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New York · Through 2026-09-11

N.Y. Alcoholic Beverage Control Law § 64-a: Special license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on the premises

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Alcoholic Beverage Control Law
  2. Article 5. Special Provisions Relating to Liquor

§ 64-a. Special license to sell liquor at retail for consumption on

the premises. 1. On or before September first, nineteen hundred

sixty-nine, any license issued under section sixty-four of this article

may be converted into a special on-premises license under this section

upon the granting of a request for conversion filed with the liquor

authority by the holder of said license. Such a request shall be granted

by the authority except for good cause shown. The granting of such a

request shall constitute conversion of said license into a special

on-premises license subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable

to special on-premises licenses issued under this section.

2. On or after October first, nineteen hundred sixty-four, any person

may make an application to the appropriate board for a special license

to sell liquor at retail to be consumed on the premises where sold.

3. Such application shall be in such form and shall contain such

information as shall be required by the rules of the liquor authority

and shall be accompanied by a check or draft in the amount required by

this article for such license.

4. Section fifty-four shall control so far as applicable the procedure

in connection with such application.

5. Such special license shall in form and in substance be a license to

the person specifically licensed to sell liquor at retail to be consumed

on the premises specifically licensed. Such license shall also be deemed

to include a license to sell wine and beer at retail to be consumed

under the same terms and conditions, without the payment of any

additional fee.

* 6. No special on-premises license shall be granted except for

premises in which the principal business shall be (a) the sale of food

or beverages at retail for consumption on the premises or (b) the

operation of a legitimate theatre, including a motion picture theatre

that is a building or facility which is regularly used and kept open

primarily for the exhibition of motion pictures for at least five out of

seven days a week, or on a regular seasonal basis of no less than six

contiguous weeks, to the general public where all auditorium seating is

permanently affixed to the floor and at least sixty-five percent of the

motion picture theatre's annual gross revenues is the combined result of

admission revenue for the showing of motion pictures and the sale of

food and non-alcoholic beverages, or such other lawful adult

entertainment or recreational facility as the liquor authority, giving

due regard to the convenience of the public and the strict avoidance of

sales prohibited by this chapter, shall by regulation classify for

eligibility.

* NB Effective until April 20, 2030

* 6. No special on-premises license shall be granted except for

premises in which the principal business shall be (a) the sale of food

or beverages at retail for consumption on the premises or (b) the

operation of a legitimate theatre or such other lawful adult

entertainment or recreational facility as the liquor authority, giving

due regard to the convenience of the public and the strict avoidance of

sales prohibited by this chapter, shall by regulation classify for

eligibility. Nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed to

authorize the issuance of a license to a motion picture theatre, except

those meeting the definition of restaurant and meals, and where all

seating is at tables where meals are served.

* NB Effective April 20, 2030

7. (a) No special on-premises license shall be granted for any

premises which shall be

(i) on the same street or avenue and within two hundred feet of a

building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue or other

place of worship or

(ii) in a city, town or village having a population of twenty thousand

or more within five hundred feet of three or more existing premises

licensed and operating pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four,

sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this article;

(iii) the measurements in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph

are to be taken in straight lines from the center of the nearest

entrance of the premises sought to be licensed to the center of the

nearest entrance of such school, church, synagogue or other place of

worship or to the center of the nearest entrance of each such premises

licensed and operating pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four,

sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this article; except

that no license shall be denied to any premises at which a license under

this chapter has been in existence continuously from a date prior to the

date when a building on the same street or avenue and within two hundred

feet of said premises has been occupied exclusively as a school, church,

synagogue or other place of worship; and except that no license shall be

denied to any premises, which is within five hundred feet of three or

more existing premises licensed and operating pursuant to this section

and sections sixty-four, sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d

of this article, at which a license under this chapter has been in

existence continuously on or prior to November first, nineteen hundred

ninety-three. The liquor authority, in its discretion, may authorize the

removal of any such licensed premises to a different location on the

same street or avenue, within two hundred feet of said school, church,

synagogue or other place of worship, provided that such new location is

not within a closer distance to such school, church, synagogue or other

place of worship.

(b) Within the context of this subdivision, the word "entrance" shall

mean a door of a school, of a house of worship, or of premises licensed

and operating pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four,

sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this article or of

the premises sought to be licensed, regularly used to give ingress to

students of the school, to the general public attending the place of

worship, and to patrons or guests of the premises licensed and operating

pursuant to this section and sections sixty-four, sixty-four-b,

sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this article or of the premises

sought to be licensed, except that where a school or house of worship or

premises licensed and operating pursuant to this section and sections

sixty-four, sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of this

article or the premises sought to be licensed is set back from a public

thoroughfare, the walkway or stairs leading to any such door shall be

deemed an entrance; and the measurement shall be taken to the center of

the walkway or stairs at the point where it meets the building line or

public thoroughfare. A door which has no exterior hardware, or which is

used solely as an emergency or fire exit, or for maintenance purposes,

or which leads directly to a part of a building not regularly used by

the general public or patrons, is not deemed an "entrance".

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subdivision, a special

on-premises license for a premises in which the principal business shall

be the operation of a legitimate theater by a corporation organized

pursuant to the not-for-profit corporation law may be granted

notwithstanding the proximity of such premises to any school, provided

that the availability of alcoholic beverages on such premises shall not

be advertised in any way at such premises in any manner visible from

such street or avenue.

(c-1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (i) of paragraph

(a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a retail license for

on-premises consumption for a premises which shall be within two hundred

feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue

or other place of worship, provided such premises constitutes a premises

for the sale of food or beverages at retail for consumption on the

premises and/or an overnight lodging facility located wholly within the

boundaries of the borough of Manhattan in the city and county of New

York, bounded and described as follows:

BEGINNING at a point on the easterly side of 7th Avenue, distant 25 feet

northerly from the northeasterly corner of 7th Avenue and 132nd Street;

RUNNING THENCE easterly parallel with the northerly side of 132nd Street

and part of the distance of the distance through a party wall, 75 feet;

THENCE northerly parallel with 7th Avenue, 49 feet 11 inches; THENCE

westerly parallel with 132nd Street 75 feet to the easterly side of 7th

Avenue; THENCE southerly along the easterly side of 7th Avenue, 49 feet

11 inches to the point or place of BEGINNING, being the same premises

located at 2247 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue),

block 1917, lot 2 described in deed made by 2247-49 ACP South realty LLC

to AIMCO 2247-2253 ACP, LLC, dated June twenty-ninth, two thousand seven

and recorded July seventh, two thousand seven in the Office of the City

Register, New York County as document number 2007071001657001.

(c-2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (i) of paragraph

(a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a retail license for

on-premises consumption for a premises which shall be within two hundred

feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue

or other place of worship, provided such premises constitutes a premises

for the sale of food or beverages at retail for consumption on the

premises located wholly within the boundaries of the town of Bainbridge,

county of Chenango, bounded and described as follows:

BEGINNING at an iron stake at the curb on the north side of North Main

Street, which stake is in a line with the edge of the concrete sidewalk

in front of the Ireland Hardware Block; thence to the joint corner of

said hardware block and the concrete post at the southwest corner of the

Central Hotel, twenty-seven (27) feet; thence along the foundation wall

of said hotel forty (40) feet to an iron stake under a part of the

Ireland Hardware Store Building six (6) feet from the corner of said

foundation wall and on a continuation of said line along the Hotel

foundation; thence at an approximate right angle in a northeasterly

direction along a line parallel to and six (6) feet distant from the

foundation wall on the "ell" of the Hotel to a point six (6) feet

distant from the foundation wall of the main building of the Hotel,

fourteen (14) feet; thence again at a right angle in an approximately

north-westerly direction on a line parallel to and six (6) feet distant

from the foundation wall of said Hotel building forty-three (43) feet to

an iron stake; thence in a northeasterly direction on a line from said

stake touching the corner of the foundation wall to a point on the line

of premises of the Vendor and premises now owned by Edward Danforth,

known as the Danforth Block; thence in a southeasterly direction along

said boundary line between said premises, which line is believed to be

nine (9) feet distant southwesterly from the foundation wall of said

Danforth Block, to the curb line; thence along said curb line in a

southwesterly direction to the point or place of beginning.

Being known and designated on the Chenango County Tax Map for the

Village and Town of Bainbridge as parcel 265.11-2-15 as said tax map was

on the 15th day of June 2010.

(c-3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (i) of paragraph

(a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a retail license for

on-premises consumption for a premises which shall be within two hundred

feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue

or other place of worship, provided such premises constitutes a premises

for the sale of food or beverages at retail for consumption on the

premises and/or an overnight lodging facility located wholly within the

boundaries of the borough of Manhattan in the city and county of New

York, bounded and described as follows:

BEGINNING at the intersection formed by the easterly side of Fifth

Avenue and the southerly side of East 117th Street; and

RUNNING THENCE easterly along the southerly side of East 117th Street,

110 feet 0 inches;

THENCE southerly at right angles to the last mentioned course, 100 feet

11 inches;

THENCE westerly at right angles to the last mentioned course, 110 feet 0

inches at right angles to the easterly side of Fifth Avenue;

THENCE northerly along the easterly side of Fifth Avenue at right angles

to the last mentioned course, 100 feet 11 inches to the point or place

of BEGINNING.

Being known and designated on the Tax Map of The City of New York, for

the Borough of Manhattan, as Section 6, Block 1622 Lot 73 as said Tax

Map was on the 26th day of November 1974.

(c-4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (i) of paragraph

(a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a retail license for

on-premises consumption for a premises which shall be within two hundred

feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue

or other place of worship, provided such premises constitutes a premises

for the sale of food or beverages at retail for consumption on the

premises located wholly within the boundaries of the city of Binghamton,

county of Broome, bounded and described as follows:

ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the City of Binghamton,

County of Broome, State of New York, more particularly bounded and

described as follows:

BEGINNING at the intersection of the east line of Front Street and the

south line of Main Street; thence easterly along the south line of Main

Street making an interior angle of 100Á 54' with the east line of Front

Street a distance of 35.36 feet to a point in the center line of a

former ten-foot right of way; thence southerly making an interior angle

of 79Á 15' with the last course a distance of 107 feet to a point in the

north line of an alley; thence westerly along the north line of said

alley and making an interior angle of 90Á 07' with the last course a

distance of 35 feet to a point in the east line of Front Street; thence

northerly along said east line of Front Street and making an interior

angle of 89Á 44' with the last course a distance of 100.46 feet to the

point of beginning. Hereby intending to describe the premises commonly

known as 11 Main Street.

(c-5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (i) of paragraph

(a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a retail license for

on-premises consumption for a premises which shall be within two hundred

feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue

or other place of worship, provided such premises constitutes a premises

for the sale of food or beverages at retail for consumption on the

premises located wholly within the boundaries of the city of Binghamton,

county of Broome, bounded and described as follows:

All that tract or parcel of land, situate in the City of Binghamton,

County of Broome and State of New York, on the west side of the Chenango

River at the west end of the Court Street Bridge, and bounded and

described as follows: Commencing at the southeasterly corner of premises

conveyed by Harry Smolensky and Anna Smolensky to Guilio Mattioli and

Anthony F. Mattioli, Sr. by Full Covenant Deed dated February 28th, 1963

and recorded in the Broome County Clerk's office in Book 1063 of Deeds

at page 731 and running thence northerly along the easterly line of

premises so conveyed in a straight line to lands formerly the homestead

property of Benjamin F. Sisson, the southerly part of which is the third

parcel of land described in a Warranty Deed from Archie S. Beers by

Roland F. Beers, his attorney in fact to Arthur Kradjian and Kenneth

Kradjian dated April 18, 1967 and recorded in the Broome County Clerk's

office in Book 1119 of Deeds at page 737; thence in an easterly

direction along the south line of the said premises formerly of Arthur

Kradjian and Kenneth Kradjian to the Chenango River; thence southerly

along the westerly bank of the Chenango River as it winds and turns to

the north side of Main Street; thence in a westerly direction along the

north side of said Main Street to the point or place of beginning.

(c-6) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (i) of paragraph

(a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a retail license for

on-premises consumption for a premises which shall be within two hundred

feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue

or other place of worship, provided such premises constitutes a premises

for the sale of food or beverages at retail for consumption on the

premises located wholly within the boundaries of the city of Binghamton,

county of Broome, bounded and described as follows:

All that tract or parcel of land situate in the City of Binghamton,

County of Broome and State of New York, being a strip of land twelve

(12) feet wide, front and rear taken off the entire southerly side of

premises described in 1936 as follows: All that tract or parcel of land

situate in the City of Binghamton, County of Broome and State of New

York, and being the homestead property of Benjamin F. Sisson, deceased,

situate on the east side of Front Street in said city and being about

eighty-seven (87) feet wide front on Front Street and extending to the

Chenango River and bounded as follows: on the north by lands of Carrie

M. Waldron (formerly owned by Charles D. Rogers), on the south by lands

of Conine & Gleason, C. F. & W. W. Sisson, Ida R. Buckingham and James

W. Lyon; on the east by the Chenango River and on the west by Front

Street, and including all the lands conveyed to Benjamin F. Sisson by

three deeds, to wit: one from the Village of Binghamton dated April 10,

1867 and recorded in the Broome County Clerk's office in Book 74 of

Deeds at page 125; one from Sarah R. Graves and Herman W. Graves dated

July 9, 1875 and recorded in the Broome County Clerk's office in Book 93

of Deeds at page 174; and one from Charles D. Rogers and wife dated July

9, 1875 and recorded in the Broome County Clerk's office in Book 98 of

Deed at page 369 and also includes the northerly part of lands conveyed

to Benjamin F. Sisson by John S. Wells and wife by deed dated June 28,

1853 and recorded in the Broome County Clerk's office in Book 39 of

Deeds at page 401 and 402 to all of which deed reference is had.

(c-7) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this

subdivision, the authority may issue a retail license for on-premises

consumption for a premises which shall be located within two hundred

feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue,

or other place of worship, provided such premises constitutes a premises

for the sale of food or beverages at retail for consumption on the

premises located wholly within the boundaries of the county of Greene,

bounded and described as follows:

ALL that piece or parcel of land, situated in the Village of Catskill,

County of Greene and State of New York, described as follows:

BEGINNING at the southeast corner of that parcel of land described as

"Parcel 1" in deed recorded in Liber 613 of Deeds at Page 246, being on

the north line of Church Street, thence N 89Á02'07" W, 58.68 feet along

the north line of said Church Street to a line 20.00 feet east from,

when measured at right angles to, and parallel with the centerline of

existing southbound Water Street;

THENCE N 03Á03'19" W, 45.31 feet parallel with the centerline of said

Water Street to the northwest corner of that parcel of land described as

"Parcel 2" in said Liber 613 of Deeds at Page 246;

THENCE N 89Á06'33" E, 62.32 feet along the north line of said "Parcel

2" and along the north line of said "Parcel 1" to the northeast corner

of said "Parcel 1";

THENCE S 01Á29'38" W, 47.22 feet along the east line of said "Parcel

1" to the point of the BEGINNING.

Being the same premises conveyed by Deed dated November 18, 2005, to

Samuel D. Aldi from Dominic Joseph Cornelius, and recorded in the Greene

County Clerk's Office on December 8, 2005, in Liber 1197 of Deeds at

Page 193.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph

(a) of this subdivision, the authority may issue a license pursuant to

this section for a premises which shall be within five hundred feet of

three or more existing premises licensed and operating pursuant to this

section and sections sixty-four, sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or

sixty-four-d of this article if, after consultation with the

municipality or community board, it determines that granting such

license would be in the public interest. Before it may issue any such

license, the authority shall conduct a hearing, upon notice to the

applicant and the municipality or community board, and shall state and

file in its office its reasons therefor. Notice to the municipality or

community board shall mean written notice mailed by the authority to

such municipality or community board at least fifteen days in advance of

any hearing scheduled pursuant to this paragraph. Upon the request of

the authority, any municipality or community board may waive the fifteen

day notice requirement. The hearing may be rescheduled, adjourned or

continued, and the authority shall give notice to the applicant and the

municipality or community board of any such rescheduled, adjourned or

continued hearing. Before the authority issues any said license, the

authority or one or more of the commissioners thereof may, in addition

to the hearing required by this paragraph, also conduct a public meeting

regarding said license, upon notice to the applicant and the

municipality or community board. The public meeting may be rescheduled,

adjourned or continued, and the authority shall give notice to the

applicant and the municipality or community board of any such

rescheduled, adjourned or continued public meeting. No premises having

been granted a license pursuant to this section shall be denied a

renewal of such license upon the grounds that such premises are within

five hundred feet of a building or buildings wherein three or more

premises are licensed and operating pursuant to this section and

sections sixty-four, sixty-four-b, sixty-four-c, and/or sixty-four-d of

this article.

(e) Within the context of this subdivision, a building occupied as a

place of worship does not cease to be "exclusively" occupied as a place

of worship by incidental uses that are not of a nature to detract from

the predominant character of the building as a place of worship, such

uses which include, but which are not limited to: the conduct of legally

authorized games of bingo or other games of chance held as a means of

raising funds for the not-for-profit religious organization which

conducts services at the place of worship or for other not-for-profit

organizations or groups; use of the building for fund-raising

performances by or benefitting the not-for-profit religious organization

which conducts services at the place of worship or other not-for-profit

organizations or groups; the use of the building by other religious

organizations or groups for religious services or other purposes; the

conduct of social activities by or for the benefit of the congregants;

the use of the building for meetings held by organizations or groups

providing bereavement counseling to persons having suffered the loss of

a loved one, or providing advice or support for conditions or diseases

including, but not limited to, alcoholism, drug addiction, cancer,

cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's disease; the use of

the building for blood drives, health screenings, health information

meetings, yoga classes, exercise classes or other activities intended to

promote the health of the congregants or other persons; and use of the

building by non-congregant members of the community for private social

functions. The building occupied as a place of worship does not cease to

be "exclusively" occupied as a place of worship where the not-for-profit

religious organization occupying the place of worship accepts the

payment of funds to defray costs related to another party's use of the

building.

* 8. Every special on-premises licensee shall regularly keep food

available for sale to its customers for consumption on the premises. The

availability of sandwiches, soups or other foods, whether fresh,

processed, pre-cooked or frozen, shall be deemed compliance with this

requirement. For motion picture theatres licensed under paragraph (b) of

subdivision six of this section, food that is typically found in a

motion picture theatre, including but not limited to: popcorn, candy,

and light snacks, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this

requirement. The licensed premises shall comply at all times with all

the regulations of the local department of health. Nothing contained in

this subdivision, however, shall be construed to require that any food

be sold or purchased with any liquor, nor shall any rule, regulation or

standard be promulgated or enforced requiring that the sale of food be

substantial or that the receipts of the business other than from the

sale of liquor equal any set percentage of total receipts from sales

made therein.

* NB Effective until April 20, 2030

* 8. Every special on-premises licensee shall regularly keep food

available for sale to its customers for consumption on the premises. The

availability of sandwiches, soups or other foods, whether fresh,

processed, pre-cooked or frozen, shall be deemed compliance with this

requirement. The licensed premises shall comply at all times with all

the regulations of the local department of health. Nothing contained in

this subdivision, however, shall be construed to require that any food

be sold or purchased with any liquor, nor shall any rule, regulation or

standard be promulgated or enforced requiring that the sale of food be

substantial or that the receipts of the business other than from the

sale of liquor equal any set percentage of total receipts from sales

made therein.

* NB Effective April 20, 2030

* 9. In the case of a motion picture theatre applying for a license

under this section, any municipality required to be notified under

section one hundred ten-b of this chapter may express an opinion with

respect to whether the application should be approved, and such opinion

may be considered in determining whether good cause exists to deny any

such application.

* NB Effective until April 20, 2030

* 9. The liquor authority may make such rules as it deems necessary to

carry out the provisions of this section.

* NB Effective April 20, 2030

* 10. The liquor authority may make such rules as it deems necessary

to carry out the provisions of this section.

* NB Effective until April 20, 2030

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