Talbot County, Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need a liquor license?

  If you are engaged in the sale of beer, wine, or liquor, your business or organization may need to receive a liquor license. If you plan to provide alcohol at a public event such as a festival, you may require a special event license.

  The county has several different liquor license classifications based on the business and expected sale or consumption of alcohol. Take a look at the full list of classifications here: Liquor License Classifications

• What type of license do I need?

  The county has several different liquor license classifications based on the business and expected sale or consumption of alcohol. 

  Common licenses include:

  • Class A - Alcohol dispensaries, supermarkets, and convenience stores for off-site consumption
  • Class B - Hotel and Restaurant on premise consumption
  • Special Event Licensing - Short term licenses for special events hosted by organizations, brewery or winery, and more

  Take a look at the full list of classifications here: Liquor License Classifications

• How much does a liquor license cost?

  Liquor licensing prices may vary based on need. In normal licenses, the fees can range from $150 to $2,500. Check out Liquor License Classifications to learn more about the different licenses and associated cost. For current fee pricing, you can also refer the Liquor License fee schedule. Fees are subject to change.

• What does the license process look like?

  New license applications, when all paperwork is complete and filed, will be scheduled for review by the County's Liquor Board for approval. Check out Liquor License Processing for more information.

• Do I need to renew my license?

  Liquor Licenses must be renewed each year. See the renewal application for details.

• How do I report a liquor related violation?

  During normal working hours any Liquor License violation can be sent directly to Code Compliance. Code Compliance Officers may not be available 24/7 and many incidents can be investigated after the fact. To report a violation, contact the Alcoholic Beverages Inspector, Duane Gottschalk at 410-770-8044 or dgottschalk@talbotcountymd.gov.