Ventura Municipal Code Art. 6 Enforcement Revised

A. On or after the effective date of this chapter it shall be unlawful for any person to operate an alcoholic beverage establishment:

1. Without a valid use permit or director permit issued in the manner provided by Article 2 of this chapter or Chapter 24.520; or

2. In violation of any requirements and conditions of any use permit or director permit issued pursuant to Article 2 of this chapter or Chapter 24.520, including, but not limited to, any operational standards and training requirements established by this chapter and incorporated into such permit.

B. On or after January 1, 2006, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a deemed approved establishment in violation of the operational standards set forth in this chapter and incorporated into a permit issued to the establishment pursuant to Article 3 of this chapter. (Ord. No. 2019-006, § 2, 6-10-19; Ord. No. 2025-005, § 2, 11-18-25)

A person violating any provision of this chapter may be assessed a civil penalty in the manner and in the amount provided for by Chapter 1.50. (Ord. No. 2019-006, § 2, 6-10-19; Ord. No. 2025-005, § 2, 11-18-25)

A person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a criminal violation that is punishable in the manner provided for in Chapter 1.150 if:

A. The person operates an alcoholic beverage establishment without a use permit or director permit required by this chapter or Chapter 24.520.

B. The person has been issued a use permit or director permit for an alcoholic beverage establishment in the manner provided by this chapter or Chapter 24.520, and causes or permits the establishment to be operated in violation of the requirements or conditions of the use permit or director permit. (Ord. No. 2019-006, § 2, 6-10-19; Ord. No. 2025-005, § 2, 11-18-25)

A use permit or director permit issued to any alcoholic beverage establishment in the manner provided by this chapter or Chapter 24.520 or deemed approved establishment may, for sufficient cause, be revoked or modified in the manner provided for by Section 24.570.100. (Ord. No. 2019-006, § 2, 6-10-19; Ord. No. 2025-005, § 2, 11-18-25)

All alcoholic beverage establishments within the city shall be regularly inspected by the police department to determine whether the establishments are being operated in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including, but not limited to, any of the requirements and conditions of the use permit or director permit issued to such establishments in the manner provided by this chapter or Chapter 24.520. (Ord. No. 2019-006, § 2, 6-10-19; Ord. No. 2025-005, § 2, 11-18-25)

Where the police department determines that an alcoholic beverage establishment is being operated in violation of the provisions of this chapter including, but not limited to, any of the requirements and conditions of the use permit or director permit issued to such alcoholic beverage establishment in the manner provided by this chapter or Chapter 24.520, the department will cause a notice of violation to be issued to the permittee that describes the nature of the violation, the corrective action to be taken, if any is possible, and the time within which the corrective action must be completed. However, the issuance of a notice of violation shall not be a condition precedent to the assessment of a civil penalty, revocation or modification proceedings, or a criminal prosecution as provided for by this article. (Ord. No. 2019-006, § 2, 6-10-19; Ord. No. 2025-005, § 2, 11-18-25)