Sec. 409.06. - Licensing requirements.
For Class N licenses issued under this chapter, the Uniform License Procedures laid out in Chapter 310.02(2) of the Saint Paul Legislative Code pertaining to applications, new applications investigation and review, notice, levels of approval, objections and renewal procedures for Class N licenses apply.
For any Class T or temporary license issued under this chapter, the Uniform License Procedures laid out in Chapter 310.02(3) of the Saint Paul Legislative Code pertaining to applications, new applications investigation and review, notice, levels of approval, objections and renewal procedures for Class T licenses apply.
(a) Application. In accordance with Saint Paul Legislative Code Section 310.02(2)(a) and Minnesota Statute 340A.412, Subd. 2a. Any person desiring a license to sell intoxicating liquor must make their verified application in writing upon a form prescribed by the liquor control commissioner of the state and with any additional information as the City requires.
(b) Notice requirements for applications to sell intoxicating liquor are outlined in the Uniform License Procedures for Class N licenses section of 310.02(2)(d) of the Saint Paul Legislative Code.
(c) One license only. With the exception of off-sale brewers who meet the requirements under Minn. Stat. § 340A.29 more than one (1) off-sale retailer's license may be directly or indirectly issued to any one (1) person or for any one (1) place in this city, nor may any retailer's off-sale license be directly or indirectly issued for any place for which a license of another class has been granted. It is not a violation of this paragraph for a person who owns, directly or indirectly, or who has an interest in any intoxicating liquor license in this city additionally to own directly or indirectly or to have an interest in one (1) or more corporations owning or operating a hotel holding an intoxicating liquor license in connection therewith; provided, that such hotel must have at least one hundred fifty (150) or more rental units.
(d) Premises of license. No on-sale or off-sale license is effective beyond the compact and contiguous space named in such license and for which the same was granted, except that an on-sale license granted for sales in the dining room of any hotel may permit sales of liquor with meals in additional dining rooms open to the public and specified in the license if meals are regularly served to guests therein. If meals are regularly served to guests in guest rooms in any such hotel, liquor may be sold in such guest rooms but only with meals; provided, that such guest rooms must be specified in the license granted. No sales may be made upon the premises of an on-sale licensee except upon the ground floor; provided, however, that this limitation does not apply to a hotel duly licensed to sell on another floor as in this section provided; and provided further, that a licensee shall be permitted to sell at a place in a building other than the ground floor if a license has been granted for sales on a floor other than such ground floor. Licenses granted to a private nonprofit college need not be compact and contiguous as long as the space described is on the premises of the private nonprofit college. All licenses granted hereunder must set forth the exact location within the building structure where such sales may be made and no sale is permitted except in that part of the premises defined in the license, except as provided in the following subsection (e).
(e) Seasonal outside service areas. The council may, by resolution, permit any licensee to sell or serve intoxicating liquors in areas outside the building structure on public or private property which are compact and contiguous with the structure containing the licensed premises. Property which is not connected to the licensed premises cannot be used as an outside service area if it is located across a right-of-way such as a street or alley; however curbside seating may be allowed at a sidewalk café subject to the restrictions of Chapter 106 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code. Such outside service areas shall be seasonal, and must not involve an enlargement of the building structure. The seasonal outside service area license will not be granted unless all the conditions of subsections (1) through (7) and all pertinent provisions of the zoning code are satisfied.
(1) Seasonal outside seating area permits follow the uniform license procedures for the grant, issuance or transfer of the license, new application investigation and review, notice, levels of approval, objections and renewal procedures for Class N licenses laid out in Saint Paul Legislative Code Section 310.02 (2) and 310.09 except that in the event that the council wishes to revoke a seasonal outside seating area permit, the procedures outlined in Subd. 4 must be followed.
(2) No outside service area is permitted unless the licensee provides, in addition to other requirements of law, safety barriers or other enclosures to protect patrons from any hazards, including vehicular traffic.
(3) No outside service area may be located on public property or upon any street, alley or sidewalk, nor may such outside service areas hinder or obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic on any street, alley or sidewalk. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale and service of alcoholic beverages within a sidewalk cafe which is in compliance with the provisions of section 106.01 of the Legislative Code, is permitted.
(4) In addition to the levels of approval and grounds for denial or revocation laid out in Saint Paul Legislative Code Section 310.02 (2), the council may, by resolution, impose conditions on or deny any application for an outside service area where it has reason to believe, or may revoke its permission for such an outside service area where it is satisfied, that the impact of such outside service area on adjoining property will be, or has been, any of the following:
a. Loud, boisterous or disturbing noise levels;
b. Hazardous traffic conditions;
c. Offensive, obnoxious or disturbing odors;
d. Excessive litter;
e. Excessive artificial lighting;
f. Substantial decrease in adjoining property values; or
g. Any other condition inconsistent with the reasonable use and enjoyment of adjoining property and inconsistent with the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the adjoining neighbors or community.
(5) Revocation of a seasonal outside seating area permits. Permission to sell and serve intoxicating liquor in or upon any outside service area may be revoked by the council on three (3) days' notice to the licensee, pursuant to information received at a public hearing before said council. The information need not be received under oath but must reasonably satisfy the council as to the existence of any or all of the conditions listed in subparagraph (4). The public hearing must be conducted with such formal or informal procedures as the council may permit, so long as the licensee and any complaining parties have an opportunity to be heard.
(6) The licensee shall, with respect to any outside service area, comply with all applicable provisions of law and regulations in regard to the sale and service of intoxicating liquor, including, without limitation by reason of this specification, all applicable regulations contained all sections of this chapter.
(7) Private nonprofit colleges. Private nonprofit colleges may sell or serve intoxicating liquors in areas outside of building structures as long as said areas are clearly described in the application materials submitted under section 409.06(a)(2). Such areas are exempt from the additional public hearing and consent process described in section 409(g), subdivisions 1 and 2.
(f) Zoning restrictions. No license may be issued for premises located within an area wherein such use of the premises is prohibited by the zoning code, nor within an area where such sales are forbidden by the state law or any other ordinance of the city. A license issued to a private nonprofit college must not be issued for premises located within an area where such sales are prohibited by state law.
(g) Off-Sale License location restrictions. These restrictions do not apply to off-sale/brew pub license, off-sale brewery licenses, small brewer off-sale—128 ounces licenses or off-sale micro-distillery licenses.
(1) No off-sale license may be issued for any place where nonintoxicating malt beverages are sold for consumption on the premises.
(2) No off-sale license may be issued to any location within a half-mile radius of any existing off-sale establishment, subject to the following exceptions:
a. In the downtown business district, the distance restriction is reduced to a radius of three hundred (300) feet.
b. For off-sale liquor establishments outside of the downtown business district that were licensed prior to January 15, 2003, the council may waive the half-mile distance restrictions provided that council finds by resolution that:
1. The off-sale liquor establishment is relocating to a location that is within one-half (½) mile radius of its current location; and
2. The relocation of the off-sale liquor establishment is related to hardship or circumstances outside of the licensee's control; and
3. The new location of the off-sale liquor establishment meets the intent of the ordinance in preventing the over-concentration of off-sale liquor establishments; and
4. The new location of the off-sale liquor establishment is not inconsistent with the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the adjoining neighbors or community. Factors which may be considered include, but are not limited to, the following: the likelihood of increased noise, traffic, litter, loitering or unlawful behavior by patrons of the establishment, excessive artificial lighting, substantial decrease in adjoining property values, and the extent to which any of the potential problems can be addressed by conditions on the license.
(3) No license may be issued for an off-sale location which is within three hundred (300) feet of residentially zoned property, a park or a licensed child-care center, said three hundred (300) feet being calculated and computed as the distance measured from the property line of the premises or building proposed as the location for the off-sale liquor license to the property line of any residentially zoned property, park or child care center in the area for which the license is sought.
a. The council may waive the restrictions set forth in paragraph (3) above relating to distance if it makes findings that such a license is not inconsistent with the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the adjoining neighbors or community. Factors which may be considered include, but are not limited to, the following: the likelihood of increased noise, traffic, litter, loitering or unlawful behavior by patrons of the establishment, excessive artificial lighting, substantial decrease in adjoining property values, and the extent to which any of the potential problems can be addressed by conditions on the license.
b. A request to vary the license location restrictions must be noticed in accordance with the uniform procedures for Class N licenses laid out in Saint Paul Legislative Code Section 310.02(2) (d) and approved per Saint Paul Legislative Code Section 310.02(2) (e).
c. An establishment holding a valid license on the effective date of this amendment is not affected by this limitation and will be entitled to have such license renewed so long as they are in compliance with all other requirements of law and there exist no grounds for adverse action against such license.
(h) Other required permit. No license granted hereunder is effective until a permit is issued to such licensee by the United States if any such permit is, in fact, required.
(i) State restrictions. No license may be issued to any person in connection with the premises of another to whom no license could be issued under the provisions of the state liquor control act; provided, however, that this provision must not prevent the granting of a license to a proper lessee by reason of the fact that they are leasing the premises of a minor, noncitizen or a person who has been convicted of a crime other than a violation of this chapter or the liquor control act.
(j) Renewals.
(1) An on-sale license renewal may be denied for any licensee who is delinquent in any payment or contribution to a health and welfare trust or pension trust.
(2) On-sale. Renewal of on-sale licenses are subject to the provisions of Minnesota Statute 340A.412, Subd. 13 and may not be renewed if the holder of the license has not made on-sales authorized by the license at any time during the one-year period immediately prior to the date of the renewal:
i. Subject to of Minnesota Statute 340A.412, Subd. 13., if on or before the expiration of the license the licensed business has discontinued its operation or closed for any reason, the council must l, by resolution, renew said license only upon the condition that the licensee must reopen and restore the licensed business to full operation within the terms of the renewed license, or in the alternative, that the licensee must make application for and obtain passage, approval and publication of a resolution for the transfer of said license within the term of the renewed license to another person.
ii. No license issued upon condition pursuant to this subsection may be further renewed unless one (1) or the other of the above conditions has been fully met; provided, however, that the council may reissue a license for a business which has not been in full operation during the prior license year if the licensed premises were acquired by eminent domain or under the threat of eminent domain and the licensee has made a good faith attempt to relocate the business to another location.
(3) Off-sale. If on or before the expiration of an off-sale license, the licensed business has discontinued its operation or closed for any reason, the council may, by resolution, renew said license only upon the condition that the licensee must reopen and restore the licensed business to full operation within the terms of the renewed license. In the alternative, the licensee may make application for and obtain passage, approval and publication of a resolution for the transfer of said license within the term of the renewed license to another person.
i. No license issued upon condition pursuant to this subsection may be further renewed unless one (1) or the other of the above conditions has been fully met; provided, however, that the council may reissue a license for a business which has not been in full operation during the prior license year if the licensed premises were acquired by eminent domain or under the threat of eminent domain and the licensee has made a good faith attempt to relocate the business to another location.
(k) Off-sale license location restrictions. No license may be issued for any premises located within three hundred (300) feet from any school, said three hundred (300) feet being calculated and computed as the distance measured from the property line of the premises or building proposed as the location for the liquor license to the property line of any school in the area for which the license is sought until the notice and approval provisions outlined under Saint Paul Legislative Code Section 310.02(2)(c) and (d) are followed. This prohibition does not apply to on-sale wine and culinary licenses issued under section 409.13, off-sale brewer licenses issued under Minn. Stat., § 340A.301, subdivision 6(d), brewer taproom licenses issued under section 409.24, a license issued to a private nonprofit college, or licenses issued or located within the Downtown Business District.
Any licenses in force and effect on November 10, 1962, the location of which license is in conflict with the provisions hereof, may be renewed, transferred or otherwise dealt with in accordance with law, it being the intent of this paragraph that it be applied prospectively for proposed locations of licenses, and further it being the intent of this paragraph that the limitations set forth in this paragraph will, in no manner be applicable to any hotel or motel.
(l) Unlawful use of weapons. If during any twelve-month period there are reported two (2) or more incidents involving unlawful use or handling of firearms, assault weapons or knives, as defined in section 225.01, on any licensed on-sale premises, a public hearing must be conducted by the council. Any adverse action may be considered by the council pursuant to the hearing provisions of section 310.05.
(m) Prohibited interests. A holder of a license as a manufacturer, brewer or wholesaler may not have any interest or ownership, in whole or in part in a business holding a retail intoxicating liquor license or in the license so held, but a manufacturer or wholesaler of intoxicating or nonintoxicating liquor may use or have property rented for retail intoxicating liquor sales if the manufacturer or wholesaler has owned the property continuously since November 1, 1933. This provision does not apply to off-sale/brew pub licenses, off-sale brewery licenses or small brewer off-sale 128 ounce licenses.
(n) Prohibited interests: off-sale/brew pub, off sale brewery, small brewer off-sale 128 ounces. A brewer holding an off-sale/brew pub, off-sale brewery or a small brewer off-sale 128 ounces license may hold or have an interest in other retail on-sale licenses but may not have an ownership interest in whole or in part, or be an officer, director, agent, or employee of, any other manufacturer, brewer, importer, or wholesaler or be an affiliate thereof whether the affiliation is corporate or by management, direction, or control. Notwithstanding this prohibition, a brewer holding an off-sale/brew pub, off-sale brewery or a small brewer off-sale 128 ounces license may be an affiliate or subsidiary company of a brewery licensed in Minnesota or elsewhere if that brewer's only manufacture of malt liquor is:
(1) Manufacture licensed under Minn. Stat. § 340A.301, Subd. 6, clause (d);
(2) Manufacture in another state for consumption exclusively in a restaurant located in the place of manufacture; or
(3) Manufacture in another state for consumption primarily in a restaurant located in or immediately adjacent to the place of manufacture if the brewer was licensed under Minn. Stat. § 340A.301, Subd. 6, clause (d), on January 1, 1995. Except as provided in Minn. Stat. § 340A.301, Subd. 7a, no brewer as defined in Minn. Stat. § 340A.304, Subd. 7a or importer may have any interest, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly in the license, business, assets, or corporate stock of a licensed malt liquor wholesaler.
(o) Interest. For the purposes of paragraphs (m) and (n) of this section, the term "interest":
(1) Includes any pecuniary interest in the ownership, operation, management or profits of a retail liquor establishment, and a person who receives money from time to time directly or indirectly from a licensee, in the absence of consideration and excluding gifts or donations, has a pecuniary interest in the retail license; and
(2) Does not include loans, rental agreements; open accounts or other obligations held with or without security arising out of the ordinary and regular course of business of selling or leasing merchandise, fixtures, supplies to the establishment; an interest in a corporation owning or operating a hotel but having at least one hundred fifty (150) or more rental units holding a liquor license in conjunction therewith; or ten (10) percent or less interest in any other corporation holding a license; and
(3) In determining whether an "interest" exists, the transaction must have been bona fide, and the reasonable value of the goods and things received as consideration for a payment by the licensee and all other facts reasonably tending to prove or disprove the existence of a purposeful scheme or arrangement to evade the restrictions of this paragraph must be considered.
(p) Nonconforming clubs; transition. The restrictions and requirements in sections 409.06(f), 409.06(k), and 409.08(11) of this chapter do not apply to licenses issued to a club under this chapter which at the time of application for an on-sale license held a private club license under former chapter 404 of this Code for the same premises for which a license hereunder is sought or will be issued, for so long as the on-sale license remains at that location and the licensed premises is neither enlarged nor transferred. Such licensed premises will be deemed a lawful nonconforming use under the zoning code.
(Ord 22-47, § 7, 11-9-22)