Bulloch County drops 50% in‑house sales requirement for farm wineries; commissioners approve expanded on‑site alcohol sales

Bulloch County commissioners amended the county alcohol ordinance to let licensed farm wineries serve distilled spirits and beer for consumption on premises and removed a proposed requirement that at least 50% of a farm winery’s alcohol sales be wine produced by that farm.

Why it mattered: farm winery owners and county staff said the change helps small producers attract customers and operate viable tasting rooms. Several commissioners said they wanted added safeguards that the winery classification remain limited to legitimate agricultural producers; staff and the county attorney said minimum‑production and zoning requirements for a farm winery remain in place.

What the amendment does County attorney Jeff Akins explained the amendment would let a licensed farm winery serve distilled spirits and malt beverages for on‑site consumption; package sales of distilled spirits or malt beverages remain outside this change. The originally proposed draft included a requirement that at least 50% of a farm winery’s total alcohol sales be wine produced by that farm; during the meeting the board voted to remove that 50% sales requirement.

Applicant’s statement Eric (last name not stated) Van Otter, who operates a farm winery in the county, addressed the board. He described the regulatory and licensing burden farm wineries already meet — federal and state excise reporting, state licensing, inspections and inventory reporting — and said startup costs and excise taxes make small margins for a new business. Van Otter said allowing beer and mixed drinks for on‑site consumption can help attract customers who might then try the locally produced mead/wine.

Legal and zoning limits remain Akins and staff noted that the zoning code has separate requirements for a farm winery: minimum lot size (30 acres) and a production threshold (2,000 gallons annually). Those requirements remain unchanged; the amendment only changes permissible on‑site alcohol sales (allowing malt beverages and distilled spirits for consumption on premises) and removes the 50% sales test the board struck from the ordinance text.

Board action After brief discussion and a motion to delete the 50% requirement, the board voted unanimously to approve the amendment as amended. The change will apply to any future farm‑winery applicants; licensing fee changes are handled separately in the county fee schedule and budget process.

Ending Staff said they will update ordinance text and the county’s licensing guidance. Commissioners asked that enforcement staff verify production levels and excise reporting for any licensed farm winery to ensure the land‑use and licensing safeguards remain effective.