Licensing Board
We grant and regulate various types of alcohol and food licenses for restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments in Boston. We also hold hearings on violations and license applications. Learn more about the Licensing Board.
- Bottle Service: The Board has issued an Advisory regarding bottle service. Read the Advisory. Licensees may request Bottle Service with this application then submit it online.
- Service Dog Policy: Licensees may post this policy at their establishments. Details regarding service and assistance animals may be found on the Mass.gov website. Licensees may request a variance to allow for dogs on outdoor patios via Inspectional Services with this application.
- Alcohol Petition Online Form: For alcohol-related petitions and transactions, submit your application through the Licensing Board's new online form. You may email alcohol@boston.gov with questions. Please note: Do not submit renewal applications on this form.
- Read the Advisory issued on March 2, 2023, regarding the Closed Captioning Ordinance for public facing televisions at licensed establishments.
- Read the Advisory issued on March 17, 2023, regarding drink spiking in nightlife establishments. This is an update to the previously issued Advisory from November 22, 2021.
Contact
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 809Boston, MA 02201-2035 -
Office hours by AppointmentMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
2023 license renewals
If your licensed premise has any seats, the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) is requiring all licensees to get a valid Inspection Certificate. Invoices are mailed and emailed for the building permits two months before the expiration date.
If you need an invoice or to schedule an inspection, please contact your building inspector. There is a list online of all the inspectors' contact information, including phone and email. The best time to schedule an appointment for inspection is at 1010 Mass. Avenue (5th floor) at 8 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 4 p.m. when the inspectors are in the office. Once your inspection has passed, send an email to the following people and they can send you a scanned copy of the updated Certificate: megan.baker@boston.gov, melissa.darosa@boston.gov and silvia.rivera@boston.gov
- Please note: To completely submit your renewal application, you will be required to submit an application on the below application links and also submit payment online.
- Pay for your Alcohol, Package Store, Common Victualler, and Entertainment licenses online. The license number (for example, LB-###### or CAL-######) is located at the top right of your license or renewal application. Verify the total amount before paying! If submitting back-to-back payments, due to browser issues, a previous payment fee may appear again, you can select "remove fee" to remove the duplicate payment.
| License Type (Click for instructions) | Renewal Period | Online Renewal Form | Contact Email |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Victualler (No Alcohol) 2023 | October 1, 2022 - October 31, 2022 (Late fee: Double current bill) | RenewCV@boston.gov | |
| Lodging House 2022-2023 |
April 1, 2022 - April 30, 2022 (Late fee: $10/month) |
RenewLodging@boston.gov | |
| Lodging House 2023-2024 |
April 1, 2023 - April 30, 2023 (Late fee: $10/month) |
RenewLodging@boston.gov |
Apply for or make changes to a license
Hearing Information
Licensing Board hearings are typically held during the first and last week of the month at either 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. You may contact the Board to verify the upcoming hearing dates at LicensingBoard@boston.gov.
- Violation hearings: Tuesdays
- Transactional (application) hearings: Wednesdays
- Voting hearings: Thursdays
Upcoming Hearing Dates
- April 4 (Violation)
- April 5 (Transactional)
- April 6 (Voting)
- April 25 (Violation)
- April 26 (Transactional)
- April 27 (Voting)
- May 2 (Violation)
- May 3 (Transactional)
- May 4 (Voting)
- May 23 (Violation)
- May 24 (Transactional)
- May 25 (Voting)
- June 6 (Violation)
- June 7 (Transactional)
- June 8 (Voting)
- June 27 (Violation)
- June 28 (Transactional)
- June 29 (Voting)
Licensing Board information
The Licensing Board grants and regulates various types of alcohol and food licenses for restaurants, nightclubs, and other establishments in Boston.
Licensing Board information