Md. Code Ann., Alc. Bev. & Cannabis § 22-1405
Application on behalf of corporation, unincorporated entity, or limited liability company
Effective Jul 1, 2021Added by Acts 2016, c. 41, § 2, eff. July 1, 2016. Amended by Acts 2016, c. 8, § 5; Acts 2018, c. 135, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2021, c. 537, § 2, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 538, § 2, eff. July 1, 2021.State of Maryland
(a)
(1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a license for the use of a corporation, an unincorporated entity, or a limited liability company shall be applied for by and issued to, as individuals:
- (i) three officers holding a financial interest in the corporation; or
- (ii) three authorized persons holding a financial interest in the limited liability company.
- (2) One of the three individual applicants who apply for a license shall be a resident of the county.
- (3) The license shall be in effect so long as the resident applicant remains a resident of the county.
(4) For a license issued after July 1, 1984, the resident applicant:
(i) 1. for a Class A beer and wine license or a Class A-1 or Class A-2 beer, wine, and liquor license, shall own at least 25% of the total corporation, unincorporated entity, or limited liability company;
- 2. for any type of license other than one specified in item 1 or 3 of this item, shall own at least 10% of the total corporation, unincorporated entity, or limited liability company; or
- 3. for a Class C-1, Class C-2, or Class C-3 license, may own any amount or no amount of the total corporation, unincorporated entity, or limited liability company;
- (ii) shall serve as manager or supervisor; and
- (iii) shall be physically present on the premises for a substantial amount of time on a daily basis.
(5) An application for a license shall:
(i) state the name and address of:
- 1. the corporation or unincorporated entity and each officer who holds a financial interest in the corporation or unincorporated entity; or
- 2. the limited liability company and each authorized person who holds a financial interest in the limited liability company; and
(ii) be signed by:
- 1. the president or vice president of a corporation or an unincorporated entity and the three officers to whom the license is issued; or
- 2. the three authorized persons of a limited liability company to whom the license is issued.
- (6) If there are fewer than three officers or directors of a corporation or an unincorporated entity or fewer than three authorized persons of a limited liability company, each officer, director, or authorized person holding a financial interest in the corporation, unincorporated entity, or limited liability company shall apply for the license.
- (7) If a close corporation does not have officers or directors, one or more resident stockholders who own more than 50% of the stock together may apply for the license.
(b)
(1) In this section, “owner”:
- (i) means a person who has a real, provable financial interest in the business; and
- (ii) includes a stockholder or managerial employee of the actual owner.
(2) Stock ownership requirements established under subsection (a) of this section do not apply to an applicant for a Class B hotel or restaurant beer, wine, and liquor license or a Class BNR beer, wine, and liquor license in which:
- (i) a majority of the stock is owned or controlled either directly or indirectly by one or more corporations and is authorized for sale by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;
- (ii) at least one license holder is a resident applicant of the business conducted on the licensed premises who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the business; and
- (iii) each license holder is a named officer of the corporation.
- (3) The residency requirements established under subsection (a) of this section remain in effect for a Class B hotel or restaurant beer, wine, and liquor license or a Class BNR beer, wine, and liquor license for as long as the license is in effect.
(c)
- (1) A Class ALP (assisted living program) beer, wine, and liquor license shall be applied for by and issued to the manager of the assisted living program.
- (2) The pecuniary interest requirements established under subsection (a) of this section, including stock ownership and limited liability company membership interests, do not apply to an applicant for a Class ALP (assisted living program) beer, wine, and liquor license.
Added by Acts 2016, c. 41, § 2, eff. July 1, 2016. Amended by Acts 2016, c. 8, § 5; Acts 2018, c. 135, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2021, c. 537, § 2, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 538, § 2, eff. July 1, 2021.