Information on Applying for ABC Licenses

This Information Bulletin describes the process for obtaining City approval for ABC Licenses. All applicants requesting an ABC License from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) must also submit an application for a Zoning Use Verification (ZUV) through the City’s online permitting account. To apply for a Zoning Use Verification, select “Others” under “Miscellaneous Applications” when creating a permit application. The application for a ZUV includes the ABC-255 and the standard review fee.

Alcoholic Beverage Outlet

Any establishment that applies for a Type 20 Off-Sale Beer and Wine License or Type 21 Off-Sale General License for permission to sell alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption shall be regulated as an Alcoholic Beverage Outlet subject to San Diego Municipal Code (SDMC) §141.0502. Applications for a Type 20/21 License may require further review and fees, which are detailed below.

Exemptions from this Review Process

The following Alcoholic Beverage Outlets are exempt from the Limited Use Regulations and the administrative review process described in the following section; please see SDMC 141.0502(a) for more information.

Standard zoning reviews may be completed for projects identified in this section:

Hotels, motels, or any other lodging establishments where the area devoted to selling alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption does not exceed 10% of the gross floor area of the entire premises.
Establishments of more than 15,000 square feet of gross floor area, provided the area devoted to alcohol sales does not exceed 10% of the gross floor area of the entire premise (the premise is defined as the leasehold in which the outlet is located, not the entire multi-tenant building).
Alcoholic Beverage Outlets that were in existence on Dec. 20, 1995, if the outlet retains the same type of retail liquor license within a license classification and has been in continuous operation without a substantial change in the mode or character of the operation. See SDMC §141.0502(a)(4)(A)(B) for more information.

Downtown
Establishments with alcoholic beverage sales that are located within the Downtown Community Plan area are separately regulated uses that are subject to the regulations of Section 156.0315 of the Centre City Planned District Ordinance or Section 157.0305 of the Gaslamp Quarter Planned District Ordinance. For questions about sites within the Downtown area, please contact the Urban Division.

Administrative Review

If an Alcoholic Beverage Outlet does not qualify for an exemption to the limited use regulations as listed above, it is subject to the comprehensive administrative review process detailed in this section and must provide all the paperwork listed in the Application Requirements section.

Alcoholic Beverage Outlets that are permitted as limited use in zones will be indicated with an “L” in the Use Regulations tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) and are subject to the regulations in SDMC §141.0502(b). Planned Districts may permit these outlets as regulated use.

Alcoholic Beverage Outlets are not permitted in any of the following locations:

Within a census tract, or within 600 feet of a census tract, where the general crime rate exceeds the citywide average general crime rate by more than 20%.
Within a census tract, or within 600 feet of a census tract, where the ratio of alcoholic beverage outlets exceeds the standards established by the California Business and Professional Code, Section 23958.4.
Within 600 feet of a public or private accredited school, a public park, a playground or recreational area, a church, a hospital, or a San Diego County welfare district office; and
Within 100 feet of a residentially zoned property.

The applicant must agree to comply with the operational standards as indicated under SDMC §141.0502(b)(2) thru (12) and must complete the Agreement to Comply Affidavit as a part of their application.

All applications will be reviewed and a response will be provided within 15 business days from the date the application is deemed complete.

Application Requirements

To apply for an ABC Type 20/21 License, please submit a Zoning Use Verification through your online permitting account. For all Alcoholic Beverage Outlet applications, please provide a copy of all prior discretionary permits. Staff will review the conditions of approval to determine if an Alcoholic Beverage Outlet is permitted by right. Applicants can determine if a site has prior discretionary permits through our records section.

All documents listed below must be submitted prior to review: ABC Form-255 (Zoning Affidavit) – City staff will complete #9-14

600-Foot Radius Map

Public or private accredited schools.
Public parks, playgrounds or recreational areas.
Churches.
Hospitals.
San Diego County Welfare District Office.
Residentially zoned properties within a 100-foot radius around the subject property.
Adjacent census tract(s), including the number of beverage licenses and crime rate.

Fees

All ABC License applications are subject to the standard Alcoholic Beverage Zoning review fee of $580.00. This fee is charged at the time of application.

If your application requires the administrative review described above in Section II, it will be subject to the fees listed below (the Alcoholic Beverage Zoning review fee will be credited). Review staff will update the fees prior to completing their review, and a new invoice will be issued. Fees can be paid through your online permitting account. Additional review and approval of the Zoning Affidavit Form-255 will not be completed until the new invoice has been paid.

Mapping Fee This fee is charged at submittal when plans, drawings, maps or other graphical documents are utilized for project review.	$10.00
Alcoholic Beverage Review Fee Additional fees may be assessed at an hourly rate for fees not covered. Please note that the plan check fee and some administrative fees are non-refundable. See Refund Policy noted within Refund Application Form DS-721 for additional refund information	$580

References

Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Zoning Affidavit (ABC-255).
Agreement to Comply Affidavit.
Information on Preparing a Radius Map (IB 512).
Assessor’s Parcel Map.
San Diego Municipal Code (SDMC).
Project Submittal Manual, Section 4.
Refund Application Form DS-721.
Online permitting account.

Previous Versions of this Information Bulletin

This section contains previous versions of this Information Bulletin by the last day they were effective.