Committee advances multiple changes to Minneapolis alcohol licensing rules, including 18+ event limits and downtown notice radius
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Summary
The committee advanced an ordinance amending Title 14 licensing chapters to modernize definitions, raise investor disclosure thresholds, add permanent outdoor limited-entertainment options and create a limit on 18-plus events for on-sale establishments; some downtown businesses asked for grandfathering.
The Business, Housing and Zoning Committee on Sept. 30 advanced amendments to Minneapolis’ alcohol licensing chapters that update application requirements, clarify promoters’ roles, and add new permit and event rules. Manager Amy Lingo of Licenses and Consumer Services presented the changes, which include raising the ownership threshold for submission of financial documents, adding permanent outdoor limited-entertainment licensing beyond downtown, and a new regulatory test for 18-plus events in on-sale establishments.
Lingo told the committee that Minnesota Statute 340A constrains what the city may change and that staff focused on modernization where allowable. Notable changes include increasing the ownership percentage at which investors must submit financial review materials from 10% to 15%, standardizing notice distances downtown from 450 to 600 feet to match citywide practice, clarifying late-night limited-food menu time frames, and removing a 300-foot separation requirement from places of worship for new liquor stores while keeping K–12 school spacing.
The ordinance creates a new control to limit on-sale "18-plus" events (where attendees age 18–20 are allowed) to 12 per year per business, modeled largely on Saint Paul language. For such events, 18–20-year-olds must be confined to an area with no alcohol served, sold or consumed; several exemptions are listed in the proposed language, including staff who work at the establishment and certain ticketed/venue exceptions.
Downtown business representatives asked the committee for grandfathering language. Dennis Johnson of Gay Nineties saloon — a long-standing downtown business — said the change could be “crippling” and requested a conversation about protections for historic venues that already operate under long-standing conditions. Council members expressed interest in working with affected businesses; Council Member Cashman, a co-author, moved the ordinance without recommendation to the full council so the committee can consider possible amendments and further stakeholder conversations.
The committee moved the ordinance forward without recommendation; members said they will continue outreach and consider amendments such as grandfathering language where appropriate. The measure references Minnesota Statute 340A and amends Title 14 chapters 362, 363 and 366 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances.