License Commission

The License Commission serves as a regulatory board for various licenses issued by the City including licensing purveyors of alcoholic beverages. The Commission strives to issue licenses that will be an asset to the community and to ensure that all rules and regulations pertaining to licenses are complied with in order to protect the safety and health of the public.

Commission Profile

COVID-19 Licensing Updates

Re-Opening Worcester - Outdoor Dining Applications

Pursuant to the Governor's June 2, 2020 Order and the City Manager's June 3, 2020 Executive Order, the City of Worcester is accepting applications for the temporary extension of restaurants to provide for outdoor table service. Once reviewed and approved by the Worcester License Commission, restaurants will be able to offer expanded outdoor dining options under Phase II of the Commonwealth's re-opening plan. This expedited application process will significantly decrease the timeframe for extending existing restaurants into outdoor spaces, and additionally offer expanded opportunities for outdoor dining.

To facilitate the expedited application process, the Worcester License Commission is scheduling additional meetings to review and process applications under the City's temporary outdoor dining program.

There is no fee to apply for a temporary outdoor dining extension:

• Temporary Extension of Premises for Outdoor Dining Application
• Supplemental Application for Sidewalk Dining
• Re-Opening Fire Prevention Reminder
• Outdoor Dining Application Overview

Meetings

Meet twice monthly on Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Please review the Meeting Schedule for meeting dates and application deadlines.

Date/Time of Next Meeting: Thursday July 16th, 2020

Notice: Governor Baker issued an executive order allowing for use of a phone conference line for members of the public to participate in all public meetings. Learn More...

Pending Applications & Meeting Materials

Meeting Videos

July 9, 2020

License Commission

View Agenda

July 2, 2020

License Commission

View Agenda

June 30, 2020

License Commission

View Agenda

June 25, 2020

License Commission

View Agenda

Older

Applications

• State of Massachusetts ABCC Website for Fillable Applications & Information

Please contact the License Commission Office at 508-799-1400 ext 31437 or email license@worcesterma.gov if you have questions about which ABCC form to use. There are City of Worcester forms that are also required in addition to the ABCC forms.

THE MASSACHUSETTS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES CONTROL COMMISSION (ABCC) REQUIRES THAT ALL INFORMATION ON LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATIONS MUST BE TYPED OR IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. THE FORMS ARE FILLABLE PDF FORMS. NO STAPLES IN THE APPLICATION OR ANY OF THE BACK UP ITEMS AS ALL ITEMS MUST BE SCANNED.

APPLICANTS MUST SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH STAFF FOR APPLICATION TO BE REVIEWED PRIOR TO FILING TO ENSURE THAT APPLICATION IS COMPLETE AND ALL FORMS HAVE BEEN FILLED OUT PROPERLY.

For information on all city permits, licenses and fees, visit the Permit Center

• Automatic Amusement

  N/A

  Title: Automatic Amusement

  Fee: N/A

    
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License Commission
• Common Victualer (Food) License

  100.00

  Title: Common Victualer (Food) License

  Fee: 100.00

    
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License Commission
For new license or transfer of license.
• Entertainment License

  see notes

  Title: Entertainment License

  Fee: see notes

    
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License Commission
No fee for Monday through Saturday; Sunday license requires fee of $50 to City of Worcester, $100 to Commonwealth of MA.
• Lodging House (New or Renewal)

  see notes

  Title: Lodging House (New or Renewal)

  Fee: see notes

    
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License Commission
$25 filing fee and $50 license fee.
• Newsracks on Public Ways, Placement

  1.00

  Title: Newsracks on Public Ways, Placement

  Fee: 1.00

    
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License Commission
• Pool Table/Bowling Alley

  N/A

  Title: Pool Table/Bowling Alley

  Fee: N/A

    
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License Commission
• Retail Marijuana

  see notes

  Title: Retail Marijuana

  Fee: see notes

    
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License Commission
• $100 Initial Filing & Advertising Fee, $50 Annual Renewal
• $2,750 Annual License Fee
• Special (One-Day) License Multiple Event

  100.00

  Title: Special (One-Day) License Multiple Event

  Fee: 100.00

    
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License Commission
$100 per day (max of 30 events per applicant per year).

Have a Question?

• Are license applicants barred from holding a liquor license if they have been convicted of a crime?

  Yes. An on-premise license (which includes the categories of restaurants, hotels, bars, taverns and clubs) may not be issued to a person "who has been convicted of a violation of a federal or state narcotic drug law."

• Are there any qualifications for being granted a retail liquor license?

  Yes. There are qualifications for a liquor license. These qualifications are set by the law. The type and number of qualifications for a liquor license depend on who the party is that is applying for the liquor license (i.e. whether the party is an individual, a partnership, or a corporation) and what type of liquor license is being sought.

  1. Pouring Licenses under Section 12
     
     Generally, an individual applying for a "pouring license" under Section 12 (e.g. a liquor license for a restaurant, bar, nightclub, hotel or tavern) must be a citizen of the United States and 21 years of age or older. A partnership (where two or more people are doing business together) may hold such a liquor license where each partner is a citizen of the United States and 21 years of age or older.
     
     A corporation may hold such a liquor license provided that a majority of the directors are not aliens and that the corporate licensee appoints a license manager who is an individual, 21 years of age or older, who is a citizen of the United States and has "vested in him (or her) by properly authorized and executed written delegation as full authority and control of the premises, described in the license of such corporation, and the conduct of all business therein relative to alcoholic beverages as the (corporate) licensee itself could in any way have and exercise if it were a natural person." This license manager must be satisfactory to both the local and state licensing authorities with respect to his or her character.
     
     No "pouring" license shall be issued to any applicant who has been convicted of a violation of a federal of state narcotic drugs laws. There is no time limit after which this disqualification ends.
     
     
  2. Package Store License Under Section 15
     
     Generally an individual applying for a "package goods store" or "package store" license (i.e. a license for the sale at retail alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises where sold) must be both a citizen and a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 21 years of age or older. A partnership (where two or more people are doing business together) may hold such a liquor license where each and every partner is both a citizen and a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 21 years of age or older.
     
     A corporation may hold such a liquor license provided that the corporation is organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that all directors of the corporation are citizens of the United States and that a majority of the directors of the corporation are residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A corporation who holds such a license must appoint a license manager who is an individual, 21 years of age or older, who is a citizen of the United States and has "vested in him (or her) by properly authorized and executed written delegation as full authority and control of the premises, described in the license of such corporation, and the conduct of all business therein relative to alcoholic beverages as the (corporation) licensee itself could in any way have and experience if it were a natural person". This license manager must be satisfactory to both the local and state licensing authorities with respect to his or her character.
     
     No license shall be issued to any applicant who has been convicted of a felony. Further, "no firm, corporation, association or other combination of persons, directly or indirectly, or through any agent, employee, stockholder, officer or other person or any other subsidiary whatsoever shall be granted, in the aggregate, more than three such licenses in the commonwealth, or be granted more than one such license in a town or two in a city."
• How far does an establishment selling alcoholic beverages have to be from a church or school?

  No specified distance; however under Section 16C of M.G.L. Chapter 138, premises located within a radius of five hundred feet of a school or church shall not be licensed to sell alcoholic beverages unless the local licensing authority determines in writing and after a hearing that the premises are not detrimental to the educational and spiritual activities of that church or school, unless the premises are those of an inn holder or unless the parts of the buildings are located ten or more floors above street level. The 500 foot distance under this Section 16C is measured in a straight line from the nearest point of the church or school to the nearest point of the premises to be licensed.

• How long does a licensee have to appeal to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission a decision made by the local licensing authority?

  A licensee has five (5) days from receipt of the written decision to appeal to the A.B.C.C. a decision made by the Local Licensing Authority.

• How many classifications of retail licenses exists?

  Under the Liquor Control Act (M.G.L. Chapter 138), local licensing authorities may grant three classifications of retail licenses:

  1. Licenses under Section 12 (On-Premise), commonly referred to as a "Pouring License."
  2. Licenses under Section 14 (Special), commonly referred to as a "One-Day License."
  3. Licenses under Section 15 (Off-Premises) commonly referred to as a "Package Store License".
• How old do you have to be to tend bar?

  At least 18 years of age. Although Chapter 138, section 34 prohibits the sale or delivery of Alcoholic Beverages to a person under 21 years of age, nothing in Chapter 138, Section 34 shall prohibit any licensee from employing a person 18 years of age or older for the direct handling, selling, mixing or serving of alcohol or alcoholic beverages.

• What are the citizenship and residency requirements?

   

  Section 12 (On-Premise)	CITIZENS?	RESIDENTS?
  Individual	YES	NO
  Partnership	ALL	NO
  Corporation	MAJORITY NON-ALIENS	NO
  Manager	YES	NO
  Section 14 (Off-Premises)	CITIZENS?	RESIDENTS?
  Individual	YES	YES
  Partnership	ALL	ALL
  Corporation	ALL DIRECTORS	MAJORITY OF DIRECTORS
  Manager	YES	NO

• What forms of identification are acceptable to prove that someone is twenty-one years of age or older, so that person may be served, delivered, or allowed to possess or purchase alcoholic beverages?

  If a licensee is charged with permitting the service, delivery, or possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21 years of age, under current state law, a licensee has a defense only if the licensee can affirmatively prove that prior to permitting the service, delivery or possession of alcoholic beverages by a person, the licensee requested, was shown, examined and reasonably relied on either:

  • A valid Massachusetts driver license.
  • A valid Massachusetts Liquor Identification card.
  • A valid Passport issued by the United States Government, or by the government, recognized by the United States government, of a foreign country.
  • A valid United States issued active duty Military Identification Card.
• What is a license?

  Black's Law Dictionary defines a "license" as a permit, granted by an appropriate granted body, generally for a consideration, to a person, firm or corporation to pursue some occupation to carry on some business subject to regulation under the police power. Liquor licenses and permits are revocable privileges granted by the authority of the Commonwealth. Any licensee who violates M.G.L. Chapter 138 or any regulation promulgated by the Commission or the local licensing authority may be stripped of their privilege of holding a license, after a hearing.

• Who issues restaurant licenses and package store licenses?

  The local licensing authority in the city of town where the business is located after the completion of a 3-step process. Step one: the local licensing authority grants a restaurant or package store license; Step two: the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (A.B.C.C.) approves the granting of such a license. Following this approval by the A.B.C.C., Step three: the local licensing authority may issue upon payment of the licensing fee.

Resources

Forms

• Complaint Form
• Plan for Preventing Underage Drinking
• Request for Copy of Records
• Request for Inspection of Records
• Special (One-Day) License Multiple Event - Application Request

Rules & Regulations

• Dispensers & Sellers of Alcoholic Beverages Training
• Entertainment License
• Lodging House
• Off-Premises Alcohol
• On-Premises Alcohol

Taxi & Livery

• Complaint Against Taxi & Livery
• Taxi & Livery Regulations
• Work Order for Liveries at Union Station and Airport