ABO CHANGES - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Code Section

10-1

10-4

10-5

10-6
10-11

10-12

10-46
10-50

Existing Provision

Proposed Revision

Provides Definitions for Ch. 10

Creates new definitions to contemplate
newer uses in the CZO, such as brewery,
distillery, micro-brewer, micro-distiller.
Also creates needed administrative
definitions that are currently absent from
the code, such as applicant and business
entity.

Enforcement of ABO provisions

Creates a new section that affords
applicants and other aggrieved parties
appeals rights to the ABO board if permit
issuance or renewals are denied by S&P.

NOPD Investigation of ABO
Outlets/Employees

Simply revising the references to update
uses that are no longer in the CZO such as
"cabaret" and "nightclub" and replacing
them with compatible, existing uses "bar"
"live performance venue"

Enumerates Specific ABO Violations
Requires the printing of Ch. 10 in
pamphlet form
Establishes an advisory committee
(established back in 1997) to assist in
rewrites of the ABO code, which was
never established in the timeframes
required by law (committee had to be
established within 45 days from April 3,
1997).

Requires a permit to sell alcohol
Requires a special permit to sell berry
wine

Reserves this section since the provisions
were duplicative of section 10-157 (which
contemplates Chapter 10 violations).
Reserves this section since Ch. 10 can easily
be printed online.

Reserves this section since the committee
was never formed as provided by law.
Retains this substantive requirement, but
adds new CZO ABO uses to the section (e.g. brewer/distiller). It also clarifies that both
state and city permits are required to sell
alcohol (as already required by State law),
and removes the concept of being able to
sell alcohol before a permit is issued by the
City (via a temporary number).
Reserves this section since this special
permit is not necessary.

 ABO CHANGES - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

10-53

10-78

10-101

Class A Permits

Adds a new type of Class A permit specific to
hotels, since hotels can have a bar by right
pursuant to the La. Supreme Court - but bars
cannot have people under a certain age,
which is not necessarily applicable to all
bars in hotels, since many are located in the
lobby where children are present.

Suspension/Revocation procedures re:
ABO permits

Creates a new section that allows the City in emergency situations that "directly and
imminently" endanger the community - to
temporarily revoke an ABO permit pending
a hearing by the ABO board within 10
business days. The law will contemplate an
allowance for reinstatement before the
hearing (by S&P) if the violations are able to
be cured prior to the hearing. The
individuals with this authority will be the
Mayor, Chief of Police, and the Director of
S&P - all with consultation with the City
Attorney.

Provides the required form and content
for ABO applications

Clarifies that existing No. 1 - that the
reference to "good character and
reputation" is limited to the contents of the
proposed, revised No. 3 (or existing No. 4)
see below). Deletes the provision requiring
all employees to be fingerprinted and
photographed as it is not current practice
(this is existing #2 in the Code), and
renumber accordingly). Proposing to revise
existing #4 as it provides that there can be
felonies provided in City ordinance, which is
not legally permissible. So good character
and reputation (as provided in No. 1) is
limited to felonies and certain
misdemeanors involving moral turpitude).
Proposing to revise existing #5 to add
resident alien in addition to U.S. citizen for
applicable individuals to apply for an ABO
permit. Added an entirely new provision
that an applicant does not owe
city/state/federal delinquent taxes and
liens.

 ABO CHANGES - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Provides for delinquency penalties for
late payments of annual low content
permit fees, which are due on 4/1 of each
year. Current law provides that if the
fees are not paid within 5 days of 4/1,
that there is a 25% delinquency fee. For
high content the renewal fee is due "on
or before the first day of the second
month preceding the effective date of the
permit for the ensuing year." If not paid
timely, for high content, there is a 5%
penalty if not paid within 5 days up to 30
days of expiration, with an additional 5%
penalty for every 30 days thereafter.

To clarify the law - proposing a 4/1 due date
for both high and low renewals, but the
penalty remains at 25% for low after 5 days
and 5% for high after 5 days, with a 5%
increase for every 30 days thereafter. There
is a proposed new provision that requires - if
no fees for high or low are received by 6/30 that a new application is required (cannot
just renew). But penalties will stop accruing
at the 6/30 date since a new application is
required.

10-124

Contemplates installment payments for
permit fees

Clarifies that installments for the permit
fees themselves are not permitted (as this
practice has been discontinued), but that
installment payments can be had for
settlements agreements authorized by the
ABO board (e.g., for back taxes), and
provides that outstanding taxes/fees/etc.
constitutes a violation of this chapter.

10-125

Retains existing requirement, but adds a
Permits required to be displayed in public requirement that conditional use provisos
view
must also be conspicuously displayed.

10-128

Retains the responsible party requirement,
but clarifies - even though it is already
required - that the responsible party cannot
bounce from location to location at the
same time, leaving a premises unstaffed. A
Law requires that a responsible party be responsible party must be present at each
on premises at all times and the manages location at all times. Also, will remove the
must satisfy all requirements required for requirement that a manager's spouse
owners.
cannot be a felon, because it is too onerous.

10-131

Requires notice to the city of a change in Reserving b/c duplicative of another section
managers for an ABO outlet
(10-128) that contains same requirement.

10-123

 ABO CHANGES - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

10-157

10-157 (cont'd)

Provides the grounds for the ABO board
to revoke, suspend, or provide for other
remedial sanctions for an ABO outlet

Modifying the existing No. 5 to remove a
reference to "immoral" conduct - the
revision will provide that permitting any
disturbance which violates [the criminal
code] of the City or State is a violation.
Delete existing No. 7, and renumber
accordinly (existing No. 7 prohibits women
from soliciting/asking patrons for drinks).
Existing No. 11, added fees/liens in addition
to taxes, and clarified the requirement
applies to city and state fees/liens/etc.
Existing No. 16, defining business entity to
clarify when an owner is a corporation what
the parameters are w/ regards to the
requirement that conviction of a felony by
an owner is grounds for revocation.
Existing No. 23, which currently provides for
revocation based on complaints of 10
electors within 300 feet of an ABO, to
provide 10 residents (renters or owners)
within 500 foot radius.

Creation of the following entirely new
grounds (Nos. 27-37), which will include: 27)
Failure to comply with requests for audits or
payments of taxes/fees/liens/etc.; 28) Any
violation of Ch. 10; 29) Any violation of Title
26 of the R.S., 30) Sales of alcohol w/o a
permit; 31) Violations of the city code
(outside of chapter 10); 32) Violation of
Conditional Use provisos; 33) Refusal of
S&P/Finance inspectors' requests for
inspection; 34) Concealing violations; 35)
Failure to produce invoices; 36) Falsifying
invoices; 37) Revocation of ABO permit by
the state.

 ABO CHANGES - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

10-161

Modifying available fines and penalties for
violations as follows: for monetary
violations (failure to pay taxes for example),
the remedial penalties are limited to fines
and requiring bond payments for those
fines/fees - and increasing the minimum fine
from $50.00 to $100.00.
For all other violations (non-monetary), the
following fines/penalties are available: 1)
$100-$500 daily penalty (per violation); 2)
limitation on operating hours; 3) limitation
on the use of the premises (live
entertainment for example); 4) heightened
Provides fines and penalties. Existing law security measures including: outdoor
provides as follows: 1) $50-500 fine; 2)
cameras that can archive footage for 30
limitation on operating hours and live
days (Note - no provision for interior
entertainment; 3) posting of security
cameras will be in the proposed law),
guards; 4) litter abatement measures; 5) exterior lighting, and security guards. 5)
off street parking requirements; 6)
soundproofing measures; 6) bond for
soundproofing; and 7) bond for payment payment of fines/fees; 7) augmenting litter
of fines/fees.
abatement measures.
Create a new section that provides the
impact of state suspension/revocation. If
the state revokes, then the City must do so
as well, and if the City revokes, then notice
must be provided to the State within 3
Currently reserved
business days.

10-236

Retains restriction, but updating the law to
utilize proper CZO use terms (so removing
barroom, saloon, cabaret, or other place
where alcoholic beverages are sold at retail
and replacing them with "bar, adult
performance venue, live performance
venue, and venue authorized to provide live
entertainment as a secondary use that is
Restricts new locations of certain ABO
also authorized to sell alcoholic beverages
outlets near churches, playgrounds, or
for consumption on premises."). Also,
public libraries. Current law restricts any clarifying that the restriction is a 300 foot
"barroom, saloon, cabaret, or other place radius from the location in urban districts
where alcoholic beverages are sold at
(as defined by CZO) and a 500 foot radius for
retail" within 300 feet of these uses.
suburban districts (as defined by CZO).

10-160

 ABO CHANGES - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

10-237

Retains restriction, but updating the law to
utilize proper CZO use terms (so removing
package house or package liquor store and
replacing with "retail sales of package
Restricts new locations of certain ABO
alcoholic beverages"). Also, clarifying that
outlets near churches, playgrounds, or
the restriction is a 300 foot radius from the
public libraries. Current law restricts any location in urban districts (as defined by
"package house or package liquor store" CZO) and a 500 foot radius for suburban
to exist within 300 feet of these uses.
districts (as defined by CZO).

10-238

Revises measurement provisions to provide
that the measurement is a radius taken from
every lot line of the premises, retaining the
300 or 500 foot radius depending if urban or
suburban location. Also, revising this
Provides how distance is measured with section to capture the recent amendments
regards to the prohibitions in 10-236 and to Chapter 146 that allows permitted
10-237 (above), and limits said
"sidewalk cafes" to sell alcohol (existing
measurement to as "a person walks using Ch.10 was never updated to reflect the Ch.
the sidewalk of the property line".
146 amendments).

10-261

10-262

Retains restriction, but updating the law to
utilize proper CZO use terms (so removing
barroom, saloon, cabaret, or other place
where alcoholic beverages are sold at retail
and replacing them with "bar, adult
performance venue, live performance
venue, and venue authorized to provide live
entertainment as a secondary use that is
Restricts the sale of alcohol in residential also authorized to sell alcoholic beverages
and parks districts
for consumption on premises.").
Provides exceptions to the general rule in Updating to include "rural residential
10-261 (above), which includes wine
districts" since that is the new land use
tasting at farms
category that contemplates farms.

10-263

Provides a package liquor store
prohibition in residential districts

10-286

Provides the areas of the city where
alcoholic beverages are prohibited

Retains restriction, but modifies the
reference in the law to "residential planned
communities", which is no longer a use that
exists in the CZO, and replaces it with the
current, comparable use, "Planned
Development"
Reserving this section since CZO dictates
available locations for specific uses - not City
Code.

 ABO CHANGES - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

10-429

Propose clarifications that retain prohibition
of sales through the window/door, but tailor
it to clarify that this does not apply to online
grocery orders, and to valid sidewalk cafe
permits that are issued pursuant to Chapter
146. But creates a new requirement - which
is CZO consistent - that no new bar, counter,
or other alcoholic service location shall be
Provision prohibits the sale of any alcohol established within 10 feet of the outermost
outside a premises (for consumption on wall of the licensed premises, with the
premises) - and prohibits conducting
exception that with a special event permit,
alcohol sales outside a window or door to the 10 feet limitation can be reduced to 6
the public right of way.
feet (for the duration of the special event).
Reserving section to allow City to defer to
parameters of sidewalk use permits
Prohibits sidewalk seating for bars
established in Ch. 146.
Updated to reflect that this prohibition
Current law restricts any "barroom,
applies to "any place where alcoholic
saloon, cabaret, or other place where
beverages are sold" (since uses listed in law
alcoholic beverages are sold at retail"
no longer exist in CZO), and update to
from possessing or prohibiting "mickey
reflect rohypnol and other drugs that carry a
fins"
slang designation.

10-430

Current law restricts any "barroom,
Revises to retain prohibition, but it applies
saloon, cabaret, or other place where
to "any place where alcoholic beverages are
alcoholic beverages are sold at retail"
sold" (since uses listed in law no longer exist
from permitting prostitution on premises
in CZO)

10-401

10-403