§ 3-301. Beer license -- Clubs

   (a) General provisions. --

   (1) A Class C beer license shall be issued by the local licensing authority of the county in which the place of business is located. The holder of the license may keep for sale and sell beer at retail to bona fide members and their guests, at any club, at the place described in the license for consumption on the premises only.

   (2) The annual fee for the license shall be paid to the local collecting agent before any license is issued, for distribution as provided.

(b) Allegany County. --

   (1) In Allegany County the annual license fee is $ 150.

   (2) Beer sold pursuant to this license may be consumed on the premises or elsewhere.

(c) Anne Arundel County. -- This section does not apply in Anne Arundel County.

(d) Baltimore City. -- This section does not apply in Baltimore City.

(e) Baltimore County. -- This section does not apply in Baltimore County.

(f) Calvert County. -- In Calvert County the annual license fee is $ 50.

(g) Caroline County. -- In Caroline County the annual license fee is $ 250.

(h) Carroll County. -- In Carroll County the annual license fee is $ 50.

(i) Cecil County. -- In Cecil County the annual license fee is $ 75.

(j) Charles County. -- This section does not apply in Charles County.

(k) Dorchester County. -- In Dorchester County the annual license fee is $ 250.

(l) Frederick County. -- In Frederick County the annual license fee is $ 50.

(m) Garrett County. -- This section does not apply in Garrett County.

(n) Harford County. -- This section does not apply in Harford County.

(o) Howard County. --

   (1) In Howard County the annual license fee is $ 25.

   (2) (i) The license shall be issued only to a club composed exclusively:

         1. Of members who served in the armed forces of the United States;

         2. Which is affiliated with a national organization; and

         3. Which has 75 or more bona fide members who paid dues as required by its national organization in the year immediately preceding the year for which the license is issued.

      (ii) At least 75 percent of the members of the club shall have resided in Howard County for at least 2 years immediately preceding the date of the application for the license. The club shall also have maintained a post in the county for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of the application.

(p) Kent County. -- This section does not apply in Kent County.

(q) Montgomery County. -- In Montgomery County the annual license fee is $ 50.

(r) Prince George's County. -- In Prince George's County the annual license fee is $ 245.

(s) Queen Anne's County. --

   (1) In Queen Anne's County the annual license fee is $ 50.

   (2) (i) The license shall be issued to any local unit of a nationwide bona fide nonprofit organization or club:

         1. Which is composed solely of members who served in the armed forces of the United States in any war in which the United States has engaged;

         2. Which has a charter from a national veterans' organization prior to the time of making application for this license; and

         3. Which operates solely for the use of its own members and their guests, when the guest is accompanied by the member.

      (ii) The license shall be issued only to a bona fide yacht club, golf club, fraternal club or order, country club, social or recreational club:

         1. Which is not operated for profit;

         2. Which has had for one year immediately preceding the year for which the license is issued 50 or more bona fide adult members who paid dues of not less than $ 25 per annum;

         3. Which owns or operates a clubhouse or meeting rooms that have facilities for preparing and serving food on the premises;

         4. Which are principally used for members and their guests, when the guests are accompanied by members; and

         5. Which is not directly or indirectly owned or operated as a public business.

(t) St. Mary's County. -- This section does not apply in St. Mary's County.

(u) Somerset County. -- In Somerset County the annual license fee is $ 32.

(v) Talbot County. --

   (1) In Talbot County the annual license fee is $ 25.

   (2) Section 18-101 of this article permits the Talbot County Council to provide for the retail alcoholic beverage laws for the county which, if enacted, supersede the provisions of this article.

(w) Washington County. -- In Washington County the annual license fee is $ 100.

(x) Wicomico County. -- In Wicomico County the annual license fee is $ 75.

(y) Worcester County. --

   (1) In Worcester County the annual license fee is $ 150.

   (2) The hours for sale shall be as provided in § 11-524 of this article.

HISTORY: An. Code, 1951, § 10; 1947, ch. 373, § 3AA (c); ch. 501, § 8; 1949, ch. 147, § 8 (d-1); ch. 628, § 8 (c); ch. 655, § 8 (ee); 1951, ch. 619, § 8(ee-a), (g); 1961, chs. 471, 614; 1964, 1st Sp. Sess., ch. 15; 1968, ch. 397; 1969, ch. 374; 1970, ch. 633, § 1; 1973, ch. 203; 1976, ch. 829, § 1; 1979, ch. 184, § 1; chs. 192, 200; 1980, ch. 210; 1981, ch. 11, § 1; 1982, ch. 647, § 2; 1984, chs. 234, 262; 1989, ch. 5, § 15; ch. 225; 1992, chs. 56, 393; 1993, ch. 5, § 2; ch. 594; 1994, ch. 3, § 1, 2; ch. 726; 1997, ch. 726, § 1; 2000, ch. 446; 2001, ch. 29, § 6; 2003, ch. 150; 2006, ch. 302, § 2; 2007, ch. 222; 2010, ch. 156.