ALCOHOL LICENSING
Statewide, the sale of alcohol is regulated by Chapter 138 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Alcohol license applications need to be filled out by anyone who is looking to sell liquor in their establishment, change information on an existing liquor license, or sell alcohol at a one-day event (note: one-day event licenses do not need to go through the ABCC website). The Select Board is the local licensing authority and, in accordance with the statute, is authorized to issue the following types of licenses:
Section 15 - Off-Premises licenses which include:
- All alcohol package stores
- PLEASE NOTE: NATICK HAS REACHED ITS QUOTA FOR PACKAGE STORE LICENSES AND CANNOT CONSIDER ANY NEW APPLICATIONS AT THIS TIME
- Restaurant Beer and Wine (minimum 15-seat establishment)
- Restaurant All Alcohol (minimum 100-seat establishment)
- Club
- Inn-holders
The rules and regulations have established a ratio of 35/65 (the percentage of alcohol/food to gross sales) as the guideline for compliance with this provision.
TO APPLY FOR A NEW LICENSE
- Review any applicable local rules and regulations:
- General On-Premises Beer and Wine
- Present concept plans to the Board of Health (508-647-6460) and Building Department (508-647-6450), both located on the second floor of Town Hall, to make sure there are no land use issues or issues with health regulations
- Contact the Select Board's Office to see if you will need to apply for any additional licenses, i.e., a common victualer's or entertainment license
- Obtain application from the ABCC website
- Print and submit the completed application and required supporting documents listed on the ABCC website to the Select Board's Office along with an application fee of $300 (check made payable the "Town of Natick"). Attach a receipt to your application showing online payment of $200 ABCC/Commonwealth of Massachusetts fee.
- PLEASE NOTE: Application MUST be typed; the ABCC will not accept a handwritten application.
Upon receipt of the complete application, a hearing will be scheduled before the Select Board. If approved by the Select Board, the application will be forwarded to the ABCC for final approval.
TO APPLY FOR A CHANGE IN CONDITION ON AN EXISTING LICENSE
(i.e., change in manager, alteration of premises, transfer of license, etc.)
- Obtain application from the ABCC website
- Submit the completed application and required supporting documents listed on the ABCC website to the Select Board's Office along with an application fee of $200 (check made made payable to the "Town of Natick"). Attach a receipt to your application showing online payment of $200 ABCC/Commonwealth of Massachusetts fee.
- PLEASE NOTE: Application MUST be typed; the ABCC will not accept a handwritten application.
TO APPLY FOR A ONE-DAY ALCOHOL LICENSE
One-day alcohol licenses are issued by the Select Board as provided by Chapter 138, s.14. A one-day license is required if the sale and/or service of alcohol to the public is contemplated and the organization and/or venue does not already have a liquor license. The sale of alcohol can mean a cash bar, the purchase of a ticket to an event that includes an alcoholic beverage, or an event where food and drink are said to be complimentary but a charitable contribution is expected. Serving alcohol to the public, even if free of charge, requires a one-day alcohol license.
- Complete and submit the One-Day Alcohol License Application to the Select Board's Office via mail, or via email to ddonovan@natickma.org, along with a $100 license fee (check made payable to the Town of Natick).
- Contact the Board of Health (508-647-6460) regarding any other permits you may need or other requirements you should be aware of related to your one-day alcohol license application.
Upon receipt of the completed application and $100 license fee, the applicant will be scheduled for an upcoming Select Board's agenda and a final decision will be made by the Board.
For any questions, please contact the Select Board's office via email at selectboard@natickma.org or by phone at 508-647-6410.
For any questions, please contact the Select Board's office via email at selectboard@natickma.org or by phone at 508-647-6410.