  1. Also at this time, Seller(s) will be given a Bulk Inventory Transfer Form for completion to be processed with appropriate check of $200.00 made out to the State of Maryland.  This should be completed and submitted to the State as soon as possible.  If the Board has not received the Bulk Transfer Permit at the time of the Final Hearing the transfer cannot take place.
  1. All County and State taxes (withholding, retail sales, admission and amusement, etc.) must be paid before transfer is finalized.

The Final Hearing is usually scheduled for the third Wednesday after presentation of the application.  All applicants must be present at the Final Hearing.  All selling licensees may be present at the Final Hearing, or at least one seller must be present with others represented by dated, signed, notarized release statements.  To verify compliance with Commercial Law Section 6-104, Seller(s) shall submit a copy of the Bulk Sales Affidavit with listing of all creditors and/or claimants and amount of claim to the office of the Comptroller of Maryland with a $200.00 fee.

  1. If all applicants have not been a resident of Washington County for at least the past two years continuously, a corporation must be formed.
  1. At least one of the corporation officer/licensees must be a registered voter in Washington County, a taxpayer in the County, and have resided continuously in Washington County for at least the past two years.  This person is designated as the Resident Agent.  In a partnership, both applicants must meet the requirements specified for an individual licensee.
  1. The corporation must be approved and registered by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
    1. The following corporation information is to be presented at the initial (first) hearing:
      1. Copy of Articles of Incorporation
      2. Copy of approval by State Department Assessments and Taxation
      3. Copy of minutes or resolution naming all officers with their respective titles, naming person to be specified as Resident Agent, division of stock, verification of stock issuance to all applicants or copies of stock certificates.
  1. The application process takes approximately 30 days from application to finalization.
    1. It must be advertised for 2 days each week for 2 weeks
    2. The property must be posted with a sign of notice of transfer by our inspectors. 

This is a procedure required by Maryland law giving anyone the opportunity to appear before the Board on the Final Hearing date and voice their concerns, opinion, approval, or opposition.

  1. Applicants must have approval of the owner of the real estate if there is a lease agreement.
  1. Applicants must have a completed inspection by both the Fire Marshall’s Office and the Health Department.
  1. Applicants must have applied for and received a Trader’s License from the Washington County Circuit Court, a copy of which must be provided at the final hearing.  (This is a business license required by the County and the State.) Checklists of requirements for the Trader’s License are attached to this document.
  1. Applicants must not be on any other liquor license in Washington County, Maryland.
  1. Applicants must have no previous conviction of any of the alcoholic beverage and/or gambling laws of Maryland or any other state.
  1. Applicants must have never been convicted of any Felonies.   
  1. If you wish to be open on Sundays, you must apply for a Special Sunday License.  If you are unsure whether to do this or not, you should know that you will have to go through the process again and pay the application fee again if you change your mind and decide you do want a Sunday License.  The cost for a Sunday License is $250.00.  Just because you have the Sunday License does not mean you must be open on Sundays.