(a) (1) The Board may restrict the number of licenses in a specified area in the county to the existing number of licenses in that area or to any other number of licenses that the Board considers appropriate. (2) Before the number of licenses in a specified area is restricted, the Board shall conduct a hearing in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. (b) (1) A hearing on a proposed restriction of the number of licenses in a specified area shall be advertised in the manner required for the issuance of a new license. (2) If, after taking testimony for and against restricting the number of licenses in a specified area, the Board decides to order the restriction, the Board: (i) shall determine the boundaries of the area; and (ii) may prohibit the issuance of additional licenses or establish the number of additional licenses to be issued in the area, if the Board determines that the area has: 1. sufficient licensed premises to accommodate the public; 2. become so saturated with licensed premises that special policing is required and traffic hazards are created; or 3. changed character so that the existing number of licensed premises is inconsistent with the current use of the area, and an increase in the number of licensed premises will unduly disturb the peace of residents. (3) (i) The Board may restrict the number of licenses in a specified area for a period between 1 and 4 years. (ii) After the period that the Board sets, the restrictions shall end unless the Board holds another hearing and further restricts the number of licenses. (c) The Board shall conduct a hearing on restricting the number of licenses in a specified area if the Board receives a petition that: (1) requests the restriction; (2) designates the specific area to be restricted; and (3) is signed by at least 25 individuals who are property owners and registered voters of the precinct in which the proposed restricted area is located. §11-1602. IN EFFECT (a) In this section, "assessment district" means a tax assessment district: (1) established by the county; and (2) shown on the official map adopted by the County Council titled "Tax Assessment Districts, 2005". (b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the Board may issue a Class A (off-sale), Class B (off-sale), or Class D (off-sale) license based on its determination of whether the license is necessary to accommodate the public. (c) If the application is for a Class A (off-sale) or Class D (off-sale) license, the Board may not issue the license if: (1) the establishment for which the license would be issued is located in an assessment district in which the ratio of off-sale licenses per individual exceeds one for every 3,500 individuals; or (2) the issuance of the license would cause the ratio of off-sale licenses per individual in an assessment district to exceed one for every 3,500 individuals. (d) Subsection (c) of this section does not apply: (1) to the transfer or renewal of a license that was issued on or before July 1, 2025; (2) in the 6th tax assessment district; or (3) to an application for an on-site consumption permit under § 2- 207 of this article by an applicant that holds a Class 5 brewery license. (e) The population of each assessment district is to be determined by: (1) the latest federal census; or (2) estimates prepared by the Anne Arundel County Office of Planning and Zoning. (f) The Board may not approve the transfer of a Class A (off-sale) license or Class D (off-sale) license: (1) to a location outside the assessment district in which the license was located on July 1, 2025; or (2) if the license was not in existence as of July 1, 2025, to a location outside the assessment district in which the license was originally issued. §11-1602. // EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2028 PER CHAPTERS 818 AND 819 OF 2025 // (a) In this section, "assessment district" means a tax assessment district established by the county through local law. (b) The Board may issue a Class A (off-sale), Class B (off-sale), or Class D (off-sale) license based on its determination of whether the license is necessary to accommodate the public. (c) In making its determination, the Board may consider whether the establishment for which the license would be issued is in: (1) an assessment district in which the ratio of off-sale licenses per individual is more than one per 4,000 individuals; or (2) an assessment district in which the ratio of off-sale licenses per individual is less than one per 4,000 individuals.
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