Common Licensing Board Forms and Applications
We review applications for many business transactions.
In some situations, you have to meet with the Neighborhood Association before we can do anything. This includes:
- new licenses (except special one-day licenses)
- change of hours to a liquor license
- changing hours on a Common Victualler License
- removing or changing license terms
- adding cordials or liqueurs to a license
- changing or updating your location, and
- adding outdoor seating.
In these cases, you need to set up a meeting with the neighborhood coordinator for your area. You can still file an application with us before the meeting, but we won't be able to process it until afterwards. Learn more about our review process.
-
Still have questions? Contact:
Licensing Board
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 809Boston, MA 02201-2035
-
Alcohol Petition Online formPlease submit any alcohol-related petitions through the Licensing Board's new online form. Email alcohol@boston.gov if you have any questions.
New Licenses With Alcohol
|
FORMS |
Filing or Hearing FEES |
|---|---|
|
New License (for any type of license with alcohol) then submit it online. |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Bring your own bottle (BYOB) then submit it to LicensingBoard@boston.gov |
No hearing fee. |
|
Farmer Series Pouring Permit then submit it online This is not for a Special Farmer pouring license. Please see "Special One Day Liquor License section" below. |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
Special one-day liquor licenses
|
FORMS |
FEES |
|---|---|
|
Special License for Sale of Wine (Farmer-Winery at Agricultural Event (Instructions included) Massachusetts's Department of Agricultural Resources Certification Application |
$50 fee. You need to pay it when you pick up your license. |
|
Fees are dependent on alcohol type. Check the licensing fees page for more information. |
|
|
$75 fee |
New Licenses Without Alcohol
| Forms | Filing or Hearing Fees |
|---|---|
|
Common Victualler - without Alcohol License (without outdoor seating) then submit it to on this portal here. |
No hearing fee. |
|
Common Victualler - without Alcohol License (with outdoor seating) then submit it to on this portal here. |
$170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. |
|
Fortune Teller License then submit it to on this portal here. |
$170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. |
|
Innholder (no alcohol) then submit it to LicensingBoard@boston.gov |
No hearing fee.
|
|
Lodging House, Dorm, or Fraternity License then submit it to LicensingBoard@boston.gov |
No hearing fee. |
|
Pool, Sippio, Billiards, or Bowling Alley License then submit it to on this portal here. |
$170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. |
Changes to Existing Licenses with Alcohol
|
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. |
|
|
Change of Doing Business As (D/B/A) (for a license with alcohol) then submit it online
You also need to file a copy of your business certificate with the City Clerk. |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. There is no $200 State ABCC fee for a change of dba.
|
|
Change of hours (with alcohol license) then submit it online Other forms: Corporate vote form |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. There is no $200 State ABCC fee for a change of hours. |
|
Adoption of Management or Operating Agreement (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Change to License Conditions (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. |
|
New Officers or Directors (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
New Stockholders (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Pledge of License or Stock (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online.
|
|
Change of Manager (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Transfer/Issuance of Stock (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Transfer of License (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Alteration of Premises (with alcohol license)* then submit it online *If adding an outdoor patio, please use the form below. |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Adding Patio (with alcohol license) then submit it online. Other requirements: You need to give us proof of your legal rights to use the location and a floor plan. |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Change of License Type (with alcohol license) then submit it online Other forms: Corporate vote form and Affidavit for notification to abutters |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Request to Add Cordials or Liqueurs to § 12 Licenses then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Change of Corporate Name (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Change of Location (with alcohol license) then submit it online |
$100 hearing fee. Upon review, you will receive instructions from the Licensing Board to submit payment. $170 advertising fee. You will pay the Boston Herald directly. You will receive instructions from the Licensing Board. $200 Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) fee. You will pay the ABCC directly online. |
|
Request to Add Bottle Service (§ 12 Licensees) then submit it online |
No fee. |
|
One-Day Amendment to Existing Licenses then submit to LicensingBoard@boston.gov and CC: Alyssa.Tobin@boston.gov |
No fee. |
Changes to Existing Licenses without Alcohol
|
FORMS |
FEES |
|---|---|
|
Alteration of Licensed Premises (ex. Add/Remove Rooms) then submit it to this portal here. Other Requirements: Updated floor plan, Inspection Certificate (Building), and (if over 49 people) Place of Assembly Permit |
No fee.
|
|
Alteration of Licensed Premises (ex. Add Outdoor patio) then submit it to this portal here. Other Requirements: Updated floor plan, Use or Premises OR Inspection Certificate (Building), and (if over 49 people) Place of Assembly Permit |
No fee. |
|
Amend License Condition then submit it to this portal here. |
No fee. |
|
Change of Capacity then submit it to this portal here. Other Requirements: Updated floor plan, Inspection Certificate (Building), and (if over 49 people) Place of Assembly Permit |
No fee. |
|
Change of Doing Business As (D/B/A/)then submit it to this portal here. Other Requirements: Updated d/b/a certificate. You will need to file a copy of your business certificate with the City Clerk first. |
No fee. |
|
Change of Location (Address) then submit it to this portal here. Other Requirements: Lease/Deed, Inspection Certificate (Building), and (if over 49 people) Place of Assembly Permit. All documents must have new address. |
No fee. |
|
Change of hours then submit it to this portal here. Other Requirements: Community process will be required for change of hours before 6:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m. Contact the Office of Neighborhood Services for assistance with the community process. |
No fee. |
|
Change of Ownership Interest (LLC Member, LLP Patterns/Trustees); Change of Officer/Director/LLC Manager; and/or Issuance/Transfer of Stock/New Stockholder then submit it to this portal here. Other requirements: A Personal Information form is required for every person listed. You need to include a summary of your business entity. |
No fee. |
|
Change of Corporate Name; and/or Change of Corporate Structure then submit it to this portal here. Other requirements: You need to include a summary of your business entity. |
No fee. |
|
One-Day Amendment to Existing Licenses then submit to LicensingBoard@boston.gov and CC: Alyssa.Tobin@boston.gov |
No fee. |
More resources
More resources-
Still have questions? Contact:
Licensing Board
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 809Boston, MA 02201-2035
-
Alcohol Petition Online form
Please submit any alcohol-related petitions through the Licensing Board's new online form. Email alcohol@boston.gov if you have any questions.
