[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6496334,"mediaKeyId","5689683-fe5b86cf09c02cd80ab59dc33ab380b3","parentId",5689683,"title","Caroline County board reviews state festival and retail off‑site alcohol permits, finds limits on liquor and local gaps","audioSeconds",145,"startMs",11040,"endMs",156400,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689683-fe5b86cf09c02cd80ab59dc33ab380b3&start=11&end=156","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689683-fe5b86cf09c02cd80ab59dc33ab380b3/thumbnail_11040.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6496334/Caroline-County/Maryland/Caroline-County-board-reviews-state-festival-and-retail-offsite-alcohol-permits-finds-limits-on-liquor-and-local-gaps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496334-d6e56d08a3a9e66794ebcc5dbb08e69f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447669&Signature=e8uHLBm9oHGbgSGood8Jpgj-IGjm0e-LeW6qmYjBQGmvwdjeWUaOGLzYtrelCBeDiwrY8oixD053cuMJLgXp1GU3obF-kNdymK6rTvgJ42jhq2RZIg2JrSsEtxu4VPJQY3RKryZnhTL1wxhhQl6mHnnUvLltbfsZAU9xRaJd0AiDt6z6LlDS6pCyWLL1yTvrggfBVSpeeHCbhMZGZva4ikZKYa2HEQTwiQhTkS0eM~-FPx9KusXvJ9j5Z3Vqqskz8KGEft5Pdts0reVf0pFmE9mJRsdXI0xPNnhh4qNJf04GCIUOQJ1aypeuzWVPdExmpYtMQa~DoqejLyCk0~7nng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Caroline","date","2025-08-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Chair of the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners called the Aug. 27 meeting to order to discuss festival permits and retail off‑site alcohol permits, and Geneva, board administrator for the board, presented research on Maryland law and what neighboring counties allow.

Geneva said Maryland \"offers a nonprofit beer, wine, and liquor festival permit\" and explained the state permit \"allows the holder to conduct a nonprofit beer, wine, and liquor festival for at least 1 day, but no more than 3 consecutive days.\" She said a retail off‑site permit \"allows the license holder to sell alcoholic beverages to the public for off‑site consumption\" but that the state guidance limits how that off‑site permit may be used, including that the permit may be used at not more than three farmers‑market appearances in the jurisdiction and that off‑site permit holders must be invited to nonprofit festivals.

The nut graf: the board’s research shows most Maryland localities that have festival provisions permit only beer or wine (or both) rather than beer, wine and liquor together, and Caroline County lacks local zoning language authorizing festivals; adopting a local festival permit or different rules for liquor would require state legislative or regulatory changes.

Geneva told the board that among Maryland’s 25 licensing jurisdictions she reviewed, several limit festivals to beer and wine. \"It appears that liquor is not currently permittable at the local jurisdiction,\" she said, adding that her research found most counties either allow beer festivals, wine festivals, or beer‑and‑wine festivals rather than a combined beer‑wine‑and‑liquor festival. She also summarized state limits on retail off‑site permits: the permit can be used at farmers markets and nonprofit festivals, but, according to the state guidance she cited, use is time‑limited (three appearances) and, for farmers markets, requires listing on the Maryland Department of Agriculture directory.

Board members discussed local zoning and permitting constraints. Geneva said Caroline County currently \"does not have any sort of zoning regulations for festivals,\" although municipalities in the county (including Denton and other towns) may have their own rules. Board members noted that even if the liquor board could authorize a festival permit, any event would still need to comply with local zoning and health department requirements.

On next steps, the board directed staff to: 1) survey adjacent counties (members identified Queen Anne’s and Dorchester for comparison) about how many festival permits they issue and what their permits allow; 2) check with the county’s municipalities to see whether current town zoning would permit a festival; and 3) compile counts of Maryland breweries, wineries and distilleries and clarify how the Department of Agriculture directory affects farmers‑market eligibility. Geneva told the board the county commissioners will meet with the legislative delegation Sept. 16, and any request for statewide changes would need to be prepared in advance of that meeting.

The board did not vote on a new permit or adopt rules at the Aug. 27 meeting. Members said they want more information before pursuing legislative changes.

The board plans to return to the topic after staff reports back on adjacent jurisdictions, municipal zoning, and statewide license counts; staff also flagged that any local festival authorization that included liquor could require a state legislative change or explicit delegation from the state.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caroline - Liquor Board (Board of License Commissioners)","oneSentenceSummary","The Chair of the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners called the Aug. 27 meeting to order to discuss festival permits and retail off‑site alcohol permits, and Geneva, board administrator for the board, presented research on Maryland law and what neighboring counties allow.","taxTitle","Caroline County, Maryland","taxId",61674,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6496329,"Caroline County board reviews brewery application; staff to draft local Class D rule changes on under‑21 access and sales",416,2907640,3323640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689683-fe5b86cf09c02cd80ab59dc33ab380b3&start=2907&end=3323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689683-fe5b86cf09c02cd80ab59dc33ab380b3/thumbnail_2907640.jpg","/articles/6496329/Caroline-County/Maryland/Caroline-County-board-reviews-brewery-application-staff-to-draft-local-Class-D-rule-changes-on-under21-access-and-sales","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496329-cc717f3b8c624111f56bc61b69a4e0a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447669&Signature=mqKGEM~zu9wmUcVo~DRNtW1hGiprn1mPAuL1QmN0eIuwlbuCdgOUruAD~BKSoV5bAXEL8xGhenFtavm7mAWR33t0kkC7ugXfvAW2uxdS4-fScbyaIpavDIhAC61nDjghOzOJNn~lIV3kTBU~SQ9oKrnXL87bJsVG31xe4JP0DkydYf8GXjzt44E7jgAvlXRLASa0GbbeOJFDsyfrQMOPg4OIKEdeQBRh7yQqgosxlQSL16X9DCFrJHGcZhEciTvPwDipHbCtulAxBTS2bKkrysCvFYczs0UHqXfduBIlomNPGDbQpliZjJHcqUmcUPftw4gcjMsBvzSmeOFgc6nOvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Geneva, board administrator for the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners, told the board at the Aug. 27 meeting that a new brewery application had arrived and the applicant expects to open in October.

\"We have a new brewery that submitted their application this week,\" Geneva said, naming the business as Edenton Brewery during later discussion. She said the business is planning to manufacture beer, offer tastings, operate a tap room, and provide outdoor family‑friendly seating and a permanent food truck on site.

The nut graf: the board must reconcile state brewery licensing permissions with local rules. Geneva said the state allows breweries to offer samples and sell on premise under the brewer license, but local authority is required for on‑ and off‑site sales and for exceptions to Caroline County’s longstanding Class D under‑21 restriction. The board directed staff to draft local rule language ahead of the September meeting so the brewery can proceed with a timely opening.

Geneva told the board there is uncertainty about whether the brewery can sell wine or liquor at the site under the state brewers’ license and whether an off‑sale (retail to‑go) option requires a separate local license. She said the county historically has a local provision that prevents under‑21 patrons in many Class D licensed establishments, a restriction the board adopted to differentiate taverns and bars from family‑oriented venues. Geneva said the board could create a carve‑out for a brewery to allow under‑21 patrons in specified areas under conditions similar to those used for prior beer‑and‑wine licenses.

Board members also flagged paperwork inconsistencies in local rules (some documents listed Class D as \"on premise\" only; others showed on/off) and asked staff to correct clerical discrepancies and to prepare a concrete draft amendment for the board to consider. Geneva proposed using the same criteria the board previously set for beer‑and‑wine Class D licenses (limits on hours, food service requirements and other conditions) if the board allows a brewery exception for under‑21 patrons.

The board did not take a final vote. Members instructed staff to: 1) prepare a draft local regulatory amendment to clarify Class D on/off permissions and to propose an under‑21 carve‑out for breweries under defined conditions; 2) confirm what the state brewers’ license permits in practice for sale of wine and liquor at brewery taprooms; and 3) schedule the brewery application for the September meeting with the draft regulatory language available for review.

The board emphasized it wants to protect existing tavern license holders while creating a path for new small breweries that seek family‑friendly tap rooms.","A new brewery application prompted the board to consider local changes to Class D licensing, including whether to carve out an exception to the county's under‑21 restriction and whether to clarify on/off sale permissions; staff will draft proposed local rule revisions for the September meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Caroline County board reviews state festival and retail off‑site alcohol permits, finds limits on liquor and local gaps

Caroline County board reviews brewery application; staff to draft local Class D rule changes on under‑21 access and sales