New Jersey Extends Liquor License Renewal to September 30 Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

In recognition of the impact of Gov. Murphy's social-distancing executive orders on New Jersey's alcoholic beverage industry and to avoid potential cessation of the manufacture, distribution, transportation, sale and service of alcoholic beverages, on April 13 the director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control extended the 2019-2020 license term for all municipally issued licenses and state-issued licenses and permits until Wednesday, September 30. Without the extension, all licenses for the 2019-2020 license term were to expire on June 30 unless renewed by the issuing authority.

To comply with the extended deadline for municipally issued licenses, including but not limited to plenary retail licenses, the municipal issuing authority must adopt a resolution renewing the license on or before September 30. The licensee must therefore submit all required renewal materials to the issuing authority well in advance of the issuing authority's final meeting in September.

Any retail licensee that has not actively used the license in connection with the operation of a licensed premises on or before June 30, 2018, will be required to file a petition for relief with the division pursuant to N.J.S.A. 33:1-12.39 and obtain such relief in order for the municipal issuing authority to renew the license for the 2020-2021 license term. No such petition is required if the retail licensee already has obtained relief for the 2020-2021 license term.

All holders of state-issued licenses and permits must file a renewal application, pay the requisite fee(s) and satisfy all applicable renewal requirements on or before September 30. Failure to complete the application process on or before September 30 will lead to a lapse in privileges afforded under those licenses and permits.

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COVID-19 DISCLAIMER: As you are aware, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, things are changing quickly and the effect, enforceability and interpretation of laws may be affected by future events. The material set forth in this document is not an unequivocal statement of law, but instead represents our best interpretation of where things stand as of the date of first publication. We have not attempted to address the potential impacts of all local, state and federal orders that may have been issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.