Georgetown Liquor License Moratorium Finally Gone

As of April 11, D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has opened the liquor license application process for restaurants in Georgetown.

Since Georgetown’s 27-year-old liquor license moratorium expired April 9, there is no longer a limit on the number of restaurant licenses that can be issued in the neighborhood.

Businesses can start the application process online by visiting abra.dc.gov/node/676542. Interested candidates must first complete the application with the necessary documentation, then submit it for approval. The process could take several months from start to finish.

While Georgetown’s moratorium has ended, tavern and nightclub licenses in the neighborhood are still limited by a separate law.
There remain four moratorium zones in the District. Adams Morgan has restrictions that severely limit the number of licenses for taverns and restrict them entirely for nightclubs within the moratorium zone (restaurants and hotels are exempt). The East Dupont moratorium zone specifies two licenses for taverns and no licenses for nightclubs. In the West Dupont zone, no nightclubs can be issued licenses. Set to expire May 3, the Glover Park moratorium zone has several limits on new retailer’s licenses.