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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

Public Notice

As a result of Worcester's population growth, the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) has increased the City's quota for each category of Section 15 off-premise licenses (aka "package store" license) by five, for a total of 42 all alcohol and 42 malt & wine licenses available as of 2022. Given the anticipated high demand for the newly available Section 15 all alcohol licenses, the License Commission will consider all properly submitted Section 15 all-alcohol license applications received by August 23, 2022 during an initial round of public hearings beginning in September. Once all applications received by August 23rd have been heard, the Commission will issue licenses from among the group of applicants. Should the Commission grant fewer than five licenses at the close of the initial hearing process described above, subsequent applications will be considered as they normally would in the order received. Prospective applicants may direct questions to License@worcesterma.gov or 508-799-1400 ext. 31437.

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 October 6th, 2022

December 30 December 16 December 2 November 18 October 28 October 14 September 30 September 16 September 2 August 16 August 12 July 27 July 15 June 24 June 14 June 10 May 27 May 13 May 6 April 29 April 15 April 1 March 25 March 18 March 4 February 18 February 4 January 21 January 7
December 17 December 3 November 12 October 30 October 29 October 22 October 15 October 9 October 1 September 17 September 3 August 27 August 20 August 13 August 11 August 6 July 30 July 23 July 16 July 9 July 2 June 30 June 25 June 23 June 19 June 17 June 15 June 11 June 10 June 9 May 28 May 14 April 30 April 16 April 2 March 19 March 11 March 5 February 20 February 6 January 23 January 9
December 19 December 5 November 19 November 14 October 31 October 22 October 21 October 17 October 3 September 19 September 5 August 21 August 15 July 18 June 28 June 20 June 6 May 23 May 9 April 25 April 11 March 28 March 14 March 7 February 28 February 14 January 31 January 8 January 4 January 3
December 13 November 29 November 15 November 1 October 18 October 4 September 20 September 7 September 6 August 16 July 19 June 28 June 14 May 24 May 10 April 26 April 12 March 29 March 15 March 1 February 15 February 9 January 18 January 11 January 4
December 21 December 14 November 30 November 16 October 26 October 19 October 4 September 28 September 17 September 14 September 7 August 16 August 10 July 13 June 22 June 12 June 8 May 25 May 11 April 27 April 13 March 30 March 16 March 2 February 16 February 9 February 2 January 19 January 5
December 15 December 1 November 10 October 27 October 13 September 29 September 15 September 1 August 11 July 21 June 23 June 9 May 26 May 12 April 28 April 14 March 31 March 10 February 25 February 4 January 21 January 7
December 17 December 3 November 19 November 5 October 29 October 15 October 1 September 17 September 3 August 6 July 9 June 18 June 5 June 4 May 21 May 7 April 23 April 9 March 26 March 12 February 26 February 5 January 22 January 8
December 18 December 4 November 13 October 30 October 16 October 6 October 2 September 25 September 4 August 14 July 24 June 19 June 5 May 22 May 8 April 24 April 3 March 20 March 6 February 20 February 6 January 23 January 9
December 19 December 5 November 21 October 24 October 10 September 19 September 5 August 8 July 25 July 11 June 27 June 13 June 3 May 23 May 9 April 25 April 11 March 28 March 14 February 21 February 7 January 24 January 14 January 10
December 27 December 13 November 29 November 8 October 25 October 11 September 20 September 6 August 16 August 6 July 19 June 28 June 14 June 5 June 1 May 31 May 17 May 3 April 19 April 5 March 22 March 8 February 16 February 2 January 24 January 19 January 5
December 22 December 8 November 23 November 10 November 3 October 27 October 13 September 29 September 15 September 1 August 11 July 28 June 30 June 16 June 9 June 1 May 26 May 12 April 28 April 14 March 31 March 17 March 3 February 24 February 17 February 3 January 20
December 16 December 2 November 18 October 28 October 14 September 30 September 16 September 2 August 19 July 29 July 15 June 24 June 10 May 27 May 13 April 29 April 22 March 18 March 4 February 18 February 11 January 21 January 7
December 17 December 10 November 19 October 15 October 1 September 17 September 3 August 27 July 16 June 25 June 11 May 28 May 14 April 30 April 16 April 2 March 19 March 5 February 19 February 5 January 22 January 8
December 18 November 20 November 13 October 30 October 16 October 2 September 18 September 4 August 8 July 17 June 19 June 5 May 22 May 8 April 24 April 11 March 20 February 28 February 14 January 31 January 17 January 3
December 13 November 29 November 1 October 18 October 4 September 20 September 6 August 16 July 19 June 21 June 7 May 24 May 10 April 26 April 12 March 29 March 1 February 15 February 1 January 18 January 4
December 14 November 16 October 19 September 21 September 7 August 10 July 13 June 22 June 8 May 25 May 11 April 27 April 13 March 30 March 16 March 2 February 16 January 19 January 5
December 15 December 8 November 17 September 15 August 11 July 14 June 23 June 9 May 26 May 12 April 28 April 14 March 31 March 17 March 3 February 17 February 3 January 20 January 6
December 9 November 18 November 4 October 21 September 30 September 16 September 2 June 24 June 10 May 27 May 13 April 15 April 1 February 19 February 5 January 22 January 8
December 11 November 13 October 30 October 16 October 2 September 4 August 21 July 17 June 19 May 22 May 8 April 24 April 3 March 20 February 20 February 6 January 23 January 9
December 12 November 21 November 7 October 24 October 10 September 26 September 12 August 15 July 18 June 27 June 13 May 30 May 16 May 2 April 18 April 4 March 21 February 21 February 7 January 24 January 9
November 29 November 8 October 25 October 11 September 13 August 23 July 12 June 21 June 7 May 24 May 17 May 10 April 12 March 29 March 1 February 1 January 18 January 4
November 30 November 16 November 2 October 5 September 7 June 22 June 8 May 25 April 27 April 13 March 2 February 3 January 20 January 6
December 16 December 2 November 18 October 28 October 7 September 23 September 16 September 2 August 12 June 24 June 10 May 27 May 6 April 22 April 8 March 25 March 11 February 25 February 4
December 17 December 3 November 5 October 29 October 1 August 20 July 16 June 25 May 28 April 30 April 16 April 2 March 19 March 5 February 26 February 5 January 22 January 8
December 18 December 4 November 20 November 6 October 23 October 9 September 18 September 4 July 3 June 19 June 5 May 22 May 8 April 24 March 27 March 13 February 27 February 13 January 30 January 16 January 2
December 19 December 5 November 21 November 7 October 31 October 17 October 3 September 19 September 5 August 22 August 8 July 25 July 11 June 27 June 13 May 30 May 16 May 2 April 18 April 4 March 21 March 7 February 22 February 8 January 25 January 11 January 4
December 14 November 30 November 16 November 2 October 19 October 5 September 21 September 14 August 31 August 17 July 20 July 6 June 8 May 25 May 11 April 27 April 13 March 30 March 16 March 2 February 16 February 2 January 19 January 5
December 22 December 15 December 5 November 17 November 3 October 20 September 22 September 8 August 25 August 11 July 28 July 14 June 30 June 9 June 2 May 19 May 5 April 21 April 7 March 24 March 10 March 3 February 17 February 10 January 27 January 13

NO APPLICATIONS FILED

Applications

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 Permit/License Center.

Automatic Amusement • Download Application

Common Victualer (Food) License • Download Application

Application is for a new license or a transfer of license. The time-frame for a Common Victualer license is four to six weeks from the date of the submission of the completed application.

Application Requirements:

  • Prior to submitting your application, please verfiy that the zoning district where your property is located permits food service.
  • Proposed Menu
  • Workers' Compensation Insurance (if applicable)

Entertainment License • Download Application

Application Requirements:

  • 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) • Download Application

Application Requirements:

  • $25 filing fee and $50 license fee.

Newsracks on Public Ways, Placement • Download Application

Application Requirements:

  • Once the application has been filed, it will be scheduled for the next available Commission meeting.

One-Day Entertainment License • Download Application

Parking Lot License • Apply Now!

Before you can submit an application for a permit or license you must create an account. Please see Signing Up, Creating a Profile & Accessing Your Information and Applying for a Permit & Paying Fees.

Application Requirements:

Parking Lot licenses expire on August 1st and are renewable!

Pool Table/Bowling Alley • Download Application

Application Requirements:

  • Complete the application.
  • Submit a plan where the tables/alleys will be located on premises.
  • Submit a copy of your insurance certificate.

Retail Marijuana • Download Application

Application Requirements:

  • Planning Board approval decision.
  • Plan of Premises
  • Security Plan
  • Odor Control Plan
  • CCC License
  • List of Management Personnel and Contact Information
  • Management Plan
  • Disclosure of Financial Interest
  • Business Registration
  • Copy of the executed Host Community Agreement with City of Worcester.
  • Lease or proof of ownership of premises.
  • Plan describing how persons under 21 years of age will be identified and prevented from entering.
  • $100 Initial Filing & Advertising Fee, $50 Annual Renewal
  • $2,750 Annual License Fee

Special (One-Day) License Multiple Event • Download Application

Application Requirements:

  • Completed Application
  • Letter of permission to have alcohol on the premises from the owner of the location where event will be held.
  • Alcohol must be purchased from a licensed wholesaler.
  • Management Security Plan
  • $100 Per Day Fee (Max of 30 Events Per Year)
  • Copy of Server Training Certificate

Have a Question?

  • 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."

  • 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."

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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".

  • 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.

  •  

    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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

Report a Concern

To report a concern regarding a licensed establishment (restaurant, bar, nightclub), please contact License Commission staff at license@worcesterma.gov.

  • Describe the location, date/time and nature of the complaint.
  • Provide your name and contact info (optional, but recommended).

Complaints regarding Taxi and Livery services should be directed to the Worcester Police Department using the Taxi & Livery Complaint Form.

Forms

Rules & Regulations

Taxi & Livery

State of Massachusetts ABCC Logo

Liquor Licenses

The State of Massachusetts is requiring all new, amended and transfer applications go through the State's system. Please visit the State's ABCC website for applications.

Contact Information

Planning & Regulatory Services
City Hall Room 404
455 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608

Accessible via WRTA Bus Line. View Schedules

Phone: 508-799-1400
Fax: 508-799-1406
Email Us

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Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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