Maryland Code § ABC-22-1602

Section ABC-22-1602
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(a) This section does not apply to:
(1) a license in effect on July 1, 1975, or the issuance or transfer of a
Class B (on-sale) beer, wine, and liquor license for use on any premises licensed on
July 1, 1975;
(2) a license in effect on July 1, 1977;
(3) the renewal, transfer, or upgrading of a license, unless the license
is transferred to a new location; and
(4) the issuance of:
(i) a 1-day license that is to be used on the premises of a place
of worship or school;
(ii) a Class HC (health club) license;
(iii) a Class GC (golf course) license;
(iv) a Class CCFA (continuing care facility) license;
(v) a Class ALP (assisted living program) license; and
(vi) a gift basket permit.
(b) (1) (i) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and
subsection (c) of this section, the Board may not issue a license for an establishment
that is within 300 feet of a place of worship.
(ii) The distance from the establishment to the place of
worship is to be measured from the nearest point of the building of the establishment
to the nearest point of the building of the place of worship.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to the issuance of:

(i) a 1-day license for use in a building;
(ii) a license issued to a hotel, motel, restaurant, club, caterer,
brewery, or distillery in a municipality; and
(iii) a Class H beer, wine, and liquor license issued to a caterer
for use in a banquet facility in an establishment if:
1. the construction of the establishment was completed
after July 1, 1991; and
2. the establishment is used for emergency operations
by a volunteer fire company.
(c) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the Board
may waive the distance restrictions from a place of worship and issue a license on a
case-by-case basis.
(2) Before the Board decides whether to waive the distance
restrictions from a place of worship under paragraph (1) of this subsection:
(i) a public hearing shall be held by the governing body of:
1. if the establishment is located in a municipality, the
municipality where the establishment is located; or
2. if the establishment is located outside the
boundaries of a municipality, the county;
(ii) the governing body shall make a recommendation to the
Board regarding whether the distance restrictions should be waived; and
(iii) after receiving a recommendation:
1. in favor of the waiver, the Board shall hold a public
hearing; or
2. to deny a waiver, the Board shall deny the waiver.
(3) In making a decision whether to waive the distance restrictions
from a place of worship, the Board shall consider:
(i) comments received from members and leaders of the place
of worship; and

(ii) comments made at the public hearing held by the Board.
(d) (1) (i) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the
Board may not issue a license to a business establishment that is within 1,000 feet of
a public or private school building.
(ii) The distance from the establishment to the public or
private school is to be measured from the nearest point of the building of the
establishment to the nearest point of the building of the school.
(2) The Board may issue a license to a business establishment in
Harford County and in a municipality in Harford County if the business
establishment is not located within 300 feet of a public or private school.
(3) A decision of the County Board of Education to locate a public
school building within 1,000 feet of the premises of a license holder may not be the
basis to revoke or deny the renewal, transfer, or upgrading of the license.
(e) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the Board
may waive the distance restrictions from a public or private school building and issue
a Class B (on-sale) restaurant license or a Class B cafe license on a case-by-case
basis.
(2) Before the Board decides whether to waive the distance
restrictions from a public or private school building under paragraph (1) of this
subsection:
(i) a public hearing shall be held by the governing body of:
1. if the restaurant is located in a municipality, the
municipality where the restaurant is located; or
2. if the restaurant is located outside the boundaries of
a municipality, the county where the restaurant is located;
(ii) the governing body shall make a recommendation to the
Board regarding whether the distance restrictions should be waived; and
(iii) after receiving the recommendation, the Board shall hold a
public hearing.
(3) In making a decision whether to waive the distance restrictions
from a public or private school building, the Board shall take into consideration:

(i) the recommendation from the governing body;
(ii) comments received from parents whose children attend the
public or private school; and
(iii) comments made at the public hearing held by the Board.

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