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ORDINANCE NO. 2026 -____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CULVER CITY,
CALIFORNIA, ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 11.35 AND
AMENDING SECTION 13.03.025 OF THE CULVER CITY
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF AN ENTERTAINMENT ZONE
WHEREAS, the City of Culver City continues to suffer the effects of a regional and national economic downturn which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, recent Southern California wildfires, and continuing economic challenges nationwide, and these effects are acutely felt by the restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues in the Downtown area; and
WHEREAS, across the country, numerous states, including Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kansas, have found success enlivening communities through the designation of areas where businesses may sell alcoholic beverages for consumption within public spaces adjacent to their licensed premises; and WHEREAS, in 2025, the State of California adopted Senate Bill 969, which authorizes cities and counties to create by ordinance Entertainment Zones to enable restaurants and bars to sell open containers of approved alcoholic beverages for consumption within Entertainment Zones; and
WHEREAS, the City has an important government interest in maintaining a thriving business community and protecting the health, safety, and economic welfare of its citizens and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the continued impact of the pandemic, along with the impacts of the recent California wildfires, have resulted in businesses, and particularly restaurants and entertainment venues, suffering significant economic hardships; and WHEREAS, allowing people to buy open container drinks from local bars, restaurants, wineries, and breweries and enjoy them outside in designated public spaces
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during certain hours for the purpose of creating active, commercial corridors, will stimulate economic recovery.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Culver City DOES HEREBY ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 11, Business Regulations, of the Culver City Municipal Code is hereby amended to add a new Chapter 11.35 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 11.35: ENTERTAINMENT ZONE .
§ 11.35.010 PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Chapter is to establish a process by which to create Entertainment Zones within the City of Culver City , as authorized by 23039.5 of the California Business and Professions Code, where people can buy open container drinks (alcoholic drinks “to -go”) from local bars, restaurants, wineries, and breweries and enjoy them outside in common spaces like plazas, sidewalks, and streets during certain hours for the purposes of creating active, commercial corridors, catalyze broader economic stimulus and ensure equitable program benefits while making Culver City a vibrant cultural hub.
§ 11.35.020 DEFINITIONS .
For the purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
ABC. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Entertainment Zone . This term has the meaning set forth in Section 23039.5 of the California Business and Professions Code, as may be amended from time to time.
Entertainment Zone Event or Activation. An event or activation which
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occurs within the boundaries of an Entertainment Zone established in accordance with this Chapter and the Management Plan for the Entertainment Zone.
Licensee. Any person, business, or other entity duly licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
Management Plan . A plan approved by the Economic and Cultural Development Department for the management and regulation of an Entertainment Zone.
§ 11.35.030 Entertainment Zone
A. Downtown Culver City Entertainment Zone
1. All public streets, sidewalks, and public rights -of-way along the following streets, and within the boundaries depicted on the map in subsection 2 below , are hereby designated as the Downtown Culver City Entertainment Zone under Sections 23039.5 and 25690 of the California Business and Professions Code:
• Beginning at the intersection of Canfield Avenue and Culver Boulevard; thence southerly along Culver Boulevard
approximately 600 feet to its intersection with Main Street; thence westerly along Main Street approximately 250 feet. • From the intersection of Culver Boulevard and Main Street to Watseka Avenue then along Washington Boulevard, to its
intersection with Hughes Avenue ; then Southeasterly
along Duquesne to Culver Boulevard; then Northeast to
Irving Place; t hence easterly along Irving Place to School
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Street; thence northeast along School Street to Van Buren Place; thence southeast along Van Buren Place
approximately 250 feet.
• From School Street and Van Buren Place Northwest along the alleyway approximately 300 feet; thence Northeast to Washington Boulevard and then Northwest approximately
900 feet to the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Culver Boulevard.
2. The following map depicts the boundaries of the
Entertainment Zone, and to the extent there is any conflict between the description above and the map, the map shall control.
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B. Outdoor consumption of alcoholic beverages within the Entertainment Zone is authorized during the time period specified in connection with a Special Event Permit , so long as at least one licensee within the boundaries of the Entertainment Zone is permitted to sell alcoholic beverages during those hours for consumption on the premises. Hours of operation are subject to any additional limitations imposed by any ABC permit or license and by the Management Plan for the Entertainment Zone.
C. Off-site sale of open alcoholic containers by a participating holder of an ABC license or permit may consist of beer, wine, and/or distilled spirits subject to the conditions and limitations imposed on the establishment by their local entitlements or ABC privileges, and any additional limitations imposed by the Management Plan for the Downtown Culver City Entertainment Zone.
§ 11.35.040 Controls and Compliance with Laws
A. All licensees and organizations sponsoring or selling alcoholic beverages within the Downtown Culver City Entertainment Zone shall comply with all applicable state and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to the following:
1. All applicable ABC license and permitting requirements;
2. Sections 23357, 23358, and 23396 of the California
Business and Professions Code, as may be amended from time to time;
3. All other laws governing the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages and all permits and licenses issued pursuant thereto;
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4. Applicable road closure regulations and procedures;
5. Applicable municipal laws, policies, and regulations;
6. Any applicable Administrative Regulations issued by the City pursuant to this Chapter, including conditions set forth in the Management Plan for the Downtown Culver City Entertainment Zone.
7. To the extent anything in this Chapter is inconsistent with Chapter 17.400 of this Code, the provisions of this Chapter shall control.
B. Open alcoholic beverages may be consumed on any public street, avenue, sidewalk, stairway, alley, or thoroughfare within the Downtown Culver City Entertainment Zone, as set forth in subsection D of section 13.03.025, Consumption Of Alcoholic Beverages On Streets And Public Parks , of this Code, subject to any other restrictions imposed by state or local law.
C. All open alcoholic beverages shall be purchased only from a premises located within the Downtown Culver City Entertainment Zone that is authorized under California Business and Professions Code Section 23357, 23358, or 23396, as may be amended from time to time, to permit consumers to leave the premises with open containers of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premise, or an organization that is authorized by an ABC special event permit or license to make such sales within the Downtown Culver City Entertainment Zone.
D. No alcoholic beverages purchased at a participating licensed premises may leave the premises in an open glass or metal container.
E. Delivery of alcoholic beverages to consumers within the Downtown
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Culver City Entertainment Zone by a participating licensee or third-party delivery service is prohibited unless the delivery is to a residential building or private business that is not a licensee.
F. Signs within an Entertainment Zone related to Entertainment Zone Events shall be considered “Temporary Signs” pursuant to Section 17.330.015 for the purpose of Chapter 17.330 Signs. Window or other signage visible from within the Entertainment Zone may advertise beer or alcohol so long as it is done in connection with an Entertainment Zone Event.
§ 11.35.050 Implementation
A. Upon the establishment or modification of an Entertainment Zone, the Economic and Cultural Development Department is authorized to and shall do the following:
1. In consultation with the Police Department, provide the following information to ABC, pursuant to Section 25690 of the California Business and Professions Code:
a. A copy of the ordinance establishing or modifying the Entertainment Zone;
b. information as may be necessary to identify the
boundaries of the Entertainment Zone;
c. the days and hours of operation of the Entertainment Zone; d. the types of alcoholic beverages permitted within the Entertainment Zone;
e. the approved non-glass and non-metal containers in
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which alcoholic beverages may be authorized; and
2. Issue a Management Plan for the Entertainment Zone as follows:
a. The Management Plan shall establish the process or
procedure to readily identify individuals purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages within the Entertainment
Zone as being 21 years of age or older;
b. The Management Plan may include requirements not
otherwise imposed by state or local law, but which are nonetheless enforceable pursuant to this Chapter;
c. Upon issuance or revision of a Management Plan, the
Economic and Cultural Development Department shall
transmit a copy of the Plan to ABC.
d. Any holder of an ABC license or permit that wishes to allow customers to leave the premises with open containers of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises
within the Entertainment Zone shall provide to the
Economic and Cultural Department a copy of the notice
provided to ABC under Section 23357, 23358, or 23396 of the California Business and Professions Code, as
applicable, at the same time such notice is provided to ABC. In addition, participating licensees may be required to submit a participation agreement to the City notifying the City of their intent to participate in the Entertainment Zone.
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§ 11.35.060 Administrative Regulations
A. The Director of the Economic and Cultural Department may adopt administrative regulations to implement the provisions of this Chapter, including, but not limited to, application procedures, permit conditions and requirements, and health and safety measures. The Director may revise these regulations from time to time as they deem appropriate. The Entertainment Zone Management Plan shall be considered an enforceable administrative regulation.
B. No person shall fail to comply with the City’s administrative regulations.
§ 11.35.070 Periodic Review
The City, in conjunction with local law enforcement, shall review the operation of each Entertainment Zone six months after its activation and every two years following its adoption to ensure the Entertainment Zone is being maintained in a manner that protects the health and safety of the general public. Any reports made during the review shall be made available to ABC upon request. § 11.35.080 Enforcement
A. Any person who violates any provision of this Chapter, including any administrative regulations, shall be guilty of an infraction, which shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $250, or a misdemeanor, which shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 per violation or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.
B. Any person who violates this Chapter, including any administrative regulations, shall be subject to administrative fines and administrative penalties pursuant to Chapter 1.02 of this Code.
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C. Any participating licensee who violates this Chapter may be subject to suspension or revocation of their right to participate in the Entertainment Zone. The City may promulgate administrative regulations to implement this section.
D. Any person convicted of violating this Chapter in a criminal case, or found to be in violation of this Chapter in a civil or administrative case brought by a law enforcement agency, shall be ordered to reimburse the City and other participating law enforcement agencies their full investigative costs.
SECTION 2. Section 13.03.025 of the Culver City Municipal Code shall be amended as follows (addition denoted by underlined text):
§ 13.03.025 Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages on Streets and Public Parks
A. No person shall consume any beer, wine or alcoholic beverage while on any street, sidewalk, alley, highway, public playground or public park. Possession of any bottle, can or other receptacle, containing any beer, wine or alcoholic beverage which has been opened or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed, while on any street, sidewalk, alley, highway, public playground or public park creates a rebuttal presumption that the person possessing the same is consuming its contents. For purposes of this Section, the interior of the Veterans' Memorial Building or the Ivy Substation shall not be considered to be within a public playground or park, and the consumption of alcohol within a duly licensed outdoor dining area shall not be considered to be on a sidewalk. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Subsection, the City Council shall have the authority to grant by resolution an alcohol use permit for the service and consumption of beer and/or wine (as “beer” and “wine” are defined in Cal.
Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 23006 and 23007, as amended) in a controlled space at a City -
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produced or City-sponsored event, located in Veterans’ Memorial Park, or on any street, sidewalk, alley, or highway that has been closed for a City produced or City -sponsored event, upon finding that the issuance of a permit will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare.
B. This Section shall not be deemed to make punishable any act or acts which are prohibited by any law of the State.
C. Any person who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of an infraction which shall be punishable pursuant to § 1.01.045 of this Code; except when a person has been convicted of three (3) or more violations of this Section within the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the violation, and then it shall be punishable as a misdemeanor pursuant to § 1.01.040 of this Code. For the purposes of this division, each prior violation which is either admitted by the defendant or alleged in an accusatory pleading, or where defendant forfeited bail, shall be deemed a conviction. For this purpose, a bail forfeiture shall be deemed to be a conviction of the offense charged.
D. This Section shall not apply to any person on public property designated as an Entertainment Zone authorized pursuant to Chapter 11.35 of this Code during the hours of Entertainment Zone activation, when the beverage is purchased from a licensed Entertainment Zone premises or vendor and is in an authorized Entertainment Zone container in compliance with the regulations imposed by Chapter 11.35 of this Code.
SECTION 3. The City Council finds that adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because: (i) it is not a project within the meaning of Public Resources Code, section 21065 because it has no potential to alter
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the physical environment; (ii) and pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), the so-called “common sense” exemption, for this same reason.
SECTION 4. Pursuant to Section 619 of the City Charter, this Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption. Pursuant to Section 616 and 621 of the City Charter, prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days after the adoption, the City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance, or a summary thereof, to be published in the Culver City News and shall post this Ordinance or a summary thereof in at least three (3) places within the City.
SECTION 5. The City Council hereby declares that, if any provision, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, phrase or word of this Ordinance is rendered or declared invalid or unconstitutional by any final action in a court of competent jurisdiction or by reason or any preemptive legislation, then the City Council would have independently adopted the remaining provisions, sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, phrases, or words of this Ordinance, and as such they shall remain in full force and effect.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this _____ day of ___________, 2026.
FREDDY PUZA, Mayor
City of Culver City, California
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
JEREMY BOCCHINO HEATHER BAKER
City Clerk City Attorney