(a) (1) The number of premises for which an off-sale beer and wine license is issued shall be limited to one for each 2,500, or fraction thereof, inhabitants of the city or county in which the premises are situated. No additional off-sale beer and wine license, other than a renewal or transfer or as permitted by Section 23821, shall be issued in any city or county where the number of premises for which all off-sale beer and wine licenses are issued is more than one for each 2,500, or fraction thereof, inhabitants of the city or county.
(2) The number of premises for which an off-sale beer and wine license is issued in a city and county, in combination with the number of premises for which an off-sale general license is issued in a city and county, shall be limited to one for each 1,250, or fraction thereof, inhabitants of the city and county in which the premises are situated. No additional off-sale beer and wine license, other than a renewal or transfer or as permitted by Section 23821, shall be issued in any city and county where the number of premises for which all off-sale beer and wine licenses in combination with off-sale general licenses are issued is more than one for each 1,250, or fraction thereof, inhabitants of the city and county.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a retail off-sale beer and wine replacement license may be issued at a premises that was operated under an existing off-sale beer and wine license no less than 90 days prior to the date of application for the replacement license, provided that the existing licensee is subject to a bankruptcy proceeding and the existing licensee has no right to operate at the premises, or has abandoned the premises of that license.
(2) A replacement license shall not be issued if the existing license has been, or is in the process of being, transferred, or if the existing license has been canceled by the licensee or surrendered by the licensee pursuant to department rule.
(3) An application for a replacement license shall be accompanied by a fee equivalent to the application fee for a retail package off-sale beer and wine license and all conditions imposed upon the existing off-sale beer and wine license at the premises shall be imposed upon the replacement license.
(4) Upon issuance of the replacement license, the off-sale beer and wine license existing at the premises shall be canceled by operation of law. A replacement license shall not be transferred to another premises.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 29, Sec. 37. (SB 82) Effective June 27, 2019.)