Ch. 692 LAWS OF MARYLAND
(1987 Replacement Volume and 1989 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 2B - Alcoholic Beverages

53G.

(A) In Washington County, except for a special or temporary license or a
certificate of permission or renewal license issued to a personal representative under §
78 of this article, the board of license commissioners may not issue a license to sell
alcoholic beverages for any premises that previously have been licensed under this
article until all county taxes that are due and owing by the licensee for the operation of
the business under the previous license have been paid or judicially satisfied.

(B) (1) (I) IN THIS SUBSECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE
THE MEANINGS INDICATED.

(II) "POPULATION RATIO QUOTA" MEANS 1 LICENSE FOR
EACH 1,000 INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN THE ELECTION DISTRICT WHERE
THE LICENSE WILL BE ISSUED AS DETERMINED BY THE LAST FEDERAL
POPULATION CENSUS.

(III) "RESTAURANT" MEANS AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT:

1. IS LOCATED IN A PERMANENT BUILDING;

2. REGULARLY SELLS AND SERVES FOOD TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC;

3. HAS A SEATING CAPACITY OF AT LEAST 75
PERSONS; AND

4. HAS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, GROSS SALES OF

FOOD AND NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES THAT EXCEED ITS ANNUAL
GROSS SALES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

(2) IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, EXCEPT FOR A CLASS B
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (ON-SALE) LICENSE ISSUED TO A RESTAURANT
AND ANY CLASS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES LICENSE RENEWED OR
TRANSFERRED FOR THE SAME PREMISES, AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
LICENSE MAY NOT BE ISSUED WITHIN AN ELECTION DISTRICT IF THE
NUMBER OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES LICENSES EXCEEDS THE
POPULATION RATIO QUOTA.

(3) (I) IF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF LICENSE
COMMISSIONERS DETERMINES THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC NEED
INCLUDING GOVERNMENTALLY SANCTIONED ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE NOTWITHSTANDING
THE POPULATION RATIO QUOTA, THE LICENSE MAY BE ISSUED BY THE
BOARD.

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