Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Maryland Wholesale Distribution Reference
Three-tier distribution reference for out-of-state suppliers of wine, beer, spirits and cider. General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with state authorities. Listed agency fees are not Compliant Bootlegger service fees.
Maryland — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Montgomery County operates a control system for wines with an ABV greater than 22%
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Holders of a Non-Resident Winery Permit, who may not produce more than 27,500 gallons annually, may self-distribute
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Non-Resident Dealer Permit; wineries producing less than 27,500 gallons annually may instead apply for a Non-resident Winery Permit
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Non-resident Dealer’s Permit: $200; Non-resident Winery Permit: $50
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No – but assigned wholesalers must be listed on the license application
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Only wholesalers or licensed supplier representatives may provide samples
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – an applicant for a license must provide documentation that they produce the brands they will sell, or that they have been assigned rights to sell them
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes – products must be delivered and unloaded at wholesaler’s licensed premises
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.40 per gallon
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Holders of a Non-Resident Winery license must pay taxes on wines they self-distribute to Maryland retailers; otherwise the Maryland wholesaler will be responsible for payment of taxes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Maryland — beer
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes – Holders of a Nonresident Brewery Permit may sell up to 3,000 barrels annually to Maryland retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Nonresident Dealer Permit; Nonresident Brewery Permit
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Nonresident Dealer Permit: $200 annually; Nonresident Brewery Permit: $50 annually, only available if producing less than 22,500 barrels annually, and only permits sale of no more than 3,000 barrels into Maryland annually
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Yes – $5,000 for Nonresident Dealer Permit; $1,000 for Nonresident Brewery Permit
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes – $50 Solicitor license
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – Brand
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Only wholesalers or licensed supplier representatives may provide samples
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – Nonresident Dealer Permittes may only sell those products they produced or import
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes – products must be delivered and unloaded at wholesaler’s licensed premises
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.09 per gallon
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – monthly 323 and 324 Report
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Maryland — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Maryland is not a control state - except for sales to Montgomery County.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state spirits manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Maryland.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Maryland requires a Non-Resident Dealer license for out-of-state suppliers to sell to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Maryland charges $200 for its out-of-state supplier license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No, you do not need money held in bond to obtain a license in Maryland.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Maryland requires that suppliers have an in-state representative.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- No, Maryland does not require product brand/labels to be registered before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Maryland does not require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, Maryland does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators. However, assigned wholesalers must be listed on the license application.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, Maryland does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Maryland does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Only wholesalers or licensed supplier representatives may provide samples in Maryland.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, there are franchise rules in Maryland that can restrict a spirits supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Suppliers may only provide alcohol that they produce or import, or that they are authorized brand dealers for, to Maryland distributors.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes. In Maryland, products must be delivered and unloaded at wholesaler's licensed premises.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Maryland imposes an excise tax on spirits of $1.50 per gallon.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Maryland does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit the excise taxes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Maryland does not require out-of-state suppliers to file any follow-up reports on their sales to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Maryland — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Maryland is not a control state, though Montgomery County does operate a local control system. However, ciders would be sold in the private sector in Montgomery County.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- Yes, holders of a Nonresident Brewery Permit may directly sell up to 3,000 barrels annually to Maryland retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Maryland requires out-of-state cideries to hold a Nonresident Dealer Permit or Nonresident Brewery Permit (for those producing less than 22,500 barrels per year) to sell to Maryland wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- A Maryland Nonresident Dealer Permit costs $200. Alternatively, a Nonresident Brewery Permit is available for $50, but only for suppliers producing less than 22,500 barrels annually, and only permitting no more than 3,000 barrels to be sold into Maryland annually.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Maryland requires applicants for a Nonresident Dealer Permit to hold a $5,000 bond in the state, or a $1,000 bond for Nonresident Brewery Permit applicants.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Maryland requires salespersons employed by a supplier to hold a Solicitor License.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Maryland requires salespersons employed by a supplier to hold a Solicitor License.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Maryland does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes, Maryland requires Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- Yes, Maryland requires territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Maryland does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Maryland, only wholesalers or licensed supplier representatives may provide samples to retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes, in Maryland there are franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, in Maryland there are franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes, in Maryland products must be delivered and unloaded at a wholesaler's licensed premises.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Yes, in Maryland products must be delivered and unloaded at a wholesaler's licensed premises.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Yes, Maryland requires out-of-state cider makers to remit themselves the excise tax on ciders they sell into the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Maryland requires out-of-state cider suppliers to file the 323 and 324 Report monthly.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.