Private Club

Private Club, as defined by West Virginia statutes means any corporation or unincorporated association which either (1) belongs to or is affiliated with a nationally recognized fraternal or veterans organization, which is operated exclusively for the benefit of its members, which pays no part of its income to its shareholders or individual members, which owns or leases a building or other premises, to which club are admitted only duly elected or approved dues paying members in good standing of such corporation or association and their guests while in the company of a member and to which club the general public is not admitted, and which club maintains in said building or on said premises a suitable kitchen and dining facility with related equipment for serving food to members and their guests, or (2) is a nonprofit social club, which is operated exclusively for the benefit of its members, which pays no part of its income to its shareholders or individual members, which owns or leases a building or other premises, to which club are admitted only duly elected or approved dues paying members in good standing of such corporation or association and their guests while in the company of a member and to which club the general public is not admitted, and which club maintains in said building or on said premises a suitable kitchen and dining facility with related equipment for serving food to members and their guests, or (3) is organized and operated for legitimate purposes, which has at least one hundred duly elected or approved dues paying members in good standing, which owns or leases a building or other premises, including any vessel licensed or approved by any federal agency to carry or accommodate passengers on navigable waters of this state, to which club are admitted only duly elected or approved dues paying members in good standing of such corporation or association and their guests while in the company of a member and to which club the general public is not admitted, and which club maintains in said building or on said premises a suitable kitchen and dining facility with related equipment and employs a sufficient number of persons for serving meals to members and their guests, or (4) is organized for legitimate purposes and owns or leases a building or other limited premises in any state, county or municipal park or at any airport, in which building or premises a club has been established, to which club are admitted only duly elected and approved dues paying members in good standing and their guests while in the company of a member and to which club the general public is not admitted, and which maintains in connection with said club a suitable kitchen and dining facility and related equipment and employs a sufficient number of persons for serving meals in said club to said members and their guests.

Private Clubs are authorized to sell alcoholic liquors, which includes wine, other than in sealed packages, for consumption on the premises of the licensees, to their members and their guests in accordance with the provisions of this article. The licensees may keep and maintain on their premises a supply of those alcoholic liquors in such quantities as may be appropriate for the conduct of operations thereof.

The privileges, duties and responsibilities for the serving of alcoholic liquor and wine in a private club is detailed in Legislative Rule CSR 175-2 and CSR 175-4-6 and authorized by West Virginia Code §60-7 and §60-8.

Related Forms and Packets:

Class A Liquor, Wine and Beer On Premise License Packet