Who needs a section 12 restaurant license: all alcoholic beverages, or wines and malt beverages in Massachusetts?
Issued by Your city or town’s local licensing authority, then the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC), at step 5 of 6 in the opening sequence: alcohol permits.
The local authority publishes notice, holds a public hearing and votes; the ABCC then approves the license after its own review of the owners and the premises. Section 12 requires liquor liability insurance of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence before the license issues. The license comes with a common victualler license and the premises must serve food. Boston sits outside the section 17 formula under its own cap. A license cannot be held until the certificate of occupancy and the food permit are in hand.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 5 of 6: Alcohol permits
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Your city or town’s local licensing authority, then the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC).
Sources and dates
M.G.L. c. 138, sections 12 and 17; ABCC new retail license application and FAQ; Boston Licensing Board retail license page; Chelmsford and Lexington fee tables. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Yes. The local authority publishes notice, holds a public hearing and votes; the ABCC then approves the license after its own review of the owners and the premises.
Yes. The local authority publishes notice, holds a public hearing and votes; the ABCC then approves the license after its own review of the owners and the premises.
Yes. The local authority publishes notice, holds a public hearing and votes; the ABCC then approves the license after its own review of the owners and the premises.
Yes. The local authority publishes notice, holds a public hearing and votes; the ABCC then approves the license after its own review of the owners and the premises.
Yes. The local authority publishes notice, holds a public hearing and votes; the ABCC then approves the license after its own review of the owners and the premises.
Yes. The local authority publishes notice, holds a public hearing and votes; the ABCC then approves the license after its own review of the owners and the premises.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
No. In Massachusetts it is listed for restaurants, pizza shops, bars, wine bars, cocktail bars and brewery taprooms.
Your city or town’s local licensing authority, then the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC).
Step 5 of 6, alcohol permits. The steps before it: set up the business, register for tax, approve the space and get the permits for your kind of business.
Who needs a section 12 restaurant license in Massachusetts?
