August 5, 2025
Entertainment Zone Ordinance
Background
• In 2024, the Legislature adopted Senate Bill 969 authorizing any city or county to establish entertainment zones permitting alcohol consumption on public streets and sidewalks. • Since then, numerous cities around the state have adopted entertainment zones, including San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, Santa Clara, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Upland and Fontana. • Only licensed businesses located within an entertainment zone can sell alcohol for public consumption within the zone.
• Only non-glass and non-metal containers may be carried off-premises for consumption in the zone and delivery of alcoholic beverages to consumers inside a zone is prohibited (unless the delivery is to a residential building or private business located in the zone). • Before establishing an entertainment zone, a city or county must seek feedback from local law enforcement regarding potential health and safety impacts that might be generated and how to mitigate those as well as the proposed boundaries, hours of operation, types of alcoholic beverages allowed and the approved drinking vessel.
Background
The city or county must then determine:
1. The boundaries of the zone;
2. The days and hours of the zone’s operation;
3. The type(s) of alcoholic beverage(s) permitted to be consumed within the zone;
4. The type(s) of non-glass, non-metal containers in which alcoholic beverages may be carried in the zone; and
5. A process or procedure by which people possessing alcoholic beverages in the zone may be readily identifiable as 21 years or older.
After establishing an entertainment zone, the city or county must review the operation of the entertainment zone every 2 years to ensure the zone is being maintained in a way that protects public health and safety. The review must be conducted in consultation with local law enforcement and any reports produced during the review must be provided to ABC upon request.
More Information
• The proposed Entertainment Zone continues the Town’s efforts to promote economic vitality and quality community events and would be located along the Washington Street corridor from Champagne Drive to Jackson Street.
• During the Town Council’s Goal Setting Meeting in April 2025, the Council identified the establishment of an Entertainment Zone as a staff priority in the coming year. • As required by state law, Town staff consulted with local law enforcement regarding the proposed operating standards for an entertainment zone as well as potential public health and safety impacts of the zone.
• Sheriff’s Department concerns related to health and safety are centered around potential road closures associated with an event and keeping pedestrians safe within closures. They recommend the use of Meridian Barriers (mobile barriers) to keep vehicles out of closure areas during events.
Sheriff’s Department concerns related to the entertainment zone boundary and hours of operation center around public intoxication and minors in possession of alcohol. They indicate that all crimes will be enforced per California Penal Code and that additional staffing could be required during special events.
Entertainment Zone
Boundary Map
Recommendation
Introduce and waive first reading of an Ordinance adding Chapter 17.174 (Entertainment Zones) to Title 17 of the Yountville Municipal Code establishing an Entertainment Zone and finding the code addition and establishment of the Zone exempt from CEQA.
Questions?