License Commission

Overview

The License Commission adopts rules and regulations for licenses and license activity that address matters of local interest in compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth. It is the local authority for licenses affecting:

Alcoholic Beverage Retail
Common Victualler (Restaurant & Prepared Food Service)
Entertainment in an Alcoholic Beverage licensed establishment
Lodging houses
Pawnbroker, Precious metals, Second hand articles
Public amusements
Second hand Motor Vehicle Dealer
Sidewalk Stands

Most permits that are co-requisites for License Commission Licenses are available through Development Services here: Development Services.

Meetings

License Commission meetings are governed by Open Meeting Law (Commonwealth).
Every two or three weeks, usually on Thursdays at 6:00 PM.
Unless otherwise specified in the meeting notice:
City Hall, 2nd floor, Council Chamber
375 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852
Applications & Fees must be submitted 4 days before the meeting. This allows us to review your materials before adding you to the legally required public notice of the agenda, which must be posted 2 days before the meeting.
Once Legal Public Notice of a meeting agenda is published, late submissions cannot, by law, be brought before the Commission in meeting.
Upcoming meeting dates: 3/9/2023, 3/23/2023, 4/13/2023
Full License Commission 2023 Meeting Calendar (Meeting dates are subject to change.)

Notice of meeting is filed with the City Clerk at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Notice of meeting is on the bulletin board outside of City Hall in the JFK Plaza, and on the City of Lowell's online Agenda Center.

Meeting Agendas, Minutes, & Videos

Sign up to receive notifications of License Commission meetings and read the agenda when it's posted.
Go here: https://www.lowellma.gov/list.aspx Detailed illustrated directions (PDF): Directions for "Notify Me"

You can find the minutes and videos of previous meetings at the City of Lowell "Agenda Center," here:
https://www.lowellma.gov/AgendaCenter

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes.

Policy & Requirements

In accordance with License Commission policy: "An individual, a corporate officer, a manager of record or any other person who will be directly responsible for the business, entertainment, or special event for which a license is requested shall be required to appear at a meeting of the Lowell License Commission when said licensing board is scheduled to review the application filed by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, club, or association."

As of May 20, 2021, the License Commission requires that most applications include a work history for the business owner(s) and manager. You may attach a resume or CV that includes relevant experience.

Complete applications with all required documents must be received at least four business days before a meeting to be added to that meeting’s agenda for review by the License Commission. Only complete applications with all required information and attachments will be processed.

All one-day licenses for alcohol require that the alcohol be purchased from a state approved distributor or brewer. The list of currently approved MA Distributors is available here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/authorized-sources-of-alcohol-for-1-day-licenses/download

Bartenders serving under "Special One-Day Permit" to serve alcohol are expected to be TIPs Certified for On-Premises: https://www.gettips.com/online/bartending-license-massachusetts

The licensing board may adopt rules and regulations in compliance with the Massachusetts General Laws and the Lowell Code of Ordinances.