The License Commission is responsible for issuing liquor licenses in restaurants, clubs, hotels and package stores, common victualer’s licenses in restaurants with seating, amusement machine licenses, entertainment licenses, innholders licenses, and special 1-day liquor licenses.
The Commission meets once each month at Woburn City Hall, usually on the third or fourth Thursday, at 5:30 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
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 annual/$25 1-day
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
Rules and Regs for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages 8-24-23
Special 1-day liquor licenses
2022 – Special 1-day license 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_2023-01-11
A complete special 1-day liquor license application includes the following forms:
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
Amusement licenses are renewed annually with the calendar year, with a $100 fee per device. Entertianment licenses may be renewed annually for $250.One-day entertainment licenses are also available, with a fee of $25.
Entertainment License Application 2023
Innholders licenses
Innholders licenses are renewed annually with the calendar year, with a $100 fee. Required documents for an innholders license include:
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.
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:
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.
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Thomas Skeffington, Chair |
David Gilgun, Commissioner |
William Pappalardo, Commissioner |
Gordon VincentClerk
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781-897-5853 |