Licensing Board Advisories

As of May 18, 2023, the Board issued an advisory regarding bottle service. Read the advisory.

As of March 17, 2023, the Board issued an advisory regarding drink spiking in nightlife establishments. Read the advisory. This is an update to the Advisory issued on November 22, 2021.

As of March 2, 2023, Mayor Michelle Wu signed an ordinance requiring that places of public accommodation in the City of Boston, including restaurants and bars, must turn on the closed captioning function on any television in use in any public area during regular hours. Read the advisory.

As of March 5, 2022, the City's indoor mask mandate will be lifted. Licensed premises may continue to require masking if they choose.

As of February 18, 2022, the City’s vaccine mandate for certain indoor spaces is lifted. The City’s mask mandate, as explained in an advisory issued on August 23, 2021, remains in effect.

On January 14, 2022, the Licensing Board issued an updated advisory regarding the vaccine mandate effective January 15, 2022. Read the updated advisory.

On January 10, 2022, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding the vaccine mandate effective January 15, 2022, regarding certain indoor spaces. The advisory is supplemental to Mayor Wu's announcement on December 20, 2021 regarding these updated COVID-19 operational changes. Read the Board's advisory. More information is available on the B Together website.

On November 24, 2021, Mayor Wu extended the temporary outdoor dining until December 31, 2021 (with a few exceptions). Read the Board Advisory.

On November 22, 2021, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding nightlife safety. This was due to recent news reports of an increasing number of illicit, non-consensual drugging occurring at bars, nightclubs, and other nightlife venues. Read the advisory.

On August 23, 2021, the Board issued an advisory regarding the indoor mask mandate effective August 27, 2021. Read the advisory.

On June 16, 2021, the Board issued an advisory regarding the delivery of alcoholic beverages as well as the prohibition of the delivery of alcoholic beverages to the Department of Conservation and Recreation properties. Read the advisory.

As of May 29, 2021, all restrictions will be lifted. Until May 29, licensees are still required to follow Phase IV conditions as set in the previous advisories. These include 90-minute table limits, food service with alcohol, six people per table, masks to be worn unless eating or drinking, socially distanced tables, and no walk-up bar service.

On April 30, 2021, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding Phase IV reopening conditions regarding entertainment, gathering limits, and restaurant operations. Read the advisory. 

On April 6, 2021, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding commencements and graduations in the City of Boston. Read the advisory. On April 30, 2021, the Board updated the advisory regarding commencements and graduations regarding the social distancing of students. Read the updated advisory.

On March 19, 2021, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding Phase IV, Step 1 reopening in Boston. Read the advisory.

On March 12, 2021, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding outdoor dining for the 2021 season. Read the advisory.

On March 1, 2021, the Licensing Board issued an advisory on Phase 3, Step 2 reopening regarding restaurants and entertainment. Read the advisory.

On January 5, 2021, the Licensing Board issued an updated advisory regarding the capacity limits of restaurants and bar seating. Read the advisory.

On December 24, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding the capacity limits of restaurants beginning December 26, 2020. Read the advisory.

On December 14, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding the closing of bar seating in licensed premises and restricted ancillary activities in licensed premises. Read the advisory.

On October 19, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding live entertainment in restaurants and theater and performance venues. Read the advisory.

On September 22, 2020, the state issued updates to the safety standards for restaurants. On September 23, Mayor Walsh announced how these updates will be put in place for indoor and outdoor dining in Boston. These updated safety standards go into effect on September 28. Read the safety standards advisory.

On September 15, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding outdoor dining and the use of approved heaters. Temporary outdoor dining extensions has been extended to December 1, 2020. Read the advisory.

On August 10, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding the Governor's Executive Order effective August 11, 2020. The advisory is regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption and the operations of restaurants.
Read the advisory.

On July 27 2020, the Licensing Division issued guidance on hosting an outdoor drive-in theater or outdoor theater in the City of Boston as part of Step 1 of Phase 3.

 On July 21, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding the temporary sale of mixed drinks for off-premise consumption by Section 12 licensees. Read the advisory.

On July 13, 2020, the Licensing Board issued two advisories regarding the allowance of entertainment and special events with certain conditions. Read the advisory on special events and the advisory on entertainment applicable to annual licensees.

As of June 19, 2020, only non-live entertainment consisting of televisions and background music is permitted inside of licensed premises at this time.  Live entertainment, including performers, DJs, dancing by patrons, and trivia, are strictly prohibited. Entertainment is not permitted on temporary outdoor extensions. Licensed premises with entertainment granted on the annual entertainment license for outdoor spaces are permitted to have non-live entertainment.

On June 19, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding the allowance of indoor dining with certain conditions. Read the indoor dining advisory.

On June 12, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding beer gardens, breweries, wineries, and distilleries for outdoor spaces. Read the advisory.

On June 8, 2020, the Licensing Board issued an advisory regarding the allowance of outdoor dining. Read the advisory.

On May 15, 2020, the Licensing Board released an initial questionnaire regarding a proposed temporary extension of licensed premise onto outdoor space. This questionnaire does not constitute approval.

A proposed extension onto public property will require interdepartmental review. The Licensing Board will work with the Transportation Department, Public Works, the Public Improvement Commission, Inspectional Services, and other departments to review each request. We will determine what additional information is necessary to complete a thorough review. We will also make a determination regarding the feasibility of the proposed extension at the specific location.

Any Licensee granted a temporary extension must abide by all rules, regulations, laws, advisories, and guidelines issued by the City, state, and federal government. These include include all social distancing requirements; all of the foregoing may be amended by the respective agencies at any time. Any approval will be made on a temporary, non-precedent setting basis due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Read more about the streamlined process.

Effective April 24, 2020, The City of Boston is temporarily allowing existing restaurants (holding either a valid Common Victualler License or a Common Victualler with Alcoholic Beverages License) to sell grocery items with the written approval of the Board and the Inspectional Services Department.

1. Review the Board's Advisory and Guidance issued by the Inspectional Services Department.
2. Submit a health, safety, and operations plan (an outline of the plan can be found online) and a copy of all valid licenses and permits to the Board via email at LicensingBoard@boston.gov.
3. The Board will review the documents submitted in collaboration with the Inspectional Services Department and advise whether any additional items or information are required.
4. Once the Board and the Inspectional Services Department approve the request to temporarily sell grocery items, the Board will issue an approval letter via email. The letter must be signed and returned to the Board via email before the sale of grocery items.

The Board and the Inspectional Services Department are working to expedite the review of all requests by restaurants to temporarily sell grocery items. We have been issuing approvals within 24 hours. Have questions? Contact the Board at 617-635-4170 or LicensingBoard@boston.gov.

Effective Friday, April 3, 2020,  Section 12 License holders are temporarily permitted to sell wine and malt beverages for off-premise consumption. Read the Licensing Board advisory for more details.

On March 31, 2020, Governor Baker issued an Executive Order extending the temporary closure of certain non-essential businesses and the prohibition of gatherings of more than 10 people until Monday, May 4, 2020. Read the Licensing Board advisory. 

In addition, lodgings — including hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and short-term residential rentals (for example, Airbnb and Vrbo) — may only be used for efforts to fight COVID-19. The Licensing Board released an advisory on lodgings, as did the Mass. Department of Public Health.