In 1999, the State of Ohio enacted legislation authorizing the creation of Community Entertainment Districts. The Ohio Revised Code defines a “community entertainment district” as “a bounded area that includes or will include a combination of entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts establishments within close proximity to some or all of the following types of establishments within the district, or other types of establishments similar to these: (1) Hotels; (2) Restaurants; (3) Retail sales establishments; (4) Enclosed shopping centers; (5) Museums; (6) Performing arts theaters; (7) Motion picture theaters; (8) Night clubs; (9) Convention facilities; (10) Sports facilities; (11) Entertainment facilities or complexes; (12) Any combination of the establishments described in division (A)(1) to (11) of this section that provide similar services to the community.”
In plain terms, the creation of a CED is a tool to help facilitate the establishment of restaurants and other similar venues as part of larger scale development and redevelopment-revitalization areas that include the types of uses outlined by the statutes. Once the CED is established, it creates a new “pool” of liquor licenses (in addition to the City’s normal “allocation”) that can only be issued within that CED.
In January 2020, Dublin City Council approved resolutions 01-20, 02-20, and 03-20- Amending three Community Entertainment Districts within the City of Dublin.
For more information regarding liquor permits, please contact:
Ohio Department of Commerce
Division of Liquor Control
6606 Tussing Road
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Phone (614) 644-2360
Email web.liqr@com.state.oh.us
