Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 8 Alcoholic Beverage Establishment

Sections:

8.010 Purpose.

8.020 De8nitions.

8.030 Zones for Alcoholic Beverage Establishments.

8.035 Tasting Rooms.

8.040 Alcoholic Beverage Establishment Conditional Use Permit Required.

8.050 Permit Application.

8.060 Grounds for Conditional Use Permit Denial/Revocation.

8.062 Conditional Use Permit Conditions.

8.064 Conditional Use Permit Valid for Speci8ed Location/Establishment.

8.066 Sale or Transfer of Business.

8.068 New Conditional Use Permit Required.

8.070 Exceptions.

8.072 Non-conforming uses.

8.074 General Requirements.

It is the intent of this section to prevent problems associated with commercial establishments involved in the sale

of alcohol for on-site consumption. It has been demonstrated that such establishments can adversely aMect

nearby commercial and residential uses and can create substantial demands for police services. It is, therefore,

the purpose of this section to establish regulations to govern land uses involved in the dispensing of alcoholic

beverages for on-site consumption.

As used in this section, the following words, phrases, and terms shall have the following meanings:

A. Alcoholic Beverage Establishment. A commercial and non-commercial establishment wherein alcoholic

beverages are sold, served, or given away for consumption on the premises, excluding full-service restaurants.

Typical alcoholic beverage establishments include but are not limited to the following recognized types of

establishments: bars, cocktail lounges, ballrooms, dance bars, piano bars, billiard or game parlors, bowling alleys

and nightclubs.

B. Alcoholic Beverage Sales. The retail sale, for on-premises consumption of liquor, beer, wine, or other alcoholic

beverages.

C. Financial Interest. Any direct or indirect interest in the management, operation, ownership, proJts or revenue

(gross or net) of an alcoholic beverage establishment. A "Jnancial interest" means a monetary investment in an

alcoholic beverage establishment or the premises and business enterprises directly related to it.

D. Full Service Restaurant. A place which is regularly and in a bona Jde manner used and kept open for the

serving of meals to guests for compensation which has: 1) suitable kitchen facilities; 2) a primary use of sit-down

meal service to patrons; 3) adequate seating arrangements for patrons provided on the premises; 4) alcoholic

beverages served for consumption on the premises are clearly incidental to the primary food services determined

by the Director. A full-service restaurant does not include any billiard or pool hall, video arcade, bowling alley or

adult entertainment business. The sale or service of sandwiches or snack foods (whether prepared in a kitchen or

made elsewhere) shall not constitute a full service restaurant.

E. Interested Person. Any member, stockholder, oLcer, director, partner, principal, associate, individual, trustee,

or combination thereof holding any Jnancial interest in a permit, or who has the power to exercise inKuence over

the operation of an alcoholic beverage establishment or a permittee.

F. Manager. Anyone who represents the interest of the permittee in the operation of an alcoholic beverage

establishment whose duties include but may not be limited to: the making or changing of policy; hiring or Jring of

employees; or generally exercising independent judgment in the operation of the alcoholic beverage

establishment. A manager need not have a Jnancial interest in the alcoholic beverage establishment. A manager

must be an employee of the permittee, or if not an employee, then a person having a Jnancial interest as a

partner, a shareholder, or trustee of the alcoholic beverage establishment (but not otherwise).

G. On-Site Sale. The sale of alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and distilled spirits for consumption on the

premises where sold.

H. Permit. A conditional use permit issued pursuant to Section 24.060.

I. Permittee. The individual or entity that owns an alcoholic beverage establishment and to whom a conditional

use permit to operate an alcoholic beverage establishment has been issued by the City.

J. Transfer of a Financial Interest. The assignment, bequest, conveyance, demise, devise, gift, grant, lease, loan,

sublease or transfer of a Jnancial interest in an alcoholic beverage establishment. (Ord. 2811 § 4, 2022.)

Alcoholic beverage establishments are conditional uses only in the commercial and mixed use zones, C1, C2,

MU1A, MU1B, and MU2 and in certain P.U.D.’s where appropriately designated as identiJed by the Zoning

Ordinance and General Plan. A tasting room which qualiJes as an ancillary use pursuant to Section 8.035 may also

be allowed in the industrial and business park zones, I and BP.

Tasting rooms associated with an alcohol production facility may be considered ancillary to the primary use and

approved by the Zoning Administrator as provided by Section 24.060(K), upon compliance with all of the following

criteria:

A. The tasting room shall be located on the premises of the alcohol production facility and operations shall be

ancillary to the primary use. “Ancillary” for purposes of this section means subordinate, auxiliary, smaller and less

intensive than the primary use;

B. The tasting room shall not operate as a stand-alone bar or tavern;

C. The tasting room shall only serve and/or sell those beverages produced by the company on site; and

D. The tasting room shall comply with all applicable ABC and State regulations for wine, beer, and distilled spirit

manufacturers and tasting rooms.

E. In addition to satisfying all of the above criteria, prior to issuance of a minor conditional use permit

hereunder, the Zoning Administrator must determine that the minor conditional use permit also meets the

general welfare standard set forth as a required Jnding for conditional use permits in Section 24.060(E). (Ord.

2811 § 4, 2022.)

It shall be unlawful for any person to establish or operate, or cause or permit to be operated, any alcoholic

beverage establishment without Jrst obtaining a conditional use permit as deJned and set forth in Section 24.060

of the Petaluma Zoning Ordinance. Such permit shall not be denied on the basis that the business to be

established is an alcoholic beverage establishment, if the establishment is in conformance with the requirements

of this Section. (Ord. 2811 § 4, 2022.)

A. Any person, association, partnership, corporation, or other entity desiring to obtain an alcoholic beverage

establishment conditional use permit shall Jle an application with the Community Development Department on a

form provided by the Director. The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application processing

fee in the amount established by City Council resolution.

B. The application for a conditional use permit shall contain the following information:

1. The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant. If the applicant is a corporation, the

applicant shall set forth the name of the corporation exactly as shown in its articles of incorporation. The applicant corporation or partnership shall designate one of its oLcers or general partners to act as its

responsible management oLcer.

2. Name, address, and telephone number of the person who shall manage and operate the establishment

for which the permit is requested. The name and address of a person authorized to accept service of legal

notices.

3. The proposed business name of the alcoholic beverage establishment and description of all operating

aspects of the proposed business.

4. Street address of the proposed alcoholic beverage establishment and the assessor parcel number for

the property.

5. A plot plan for the property depicting the location of the building housing the alcoholic beverage

establishment on the property and all existing and proposed parking, exterior lighting, signage, and

landscaping, trash enclosures, waiting or queuing areas.

6. Any other information reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of Chapter 8.

C. Referral to Other City Departments and Agencies. The Director of the Community Development Department may

refer the application to other City departments to determine whether the premises where the alcoholic beverage

establishment will be located, complies with the City's building, health, zoning and Jre ordinances or other

applicable ordinances or laws. City departments may conduct an inspection of the premises to determine

compliance with the ordinances and laws they administer.

D. Action on Application. Notice and public hearing requirements shall be as set forth in Section 24.060 of the

Petaluma Zoning Ordinance pertaining to a conditional use permit. (Ord. 2811 § 4, 2022.)

A. The Planning Commission or the Community Development Director shall grant the conditional use permit

unless it is determined from consideration of the application, City inspection of the premises or other pertinent

information that:

1. Information contained in the application or supplemental information requested from the applicant is

false in any material detail.

2. The operation of the alcoholic beverage establishment is or would be in violation of one or more

provisions of these regulations and Section 24.060 (Conditional Use Permits).

3. The premises where the alcoholic beverage establishment is or will be located does not comply with all

applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the City's building, health, zoning and Jre ordinances.

4. That a conditional use permit to operate the alcoholic beverage establishment has been issued to the

applicant, a partner of the applicant, or a stockholder of the applicant which stockholder owns more than

10% of the applicant's corporate stock, which conditional use permit has been suspended and the period of

suspension has not yet ended.

5. The proposed location of alcoholic beverage establishment would be inconsistent with the

considerations described in Section 24.060(E) (Standards for Review of Applications).

6. The proposed use will adversely aMect the welfare of the area residents or will result in an undue

concentration in the area of alcoholic beverage establishments.

7. The proposed location is inappropriate for the proposed use by virtue of its proximity to:

a. residential buildings;

b. churches, schools, hospitals, public playgrounds and other similar uses; and

c. other alcoholic beverage establishments.

8. The proposed use will be of such a size or propose an activity level, i.e., music, entertainment activities,

food service, arcade games or other amusement activities, etc., such that it would be incompatible or

unsuitable with the uses in and/or character of, the surrounding area.

9. Notice of conditional use permit denial shall be in writing and shall state the grounds therefore. Notice

shall be personally served on the permit applicant or mailed to his address listed on the application form.

10. An alcoholic beverage establishment conditional use permit may be suspended by the Community

Development Director or the Planning Commission for up to one year or revoked for any of the reasons

speciJed as grounds for conditional use permit denial in Section 8.060 (A)(1-8) above or failure to comply with

conditions imposed through the conditional use permit.

11. Notice of intention to suspend or revoke shall be in writing and shall state the grounds therefore. Any

suspension or revocation shall be done as speciJed in Section 24.060(G) of the Petaluma Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. 2811 § 4, 2022.)

The Community Development Director may recommend conditional issuance of an alcoholic beverage

establishment use permit by reasonable conditions to insure compliance with the provisions of this Chapter, and

other sections of the Petaluma Zoning Ordinance and Municipal Code.

Each permit issued pursuant to Chapter 8 is only valid:

A. For the speciJc operational characteristics of the establishment as described in the conditional use permit

application.

B. For the speciJed location as described in the conditional use permit application.

A. No conditional use permit issued pursuant to this article may be assigned or transferred without notiJcation

to the Community Development Director. The Community Development Director may, refer the sale or transfer

request to the Planning Commission for information.

B. Transfer of partnership or corporate ownership. NotiJcation of a transfer of a conditional use permit shall be

required prior to any change in an interest in a partnership or ownership of ten percent (10%) or more of the stock

of a corporation to any person not listed on the application Jled by said applicant pursuant to Section 8.050.

A new conditional use permit is required in any of the following situations:

A. Prior to any change in the location of the alcoholic beverage establishment;

B. Prior to the change of mode or manner of operation of any existing alcoholic beverage establishment; or

C. Prior to the enlargement or expansion of any existing alcoholic beverage establishment including but not

limited to physical expansion of the facility or expansion of the nature of the business, e.g., hours of operation,

scope of activities, number of tables, etc.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to full service restaurants, oM-premises alcoholic beverage sales

establishments, private clubs and veteran or fraternal clubs, temporary sale of alcoholic beverages by a church,

school, or charitable group as deJned by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).

A. Any commercial establishment which was engaged in the sale of alcoholic beverages where the business was

in existence and lawfully operating before the eMective date of this ordinance is herein after considered to be a

legal nonconforming use. The City Council may, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1.15 of the Petaluma

Municipal Code, at any time, require that a particular legal nonconforming business engaged in the sale of

alcoholic beverages obtain a conditional use permit if it determines that such business is being operated in such a

manner that it creates a nuisance to surrounding uses. Pursuant to Section 1.15.020 of the Petaluma Municipal

Code, a nuisance shall exist if and when an existing alcoholic beverage establishment operates in such a manner

in the judgment of the City Council, so that any of the following regularly occurs: generation of excessive noise,

inadequate crowd control, generation of excessive litter, inadequate parking facilities, excessive calls for police

service, or existence of unsafe conditions as determined by the Chief Building OLcial or the Fire Marshal.

B. The use of a lot for an establishment dispensing, for sale or other consideration, alcoholic beverages,

including beer and wine, for on-site consumption may not be continued or re-established without conditional use

permit approval granted in accordance with the provisions of this section, if any of the following occur after the

eMective date of this ordinance:

1. The establishment changes its type of retail liquor license classiJcation; or

2. Pursuant to a hearing before the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the liquor license is revoked

or suspended for a period of more than thirty (30) days; or

3. The operation of the establishment is abandoned or discontinued for a period of six (6) months or more,

including the case where the license for such operation is suspended; or

4. There is a substantial change in the mode or character of operation of the establishment as determined

by the Planning Director.

A. The following are general requirements which may, among others, be required as conditions of a Conditional

Use Permit to establish, expand or modify an Alcoholic Beverage Establishment:

1. The operation of an alcoholic beverage establishment shall be the responsibility of the permittee

personally (if an individual is the permittee) or a manager or designated responsible employee of the

permittee at all times.

The permittee shall designate the names of all such managers and designated responsible employees in the

application and shall advise the Community Development Director in writing whenever any change is made.

2. The permittee personally (if an individual is the permittee) or a manager or a designated responsible

employee shall be on the premises at all times during the conduct of business.

3. All employees shall complete a program recognized by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

(ABC) as a qualiJed Responsible Beverage Service Program prior to the commencement of a new business or

within ninety (90) days of hire for new employees. The manager of an alcoholic beverage establishment shall

maintain on the premises a Jle containing the certiJcates of training for all employees.

4. The Planning Commission and City Council shall have the right to impose conditions upon the

conditional use permit as are necessary for the protection of the peace, health, welfare and safety of those

persons living or working in the vicinity or neighborhood.

5. The alcoholic beverage establishment shall be operated in such a manner so that it at no time violates

zoning standards regarding noise generation. The applicant shall present a Noise Management Plan to the

Community Development Director prior to the commencement of the use. Said plan shall establish the

method by which noise impacts including but not limited to ampliJed music and patron noise from within the

facility as well as patrons/pedestrians outside of the facility on the adjacent public sidewalk/street will be

regulated to avoid disruption to the immediate neighborhood. Should complaints be received regarding noise

disruption the applicant shall take reasonable and practical steps as directed by the Community Development

Director to reduce the intensity, number and/or occurrences of these disruptions. Said steps may include but

are not limited to the reduction of the number and/or volume of microphones, ampliJers and speakers; the

installation of certain physical improvements designed to attenuate noise generation; the relocation of patron

waiting/queuing areas to a location found to be acceptable to the Community Development Director; and/or

the reduction in hours for the commercial recreation activities. The Community Development Director may

require the preparation of an acoustical evaluation to quantify the noise levels and to suggest appropriate

attenuation measures. Such an evaluation shall be funded by the applicant and directed by the Community

Development Director to be performed with no notice to owner/operator.

6. A security plan shall be prepared including, but not limited to, the periods of time and staLng levels for

security personnel, duties, responsibilities and qualiJcations of security staM for review and approval by the

Chief of Police within 14 days of this Conditional Use Permit approval.

7. Bar personnel shall check identiJcation (I.D.) at the front door to insure patrons are of legal age to enter.

8. At closing time or during special events, crowd control by qualiJed security personnel shall be provided

to insure safety and orderly conduct in front of the premises. Sidewalks shall be kept open for pedestrian

traLc at all times.

9. The Community Development Director and Chief of Police shall be notiJed a minimum of ten (10) days in

advance of special events that may attract larger than normal crowds. The Chief of Police may require and the

owner/operator shall provide additional qualiJed security personnel on site to provide adequate crowd

control.

10. Exterior lighting shall be installed as necessary to adequately illuminate the sidewalk or other public way

in front of the business at closing time. This lighting will insure the safety of patrons and discourage loitering

in front of the business.

11. The applicant shall, for the Jrst 6 months, schedule a monthly meeting with the Community

Development Director and Chief of Police in order to identify and mitigate any noise/parking/lighting

problems and/or neighborhood concerns.

12. The applicant shall comply with Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws and regulations. Suspension of

the applicant's license by the ABC may constitute suLcient cause or basis for review and possible revocation

of a conditional use permit.

13. A conditional use permit for an alcoholic beverage establishment may be recalled to the Planning

Commission for review at any time due to complaints regarding lack of compliance with conditions of

approval, traLc congestion, noise generation, or other adverse operating characteristics. At such time, the

Commission may revoke the conditional use permit or add/modify conditions of approval.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8,

Disclaimer: The city clerk’s oLce has the oLcial version of the Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance. Users

should contact the city clerk’s oLce for ordinances passed subsequent to the ordinance cited above.

City Website: cityofpetaluma.net

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