Kenosha County committee approves substitute language on cabaret licenses after debate on noise rules and permit types

The Kenosha County Judiciary and Law Committee voted July 1 to substitute revised language in a proposed amendment to county code section M C K C 8.02, which governs cabaret licenses, and agreed the change will return for the ordinance's two required readings.

The substitute motion was offered during a communication from Supervisor Desperger on the proposed cabaret revision. "I move to substitute this resolution for the one that was just on the floor," said Supervisor Keith Gray, who presented a redlined draft he said was developed with PEDC members and others. The committee adopted the substitution by voice vote.

Committee discussion focused on the relationship among three regulatory tools: cabaret licenses, activity-control licenses and conditional-use permits (CUPs). Members said an activity-control license typically applies to very large events (the committee cited 5,000 or more attendees as the triggering scale) and centers on health and safety requirements such as sanitation and crowd controls, while CUPs can include site-specific conditions, including noise limits. Several members noted that an event that receives an activity-control license may not need a cabaret license but still must comply with noise or other conditions set elsewhere.

Supervisor Paul Grant questioned whether noise limits were being applied consistently across event types and said language about decibel standards might belong in the county's zoning chapter (chapter 12) rather than in the cabaret chapter. Committee members and staff explained that CUPs normally specify sound limits when issued and that changing zoning language would require consultation with municipalities and broader approvals under county procedure.

Members discussed local examples, including Country Thunder (an event routinely subject to extensive activity-control conditions) and Great Lakes Dragway, which officials said has been grandfathered and that a new owner previously had to obtain a new CUP with enforceable conditions. Committee members also noted that village- or city-held events such as Das Fest fall under those municipalities' ordinances rather than county code.

The committee chair and members emphasized that the current vote approved only the substitution of the redlined draft as the ordinance language on the floor; final passage will require the standard two readings. No roll-call vote tally with member-by-member votes was recorded in the transcript; the substitute was adopted by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to substitute redlined ordinance language for M C K C 8.02 (cabaret licenses): moved by Supervisor Keith Gray; substitute adopted by voice vote; final adoption requires two readings. - Approval of minutes, June 3, 2026: moved by Supervisor Daniel Garske, seconded by Supervisor Laura Belsky; approved by voice vote. - Approval of minutes, June 16, 2026: moved by Supervisor Laura Belsky, seconded by Supervisor Keith Gray; approved by voice vote. - Motion to adjourn: adopted by voice vote.

What happens next

The substituted ordinance language will return to the committee and follow the county's ordinance-reading process, including the required additional reading(s) and any municipal consultation required for changes to zoning-related language.

Key context and clarifications from the meeting

- Activity-control licenses: committee members described these as triggered by very large events (committee discussion cited 5,000 or more attendees) and focused on health and safety provisions (porta-potties, water, crowd management). - Conditional-use permits (CUPs): members said CUPs include conditions that can explicitly set noise or decibel limits for a site; such conditions can be enforced and may be revisited on ownership change. - Jurisdictional limits: the county does not control village or city zoning; municipalities have their own cabaret/city licensing processes and may make nonbinding recommendations to the county on CUPs.

The committee adjourned after completing business.