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Dalton council adopts cap on new package liquor licenses, adds transfer route and concert rule
Summary
The Dalton City Council approved an amendment to Chapter 6 of the city code imposing a population-based cap on package liquor licenses, added a limited transferability provision for existing package-sale licensees and changed rules for multiple drink purchases at downtown events.
Dalton — The Dalton City Council on July 21 approved an amendment to Chapter 6 of the 2001 revised code of the City of Dalton that limits the number of package (retail) liquor licenses based on population and adds related provisions for license transfers and downtown single-transaction limits.
The ordinance, second reading Ordinance 25-19, sets a cap of "1 liquor store per 2,500" residents using the most recent U.S. Census population, allows an existing package-sale license holder to transfer a license to a qualified buyer, and permits a customer to purchase up to two drinks on a single ID at designated downtown locations to allow taking beverages to seats during events.
Council members said the change responds to requests from existing package-sale business owners and peer-city practices. "We did that based on population and I will let Todd Pangle speak to the per capita that this code change would reflect," said Andrew Parker, city administrator. Todd Pangle told the council the per-capita limit equates to 14 package-sale licenses based on the current census figure cited at the meeting (34,450).
The ordinance was debated at length during public comment, when a business owner who said he was preparing to open a package-sale operation asked whether his investments would be blocked. City staff explained that while the ordinance caps licenses inside Dalton city limits, county jurisdictions are unaffected and that, under the ordinance as revised, a license that becomes available would be awarded by lottery among qualified applicants unless sold by an existing city licensee.
During discussion a motion to table the ordinance was made and then withdrawn; the council ultimately approved the ordinance following the second reading and additional clarifications from staff. The council also noted the ordinance can be amended at a later date.
Why it matters: The cap changes where and how many retail liquor outlets may operate inside Dalton city limits and creates a transfer mechanism intended to protect existing license holders. The change has direct implications for prospective package-sale businesses and for downtown event operations.
What remains: Staff members told the council they will follow up with prospective applicants about where things stand and the applicability of the moratorium, and said administrative details (lottery procedures and transfer rules) will be implemented in follow-up staff work.
