A new City ordinance, passed last Thursday night, will simplify the process for Frederick restaurants & breweries looking to offer live entertainment.
A brief overview of the ordinance follows:
Beginning on December 15, small-scale eating and drinking establishments can offer entertainment without a permit within the following parameters:
entertainment takes place between 9AM and 9PM on Sunday through Thursday and 10PM on Friday and Saturday
entertainment occurs only inside the principal structure
the primary functions of the eating and drinking establishment continue to occur while entertainment is being provided and the presence of entertainment may not generate any additional impacts beyond that of the principal use, and
except in the DB, MU, and GC zoning districts, the eating or drinking establishment is more than 500 feet from the property line of the nearest lot used for residential purposes.
Establishments that do not meet the parameters of the ordinance or that wish to exceed the parameters of the ordinance (by offering entertainment until 11PM as an example) will need to seek conditional use approval.
Contact the City of Frederick’s Planning Department for more information at 301-600-1499.