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Evanston council approves first reading to allow single owners to hold multiple liquor licenses
Summary
Councilors approved the first reading of Ordinance 25-06, which repeals a city code provision limiting issuance of more than one liquor license or permit to a single person so the city conforms to recent state statutory changes; councilors said the change should not alter the fixed count of retail licenses in town.
Evanston — The City of Evanston approved the first reading of Ordinance 25-06, which would repeal the local code section that limited issuance of more than one liquor license or permit to any one person, aligning the city's code with recent changes in state law.
The ordinance matters because it would remove a local restriction that previously prohibited a single person or entity from holding multiple liquor licenses; proponents said the change is intended to bring city code into conformance with state statute.
City staff member Harris read the ordinance title to the council and framed it as a first reading. During discussion, councilors asked whether the change would let a single owner hold multiple licenses and whether that would reduce opportunities for new entrants. City staff member Lehi said the state removed the statutory restriction in February 2021 and that the proposed city ordinance would bring municipal code into alignment with state law. Lehi said the change "wouldn't alter the availability of those 20" retail or limited retail licenses, because the total number of available licenses remains fixed.
Councilors also raised affordability and access concerns. Councilor Hageman said that because retail licenses are limited in number and often trade at high prices, consolidating ownership could make it harder for startups to obtain a license. Other councilors noted that business owners already use separate entities to hold licenses and that this ordinance would mainly reflect current practices.
A motion to approve Ordinance 25-06 on first reading passed after discussion. The ordinance will be read two more times before final adoption.
The city did not provide a projected number of licenses that would be newly held by a single owner if the ordinance becomes final; councilors said the cap on the number of retail licenses is set at the state and city levels and would remain unchanged.
Councilors did not adopt additional conditions or amendments at first reading; the item will return for further readings and possible final action.
