Alcoholic Beverage License Administration

Steps to applying for a City of Maysville alcoholic beverage license may be found in the FAQs below.
Mason County Judge-Executive is the alcoholic beverage administrator for Mason County. That office can be reached at 606-564-6706.
License Availability
While package malt beverage and retail by-the-drink licenses are not quota based, package liquor licenses are restricted by state statute to one per 1,000 county residents. There are currently no quota license available in Mason County. Both wine and liquor are licensed under the same license category.
The Landing at Limestone – Entertainment Destination Center
The City of Maysville’s Entertainment Destination Center, The Landing at Limestone, provides any type of business within or adjacent to the EDC an opportunity to apply for an NQ2 license without the 50% food revenue restriction. For more information on the Landing at Limestone, check out this EDC FAQs below.
Alcoholic Beverage License Application & Renewals
Step 1: Download the City of Maysville Alcoholic Beverage Application here. The completed application, supporting documentation, and fee payment should be returned to the City of Maysville, 216 Bridge St., Maysville, KY 41056.
For more information, contact Maysville City Clerk/ABC Administrator Lisa Dunbar at lrdunbar@maysvilleky.net or 606-564-2718. She can help you determine the type of license you need and avoid possible obstacles.
Step 2: Go to the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Administration licensing page here. You will need to go to eServices and create an account — click on the first box Request or Apply to Login/Register. All state applications and renewals must be made online. After creating an account, you can download and review the eServices Applicant/Licensee User Guide
Step 3: Following the User Guide, you will submit your application online. After you have submitted your online application to the state, a notice will be sent to the local ABC Administrator for approval. If more documentation is needed, you will be notified by email.
Step 4: You may make an application for your City license simultaneously with your state application. Keeping a copy of your City application will help you complete the Kentucky online form.
For more information, contact City Clerk/ABC Administrator Lisa R. Dunbar at 606-564-2718 or lrdunbar@maysvilleky.net
Please note that these guidelines only apply to businesses within the Maysville city limits. Those outside the city limits but within Mason County should contact the Mason County Judge-Executive’s office at 606-564-6706.
Entertainment Destination Center

The City of Maysville holds an Entertainment Destination Center license from Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Administration. The EDC is a part of the economic development plan for Maysville’s historic downtown in coordination with the new B-Line bourbon trail and tourism.
The Entertainment Destination Center allows businesses within or adjacent to it to apply for by-the-drink licenses. Their patrons can leave their businesses with drinks in an appropriate cup and walk within common areas of the EDC. Alcoholic beverages cannot be taken outside the borders of the EDC. Likewise, alcoholic beverages cannot be brought into the EDC to be imbibed publicly. Only alcoholic beverages purchased from licensed vendors within the EDC can be drank publicly within the EDC.
Licensed businesses within the EDC may also set up bars in the common area, if they have received permission from the City Manager and purchase a supplemental bar license from the state.
With the Entertainment Destination Center now licensed, any business within and adjacent to the district can apply for a by-the-drink license (NQ-2). No business can serve alcoholic beverages without a license from both the City of Maysville and the state. The state ABC license is $830, and the City of Maysville license is $550. Vendors are also required by state law to purchase alcohol from a licensed distributor.
Under no circumstances, may a business with just a by-the-drink license sell packaged beer or liquor.
The City passed the EDC ordinance in January and applied for the license at the end of July when state statute went into effect reducing the price. Over the past two weeks, city staff has met with ABC Enforcement to go over the district boundaries and issues regarding enforcement. In addition to signage showing the boundaries of the EDC, the city plans to install security cameras in common areas.
While the City of Maysville has the responsibility to ensure safety in common areas, licensed vendors are still responsible for not over-serving customers and not serving anyone under the age of 21.
Some citizens have expressed concerns about noise, fighting, and other disturbances, which might be associated with public drinking. The city will hold businesses accountable if there are recurring instances of public disturbances associated with their business up to and including revoking their license.
Where Alcohol and Minors Can Mix
Under Kentucky law, alcoholic beverage licensees and their employees cannot permit those under the age of 21 from remaining where alcoholic beverages are sold by the drink or consumed on the premises unless the usual and customary business of the licensee is a hotel, motel, restaurant, convention center, convention hotel complex, racetrack, simulcast facility, golf course, private club, park, fair, church, school, athletic complex, athletic arena, theater, small farm winery, distillery, brewery, winery, convenience store, grocery store, drug store, entertainment destination center, licensed APC premises, or any other business type as determined by the board through the promulgation of administrative regulations, whose operations allow it to adequately monitor and prevent alcohol sales to minors.
Additionally, the Alcoholic Control Board has exempted other types of businesses from that prohibition, including:
- Barber shop – established and licensed under KRS Chapter 317
- Bed and Breakfast – as defined by KRS 241.010(5)
- Bowling alley – containing several lanes of tenpin bowling
- Commercial airplane – providing regularly scheduled or charter flights
- Commercial airport – as defined by KRS 241.010(5)
- Department store – retail establishment offering consumer goods including but not limited to clothing, furniture, jewelry, cosmetics, etc.
- Designated drinking area – an area containing a bar, counter, or similar structure, where employees prepare and serve alcoholic beverages to customers, that is separated from the remainder of the premises by a barrier or that has no more than two entrances and exits accessible from the remainder of the premises. The designated drinking area may contain employee access by keyed entry and emergency exits equipped with crash bars.
- Museum
- Not-for-profit event
- Organized civic or community-sponsored event
- Paint and sip business – a business that provides paid group painting lessons accompanied by alcoholic beverages
- Qualified historic site as defined by KRS 241.010(54)
- Riverboat
- Salon and spa – established and licensed under KRS Chapter 317A
- Train
Businesses that serve alcohol by the drink may permit minors to remain on the premises if the licensee only conducts drink sales and allows consumption in a designated drinking area from which minors are excluded.
Regardless of the above provision, a licensee may exclude minors from parts or all of its premises.
Operators of premises in which alcohol is sold by the drink for consumption on premises where minors are prohibited or designated drinking area must post in a prominent place near the door a sign (at least 8 by 11 inches in 100 points or larger type): NO PERSONS UNDER 21 ALLOWED.
For more information, check KRS 244.080, 244.085, 244.090.