Howard County, MD Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Max fine
- $100
- Max jail term
- 30 days
- Offense class
- Class D civil offense
- Sign size required
- 18 in. by 24 in.
- Enacted
- Council Bill 35, 1975
- Exempt
- Licensed bars, temporary-license events
Summary
Howard County bans drinking or carrying an open container of alcohol on posted commercial shopping-center property and posted public parking lots. The rule only applies once a sign at least 18 by 24 inches announces the ban; it does not reach licensed bars, restaurants, or temporary-license events. Violators face a misdemeanor charge.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to consume any alcoholic beverages or have in his possession any alcoholic beverages in an open container on the posted premises of a commercial shopping center, or on posted parking lots open to the public.(b)This section shall not be construed to apply to the enclosed premises of a licensee of a validly issued license by the Howard County Board of License Commissioners, nor to the area covered by a temporary license issued by the Board of License Commissioners.(c)Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $100.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both, in the discretion of the court.(d)For the purpose of this section, the term posted is defined as the display of a sign, not less than 18 inches by 24 inches in size, on the affected premises, informing the public that consumption or possession in an opened container of alcoholic beverages thereon is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 91 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
700 targets public drinking in commercial settings rather than banning open containers county-wide. Under subsection (a), it is unlawful to consume or possess any alcoholic beverage in an open container on the posted premises of a commercial shopping center, or on posted parking lots open to the public. The trigger is the posting itself: subsection (d) defines 'posted' as a sign no smaller than 18 inches by 24 inches displayed on the property warning that open-container consumption or possession is prohibited there, so an unposted lot or shopping center is not covered.
Subsection (b) carves out the enclosed premises of any business holding a valid license from the Howard County Board of License Commissioners, along with any area covered by a temporary license the Board has issued, so bars, restaurants, and licensed outdoor festival grounds are not swept into the ban even if the surrounding lot is posted. 00, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both, at the discretion of the court. The Howard County Police Department may also enforce the section civilly under Title 24, Subtitle 1 of the County Code, where a violation is classified as a Class D offense, allowing officers to issue a citation instead of pursuing a criminal charge.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a misdemeanor carrying up to a $100.00 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both, though the Howard County Police Department can instead issue a civil citation, classified as a Class D offense under Title 24 of the County Code. The ban applies only where a shopping center or public parking lot has posted the required 18-inch-by-24-inch warning sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to drink alcohol anywhere in a Howard County parking lot?
What size sign does a shopping center need to enforce the ban?
Can I drink outside a bar's patio in a posted shopping center?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
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