Bill > SB395

This bill creates a special provision for the City and County of San Francisco to issue up to 20 additional on-sale general alcoholic beverage licenses for bona fide public eating places within a designated "hospitality zone," which is defined as an area with at least 1,000,000 square feet of retail shopping space. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control can issue these licenses subject to specific restrictions: initially up to 10 licenses can be issued in the first year, and no more than 5 licenses per subsequent year. To establish such a zone, the local governing body must pass an ordinance that identifies the zone's boundaries, confirms it meets the definition, and demonstrates that additional licenses would serve public convenience or necessity. The licenses cannot be transferred between counties or to locations outside the hospitality zone, cannot be sold for more than the original fee, and are valid only until July 1, 2033. The bill specifically acknowledges that existing population-based limits on liquor licenses have effectively capped the number of full licenses for restaurants and bars in San Francisco for 80 years, and thus creates this special exception to address the city's unique needs.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB395