Apply for a 12C Caterer License (ABCC)

To apply for a Caterer License pursuant to M.G.L. c. 138, § 12C you will need electronic copies of the documents listed below.

Required Documents for ALL new Caterer licenses:

• Personal Information Form for anyone with Beneficial or Financial Interest in this license (any person or business entity with ownership).
• CORI Release Form for the liquor license manager.
• Proof of Citizenship for the liquor license manager. Any one of the following is acceptable: US Passport, US Passport Card, Birth Certificate, Voter Registration or Naturalization Papers.
• Liquor Liability Insurance in the required minimum amount of $250,000/$500,000.
• Board of Health Food Service Permit
• ServSafe or TIPS certification for each person serving liquor under this license.
• Floor Plan indicating where the alcohol will be stored when not in use.
• Lease / Occupancy Documents that show your right to store at the premises.
• Financial Statement and Documents for the proposed transaction.

In addition

    By statute, holders of Caterer licenses must also hold at least one transportation permit:

• Vehicle Registration for each vehicle being permitted.

    If entity applying is a business:

• Vote of the Corporate Board or LLC is required authorizing any transaction you are applying for.
• Business Structure Documents: Articles of Organization, Partnership Agreement, Bankruptcy Documents, Estate Documents, Trust Documents or Business Certificate, are required depending on your corporate structure.

    If Pledging license/stock/beneficial interest/inventory, the following is required:

• Pledge Agreement
• Promissory Note
• Vote of the Corporate Board or LLC approving the Pledge.

• The caterer license allows the holder to cater private events outside the premises of the principal place of business.
• This license is not for catering open to the public. For events open to the public, a special one day permit is needed and issued by the town.
• Caterers can only purchase alcohol from a licensed Massachusetts wholesaler or other authorized source such as a Farmer Series licensee.
• To be eligible for a Caterer license in Massachusetts, the company must store alcohol in Massachusetts.
• The caterer can serve alcohol at a private event for a maximum of 5 hours.
• Caterers can not deliver or sell alcoholic beverages at a location already licensed to serve alcohol.
• 48 hours before the event, the caterer must provide written notice of the event to the local police chief and Local Licensing Authority. This needs to include a copy of the 12C license, a copy of the liquor liability insurance, and emergency contact information for the manager of the 12C license.

To generate a list of the most current Caterer licensees, please use our General Search Function provided on our eLicensing and ePermitting portal.