SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE - LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Summary of Procedures Special Event Liquor License Permit Applications

1. Obtain state and city application forms at City of Phoenix License Services, at least ninety (90) days prior to date of event.

2. Make necessary contacts with listed city departments to determine need for additional permits and obtain them if needed.

3. Make security arrangements prior to submitting applications, in accordance with guidelines in this information. Contact the Police Department at (602) 438-6625 if you have any questions.

4. Carefully complete both applications and submit them immediately to: Phoenix License Services, 200 W. Washington St., 10th Floor.

5. All business owners having an active liquor license at the event location must submit a letter temporarily suspending their license for the duration of the event.

City Code Regarding Special Event Liquor Licenses

Sec. 6-14. Special Event Licenses.

1. Any person applying for a special event liquor license must make application with the City at least thirty (30) days prior to the special event, provided that for an additional application fee of sixty-five dollars ($65) the application may be filed within thirty (30) days prior to the special event.

2. The City Council may consider the following factors in determining whether to approve or disapprove a special event liquor license application:
   1. Whether the event will be open to the public.

   2. Criminal history of the applicant.

   3. Nature of the event.

   4. Security measures taken by the applicant.

   5. Type of alcohol that will be sold at the event.

   6. How the alcohol will be served.

   7. Whether, within the last three years, the applicant or the event’s promoter held an event that created a neighborhood disturbance or whether the event site has generated neighborhood disturbance complaints.

   8. Potential for problems in the neighborhood of the proposed event including, but not limited to, noise, traffic, lack of parking, and excessive duration or hours of operation.

   9. Length of the event.

   10. Sanitary facilities available to the participants.

   11. Whether the proposed event is compliant with the Phoenix City Zoning Code and is compatible with the event site’s normal use.

   12. Anticipated number of attendees.

   13. The nature of the sound amplification systems.

3. Except as provided in Subsection D, the City Manager or his designee is authorized to approve or disapprove a special event liquor license application in accordance with the provisions of Subsection B if the application is filed with the City Clerk on a date too close to the date of the special event to permit the application to be considered by the City Council.

4. Only the City Council may approve or disapprove a special event liquor license application for an event at a residential property at which attendance by 500 or more persons is anticipated.

State Law Special Event Liquor License Permit

4-203.02 Special Event License

1. The director may, subject to the approval of the board of supervisors of a county for event to be held in an unincorporated area or the governing body of a city or town for events to be held in a city or town, issue on a temporary basis:
   1. A daily on-sale special event license authorizing the sale of spirituous liquor for consumption on the premises where sold.

   2. A daily off-sale special event license authorizing a charitable wine auction for the sale of vintage wines for consumption off premises. The fee for the license is twenty-five dollars per day. The director shall transfer the monies collected to the department of health services for the purpose prescribed in title 36, chapter 18, article 2.

2. The director may only issue the special event license to a political party or campaign committee supporting a candidate for public office or a ballot measure, an organization formed for a specific charitable or civic purpose, a fraternal organization in existence for over five years with a regular membership or a religious organization.

3. An organization selling spiritous liquor under a special event license shall purchase such spirituous liquor from the holder of a license authorized to sell off-sale, or, in the case of a nonprofit organization which has obtained a special event license for the purpose of charitable fund raising activities, the nonprofit organization may receive the spirituous liquor from a wholesaler as a donation, except that a licensee licensed pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section may receive vintage wine from a donor when the donor receives no remuneration or payment of any kind, directly or indirectly, other than any tax benefits that might result.

4. An organization that is issued a license pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section shall receive at least seventy-five per cent of the gross receipts of the wine auction. All expenses shall be supported by written contracts, invoices or receipts, which shall be made available to the director on request.

5. The director may adopt those rules the director determines are necessary to implement and administer this section including a limitation on the number of times during a calendar year a qualified organization may apply for and be issued a license under this section. The qualified organization issued a license pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section must receive at least twenty-five per cent of the gross revenues of the special events, which shall be supported by a contract between the parties to be supplied at the time of application.

6. An organization that is issued a license pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section shall not sell more than twenty cases of vintage wine annually under a special event license.

7. Section 4-201 does not apply to the license provided for under this sections.

R4-1-244 Special Event License

1. An applicant for a special event license shall make application on a form prescribed by the department. The application form shall be filed with the local authority will be reviewed by the director. If the applicable requirements of Title 4 are met, the director shall issue a special license. The application form may be approved and validated by the department and a copy returned to the local governing authority and the applicant.

2. Qualifying organizations as defined in A.R.S.-203.02.B. may be granted a special event license for no more than 10 days in a calendar year. Events shall be held on consecutive days and at the same location or additional licenses will be required. A special event license authorizes the sale of spirituous liquor for the period authorized on the license and is automatically terminated upon closing of the last day of the event or the expiration of the license, whichever occurs first.

R19-1-248. Display of license.

All licensees shall display their liquor license in a conspicuous place readily available for inspection by any peace officer distributor or wholesaler.

R19-1-249. Repealed.

R4-1-250 Exceptions to general rule

1. The following are exceptions in which producers/wholesalers may furnish to the retailer something of value, as long as the retailer is not induced to purchase spirituous liquor from the producer/wholesaler to the exclusion, in whole or in part, of spirituous liquor sold or offered for sale by other persons.

2. Licensed special events
   
   1. A producer/wholesaler may participate in an event at which liquor is sold by furnishing advertising, sponsorship, services or other things of value as long as:
      
      1. The event has been issued a special event license.
         
      2. The special event license was issued to a civic, religious, or fraternal group but not a political group.

      3. If the event is being held at a location that is a licensed retail location, nothing of value is left at the location or given to the retailer or retail employees at or following the event.

   2. A producer/wholesaler may donate but not sell directly to the group issued the special event license as long as it is not a political group. If the special event licensee is buying spirituous liquor at retail to resell, the wholesaler may invoice the sale through a retailer following completion of the event.

   3. At a location issued a special event license spirituous liquor sales may be handled in the following ways:
      
      1. In the case of an otherwise unlicensed location, the nonprofit group is responsible for sales of spirituous liquor.

      2. In case of a licensed retail location, one of the following may occur:
         1. During the special event, the regular licensee ceases all sales of spirituous liquor.

         2. During the special event, the regular licensee conducts all dispensing/serving under the regular retail license and the nonprofit group does none. The regular licensee is responsible for proper service. The liquor dispensed is that purchased by the retailer from the wholesaler.

         3. During the special event, the regular licensee conducts all dispensing/serving under the special event license and the nonprofit group does none. The regular licensee and the special event licensee are responsible. The spirituous liquor dispensed is that purchased/donated by/to the special event licensee.

         4. During the special event, the licensed location is split into an area in which the regular licensee exclusively dispenses and is responsible for all spirituous liquor sales and another separate area in which the nonprofit group exclusively dispenses and is responsible for all spirituous liquor sales.

City of Phoenix-Special Events Information

Who must obtain a Special Event Liquor License and why?

The liquor laws of the state of Arizona narrowly restrict the sale and dispensing of alcoholic beverages. The Special Event Liquor License allows a qualified organization to sell or dispense alcoholic beverages in conjunction with fund raising and other activities while insuring full compliance with all applicable state and local laws and ordinances.

How often can an organization obtain a Special Event Liquor License?

Each organization is limited to 10 days per calendar year, per R4-15-244.B. Please call the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses & Control at (602) 542-5141 if you have any questions concerning the length of your event and the type and number of licenses required.

Where do I go to apply for a Special Event Liquor License?

A Special Event Liquor License requires an application for state and city. At least ninety (90) days prior to the date of the event, obtain, complete and return the applications and questionnaires (state and city applications) to the City of Phoenix, License Services Office at 200 W. Washington St., 10th Floor.

Your application will be reviewed by city departments concerned with the potential impact your event may have on people and normal activities within the area of the event. This includes the Police, Fire, Zoning and other departments.

After evaluation, the application may be scheduled for a hearing before the Phoenix City Council.

NOTE: The Arizona Department of Liquor License & Control will not issue a Special Event Liquor License until the application has been reviewed by the city.

What does the City Council consider in deciding whether or not to recommend approval of the application to the State?

• The type and nature of the event; activities involved, time of day, day of week, location, potential for disruption of normal activities.
• The type of security measures and size of security staff to be provided by the applicant to insure full compliance with liquor laws, other state laws and city Ordinances.
• Type of alcohol to be sold or dispensed.
• Criminal history of applicant, if any.
• Whether the event is private or open to general public.
• Whether promoter has held previous events within the past three years that created problems or public complaints.
• Potential for the event to cause problems with loud music, noise, amplified sound systems, crowds and litter.
• Length of event.
• Availability of sanitary facilities for participants.
• Whether the location is zoned for the proposed activity, and if not, has a Use Permit been obtained.
• Anticipated number of people expected to attend the event.
• General security requirement guidelines of the Phoenix Police Department.
• Security needs are determined by the projected attendance of people estimated for the event. If your estimate is overly optimistic you will be required to employ more security than you need. If you under estimate you will have to add more security people during the event, or your Special Event Liquor License may be suspended and liquor sales stopped immediately.

Security Requirements

• The applicant is required to have one (1) certified Police Officer or state-licensed private security officer for every 100 in attendance.
• For every four (4) police or private security officers employed, the applicant must employ one (1) second-level supervisor (an officer of the rank of Sergeant or higher).
• For every four (4) second-level supervisors employed, the applicant must employ one (1) third-level supervisor (an officer of the rank of Lieutenant or higher).

What determines the need to increase security?

• The type of event, activities, clientele, location, time of day are factors the Police will evaluate in determining security needs.
• The number and type of physical control barriers; i.e. fencing, barricading, walls, locked or limited access doors, that control and limit access to and from areas where alcohol is being sold or served.
• A defined sales and consumption area such as a Beer Garden, with controlled entrances and exits, limits access to people who can legally buy and consume alcohol.
• The applicant must provide a detailed diagram of the event site, showing control measures limiting access to and from areas where liquor will be sold
• These are the minimum guidelines that are accepted for approval of the application.

What are some of the other permits that may be required?

Use permit - Permits use of an area for something other than what is normally allowed under existing zoning for that area. May be obtained from the city Planning Department (602) 262-7131, option 6

Park use permit - Required a special permit if an activity involves the sale, dispensing or use of alcohol. May be obtained from the city Parks, Recreation and Library Department - (602) 262-6862

Street closure permit - Allows the temporary closure (barricading) of alleys, cul-de-sacs, residential streets and public right-of-way. May be obtained from the Street Transportation Department - (602) 262-6565

Fireworks, electrical connections and use of hazardous items - Allows use of pyrotechnics, setting up of large tents, etc. May be obtained from Fire Prevention Section of Fire Department - (602) 262-6771

Auctions, and some carnival games and rides - These activities require a Regulatory license; contact Phoenix License Services at (602) 262-4638.

Tent Permits - Contact Development Services - (602) 262-7888

Liability insurance - Required for any event held on city property or sanctioned or co-sponsored by the city of Phoenix.

Legal status of event - If event is co-sponsored or co-sanctioned by the city of Phoenix,all legal questions and concerns should be directed to the City Attorney's Office, (602) 262-6761.

Event site security - Security requirements may vary widely for different events. Please see the preceding page for guidelines. Security needs are evaluated by the Police Patrol Precinct Commander for the area. The Commander has the authority to recommend either a reduction or increase in security as deemed necessary.

The Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control will issue your Special Event Liquor License when the city has reviewed the application and they are satisfied that sufficient security will be provided to insure compliance with state law and liquor regulations. Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control (602) 542-5141.

Special Event Liquor License Fee

1. City of Phoenix Processing fees-Number of Attendees:0-500, $220; 501-2,500, $340; 2,501-5,000, $360; Over 5,000, $500 additional Application Fee (within thirty days of the event) $65 plus $10 per day of the event.

2. State of Arizona - $25 per day of the event.

Telephone List

1. City of Phoenix Special Events Liquor License - (602) 262-4638
2. City of Phoenix Police Department - (602) 438-6625
3. City of Phoenix Fire Department - (602) 262-6771
4. City of Phoenix Zoning Enforcement Division - (602) 262-7844
5. City of Phoenix Planning Department - (602) 262-7131, option 6
6. City of Phoenix Park Permits (for consumption of liquor in city parks) - (602) 262-6862
7. City of Phoenix Amusement Licenses - (602) 262-4638
8. Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control 800 W. Washington St., Fifth Floor, Phoenix, AZ - (602) 542-5141
9. City of Phoenix Street and Transportation Department - (602) 262-6565
10. City of Phoenix Tents - Development Services - (602) 262-7884

Summary of Procedure Special Event Liquor License Permit Application

1. Make necessary contacts with listed city departments to determine need for additional permits, and obtain them if needed. (See attached information sheets for details.)

2. Make security arrangements, previously discussed. Contact Police Department Detective at (602) 438-6625 if you have any questions.

3. Obtain state and city application forms at City of Phoenix License Services, at least ninety (90) days prior to date of event.

4. Carefully complete both applications and submit them to License Services at least sixty (60) days preceding the date of the event.

This publication can be provided in an alternate format by contacting the City Clerk Department, (602) 256-5677/ V; (602) 534-2737/TTY; or (602) 495-5847/FAX.

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