Number Of Liquor Licenses To Increase As Population Rises In Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — As Hillsborough's population increases so will the number of liquor licenses allowed in the township.

An ordinance was introduced at the recent Feb. 8 township committee meeting to increase the number of plenary retail consumption and plenary retail distribution licenses allowed in the township due to recent census data.

The number of plenary retail consumption licenses would increase from 12 to 14 while the number of plenary retail distribution licenses will increase from four to five.

Plenary retail distribution licenses permit the license holder to sell packaged goods – with no consumption on-premises. Retail consumption licenses authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises by the glass or other open receptacle and allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in original containers for consumption off the licensed premises.

The New Jersey Legislative Statute (N.J.S.A.) 33:1-12.14 authorizes a municipality to issue one plenary retail consumption license for each 3,000 of its population and one plenary retail distribution license for each 7,500 of its population according to the most recent estimates issued by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

In Hillsborough, the population rose from 38,303 in April 2010 to 43,276 in April 2020.

The township committee unanimously approved the first reading. A second public hearing on the ordinance will be held on March 8 before it is finalized.

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