License Commission

The License Commission is responsible for issuing liquor licenses in restaurants, clubs, hotels and package stores, common victualer’s licenses in all restaurants, amusement machine licenses, entertainment licenses, innholders licenses, and special 1-day liquor licenses.

Meetings

The Commission meets once each month at Woburn City Hall, usually on the third or fourth Thursday, at 6 p.m.

Applications that require ABCC approval must be filed at least 14 days in advance of the meeting date

Applications that do not require ABCC approval must be filed at least 8 days in advance of the meeting date

There will be a mandatory meeting in October for all liquor and innholders licensees

License Fees

Renewed annually

Hotel liquor license – $3,500

Restaurant liquor license – $3,000

Package store license – $2,200

Club liquor license – $500

Common Victualer’s license – $100

Fortune Teller’s license – $250

Entertainment license – $250

Amusement license – $100 per machine

Standard Regulations for All Restaurants

No patron shall be standing while consuming an alcoholic beverage in a licensed establishment, unless the establishment has obtained a standup drinking permit from the License Commission

All alcoholic beverages must be poured and served by an employee who has completed Tips or similar certification training

All food must be prepared and served by an employee who has completed ServSafe or similar certification training

Restaurants must provide food with alcoholic beverages

Special 1-day liquor licenses

2019 – special 1-day application

Any alcohol served under the auspices of a 1-day liquor license must be obtained from a state approved wholesaler. You may not purchase alcohol from a package store and serve it at an event with a special 1-day license.

Please see the list of ABCC-approved wholesalers below:

Authorized Sources for 1 Day Licenses_2021-12-02

A complete special 1-day liquor license application includes the following forms:

• Completed application form, with the date(s) and times of alcohol service
• Signed liability disclaimer
• Certificate of Treasurer/Collector TreasurerCollector Tax sheet
• Insurance binder indicating liquor liability coverage
• Worker’s compensation affidavit Workers Compensation Insurance Affidavit
• A map of the area where the alcohol is being served
• $100 check or money order made payable to the City of Woburn

ABCC applications

There is a $150 processing fee for any application that requires approval from the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, payable by check or money order to the City of Woburn.

There is a $110 fee for any application that requires newspaper advertising, payable by check or money order to the City of Woburn. The License Commission will make arrangements for publication of the notice of hearing.

There is a $100 fee for any application that requires an abutters list. Applicants are responsible for notification of abutters via certified mail. Abutters List – City of Woburn (woburnma.gov)

ABCC application forms can be found at the following website: Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission | Mass.gov

Fill out the appropriate application and submit it with the required documents and fees via mail or in person to the License Commission, City Clerk’s office, Woburn City Hall, 10 Common St., Woburn, MA 01801

For a change of manager application, please submit either a certified copy of a birth certificate or a photocopy of a U.S. Passport. A photocopy of a driver’s license is not an acceptable document for proof of citizenship

CORI authorization forms must be notarized with the notary’s raised seal

Restaurant seating requirements for new or transfer of license applications are as follows: Minimum of 25 seats for a beer and wine license; minimum of 50 seats for an all alcohol license

Common Victualer’s licenses

Common Victualer’s licenses are required for food service establishments with seating for patrons. Licenses are renewed annually and expire on April 30. Renewal forms will be mailed to existing licensees in February.

A complete Common Victualer’s license application includes the following:

A completed application form signed by representatives from the city’s Building, Police, Fire and Health departments.

Renewal Application -Common Vict

Certificate of Treasurer Collector TreasurerCollector Tax sheet

Workmen’s Compensation insurance affidavit Workers Compensation Insurance Affidavit

Insurance binder indicating a valid Workmen’s Compensation policy

$100 fee

Entertainment/Amusement licenses

Entertainment and Amusement licenses are renewed annually with the calendar year. There is a $250 fee for an entertainment license

Entertainment application

There is a $100 fee per machine for an amusement license

Amusement Application Form

Innholders licenses

Innholders licenses are renewed annually with the calendar year, with a $100 fee. Required documents for an innholders license include:

Innholders renewal form

Certificate of Treasurer/Collector TreasurerCollector Tax sheet

Workmen’s Compensation insurance affidavit Workers Compensation Insurance Affidavit

Insurance binder indicating Workmen’s Compensation insurance

BYOB

Establishments requesting BYOB must submit the following application for approval by the License Commission. There is no fee, but the application must be signed by representatives from the city’s Building, Health, Fire and Police departments.

Carry-In Alcohol Application

Establishments with BYOB may not charge a “corking” or any similar fee. A complete set of BYOB regulations can be found here:

Carry-In Alcoholic Beverage Regulations

Standup drinking permit

Restaurant patrons are not permitted to carry alcohol within any licensed establishment, nor are they permitted to stand while drinking alcoholic beverages, unless exempted by the License Commission, upon submission of an application:

Standup drinking application

There is a 1-time fee of $25. Applicants must provide a map of the premises, indicating where standup drinking will be allowed.

A complete set of standup drinking regulations can be found here:

Standup drinking rules & regs Revised 2020

Outdoor dining

Outdoor dining is available for all licensed establishments upon approval of an application.

Any licensee wishing to offer outdoor dining on private property must fill out the following application and submit it to the License Commission: Application-for-Expansion-of-Premises

Any licensee wishing to offer outdoor dining on public property must fill out the following application and submit it to the License Commission: Application-for-Expansion-of-Premises-sidewalk_public-ways

Applicants must submit a map of the area where outdoor dining is offered, for approval by the Building Commissioner. Outdoor dining areas must comply with Massachusetts Office of Disability regulations, as follows:

dot-OutdoorDiningFactSheet-covid

Outdoor dining applications that include outdoor dining areas on public property must provide an insurance binder that indicates there is liability coverage for the entire premises, with the City of Woburn as an also insured party.

Establishments that were previously approved for outdoor dining in 2020 and 2021 can continue to offer outdoor dining until April 1, 2023, without further approval by the city.