Borough of Paramus, NJ Article I Licenses and Fees

§ 157-1 License required.

No person shall sell or distribute within the corporate limits of the Borough any alcoholic beverages without first having obtained a license for said purpose, issued pursuant to this chapter or state law.

§ 157-2 Classes of licenses.

A. The classes of licenses to be issued by the Mayor and Council are hereby fixed as follows:

(1) Plenary retail consumption license.

(2) Plenary retail distribution license.

(3) Limited retail distribution license.

(4) Club license.

(5) Plenary retail consumption license for hotels or motels having at least 100 sleeping rooms.

[Added 4-8-2008 by Ord. No. 08-7]

B. No seasonal retail consumption license shall be granted.

§ 157-3 License fees.

[Amended 6-25-1970 by Ord. No. 646; 6-17-1971 by Ord. No. 668; 6-13-1972 by Ord. No. 72-14; 6-26-1973 by Ord. No. 73-27; 6-25-1974 by Ord. No. 74-19; 11-24-1992 by Ord. No. 92-23; 4-8-2008 by Ord. No. 08-7; 4-2-2019 by Ord. No. 19-07; 5-25-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-20]

The annual fees for licenses shall be as follows:

A. Plenary retail consumption license (33): $2,500.

B. Plenary retail distribution license (44): $2,000.

C. Limited retail distribution license (43): $63.

D. Club license (31): $188.

E. Plenary retail consumption license for hotel/motel (36): $2,500.

§ 157-4 Number of licenses limited.

A. The number of plenary retail consumption licenses issued and outstanding at any one time shall not exceed 33. In the event that the number of plenary retail consumption licenses issued and outstanding at any one time shall be fewer than 33, only such number of additional plenary retail consumption licenses shall be issued as will cause the total number of plenary retail consumption licenses issued and outstanding at any one time to equal 33 or fewer. The foregoing provisions of this section shall not prevent the renewal of outstanding licenses or the transfer of such licenses and the renewal of licenses so transferred.

[Amended 5-25-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-20]

B. All new plenary retail consumption hotel/motel licenses issued to a person who operates a hotel or motel containing at least 100 guest sleeping rooms after September 1, 2008, shall be subject to the provisions of this subsection. Licenses issued prior to said date may be issued without the auction process described herein. No license issued pursuant to this section shall be transferable except with regard to the operation of a hotel or motel located at the site for which the license has been issued or with regard to the expansion of a hotel at a site for which the license has been issued. Any license issued pursuant to this section after September 1, 2008, shall be issued by way of the public sale/bidding method as provided by law. Any license issued pursuant to this section shall be issued to the highest bidder with the Mayor and Council fixing the amount of the minimum required bid by way of resolution, with the Mayor and Council being entitled to reject any bids that are less than the minimum bid amount. The premises for which a hotel/motel license is issued shall be subject to the following regulations:

[Amended 4-8-2008 by Ord. No. 08-7; 5-27-2008 by Ord. No. 08-23]

(1) Alcoholic beverages may not be removed from the premises by patrons at any time.

(2) Alcoholic beverages provided by room service shall not be removed from the room.

(3) Packaged goods sales are not permitted to hotel/motel rooms.

C. Only one license shall be granted to any person, corporation, partnership, limited partnership or association in the Borough, and said license shall cover only the licensed premises.

§ 157-5 License application; referral.

Upon the filing of the application by the applicant with the Borough Clerk, the Borough Clerk shall forthwith refer the same to the Mayor and Council for consideration.

§ 157-6 License issuance; display.

Whenever the Mayor and Council shall grant any application for a license by proper resolution, recorded in the minutes of the Mayor and Council, and direct its issuance, the Borough Clerk shall deliver to the applicant a license in appropriate form, signed by the Borough Clerk with the Borough seal affixed, bearing date of issuance and expiration, and particularly describing the place of business, which license shall at all times be kept by the licensee at the place of business in a conspicuous place exposed to view.