Liquor License Frequently Asked Questions

After years of advocating for more liquor licenses to support small businesses and economic growth in our neighborhoods, Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston City Council filed a bill, called a “home rule petition.” After negotiations between the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate, Governor Maura Healey signed a new law on Sept. 11, 2024. This law created 225 new liquor licenses for Boston. This expansion is the first significant increase to the number of liquor licenses in Boston since 2014, and is intended to support a diverse range of new and existing businesses across all of our neighborhoods.

The new law creates a total of 225 licenses to be distributed by the City of Boston Licensing Board over three years.

Of the 225 licenses, 198 are neighborhood non-transferable licenses. Each year, the City will have an additional five licenses (three all-alcohol and two beer and wine) across 13 zip codes in 10 neighborhoods: Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, the South End, and West Roxbury. 

Separately, the legislation created three all-alcohol licenses for the Oak Square area of Brighton.

These licenses are not transferable, which means the license cannot be sold to another business. If a business no longer needs the license, they will return it to the Licensing Board.

Of the 225 licenses, 15 are non-transferable licenses for community spaces, including outdoor spaces, theaters with fewer than 750 seats, and non-profit organizations. These licenses are not transferable. If an organization no longer needs the license, they will return it to the Licensing Board.

Finally, the legislation created 12 transferable all-alcohol licenses. If a business no longer needs the license, they are permitted to transfer it to another business. Further details about parameters for the transferable licenses are forthcoming.

Due to strong levels of interest in all categories of licenses, the Board is reviewing completed applications in batches. The Board voted on the first round of applications on Feb. 13. 

To be considered in the second round, completed applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Friday, May 23, 2025. The Board will continue to schedule hearings on a rolling basis, and will defer decisions until all applicants for the second round have been heard and reviewed. A completed application must include all required forms AND the completion of a community process required by the Office of Neighborhood Services prior to the deadline. If you miss the spring deadline, the Licensing Board will review your completed application in the summer. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

For detailed instructions on the steps of applying for a liquor license, view the how-to guide. 

Before applying for a liquor license, an applicant must already have a location. The application requires proof of occupancy, which is typically established by means of a lease or a deed, but can also be satisfied with a letter of intent signed by the applicant and the landlord.

All applicants must designate an individual to serve as a “manager of record,” who is the principal representative of the licensee and is ultimately responsible for the operation of the liquor license. This person must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien with authorization to work in the United States; must be a resident of Massachusetts; must have experience in the food and beverage industry; and must be familiar with the rules and regulations pertaining to alcohol service.

The 2024 law aims to support the growth and creation of restaurants and other businesses in neighborhoods across Boston, advancing the Licensing Board’s authority to evaluate applications under the legal standard of “public need.”

Under existing case law, “public need” factors the Board can look at include:

• The number of pre-existing licenses in the area;
• Whether the proposed license is a unique concept for the selected area;
• Public support/opposition;
• The traffic and noise in the area; and
• The reputation, character, and fitness of the proposed operator.

The Licensing Board will consider an applicant’s core business proposal and how the license award will advance the City’s goals to support neighborhood economic development and add to our City’s diverse and vibrant culture, including how awards would:

• Enable the applicant to enhance the cultural and economic activity of the neighborhood;  
• Create new businesses and economic opportunity across diverse communities;
• Support wealth generation for less-resourced entrepreneurs; and
• Promote emerging and diverse businesses and communities to advance the City’s commercial offerings. 

The City has been, and will continue, sharing resources with residents and interested businesses in the following ways:

• Hosting bi-weekly virtual office hours on Wednesdays from 3pm to 5pm. 
• Offering in-person application support at the Boston Licensing Board, located in room 809 at City Hall.
• Organizing neighborhood information sessions (view the schedule and register)
• Providing information through multilingual flyers, graphics, an online guide, and a video. 

Previously, the Licensing Board hosted a series of webinars. Recordings are available on the website. 

All applicants for new licenses have to go through a robust community process facilitated by the Office of Neighborhood Services. Residents are encouraged to participate in the community process.

Applicants also appear before the Licensing Board at a public hearing held virtually over Zoom. The Board welcomes public testimony during these hearings, and also accepts written testimony, which can be submitted to licensingboard@boston.gov.

Upfront costs associated with applying for new alcohol licenses include:

• $200 application fee to the  MA's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC)
• $100 hearing fee to the Boston Licensing Board
• $170 advertising fee to the Boston Herald

The only other fees associated with new licenses are annual renewal fees, which vary based on the type of license and the capacity of the establishment. Learn more about the cost of a license.