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B26-0147 • 2025

Streatery Program and Protest Process Amendment Act of 2025

Streatery Program and Protest Process Amendment Act of 2025

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
at the request of the Mayor
Last action
2026-03-20
Official status
Official Law
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how long it will take for applications to be processed after the public comment period or what happens if a business fails to comply with new rules.

Streatery Program and Protest Process Amendment Act of 2025

This act amends the District of Columbia's laws to allow certain businesses to apply for streatery licenses, require public comment on these applications, and establish new rules for alcohol sales in outdoor spaces.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows retailers with commercial streetfronts under the Washington Convention and Sports Authority jurisdiction to get a streatery license.
  • Requires alcohol businesses to obtain an endorsement from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board before operating as a streatery.
  • Expands existing carryout and delivery licensing requirements for certain food and beverage businesses.
  • Requires that applications for streatery, summer garden, and sidewalk café endorsements go through a 45-day public comment period.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Retailers with commercial streetfronts under the Washington Convention and Sports Authority jurisdiction.
  • Alcohol businesses that want to operate as streateries.
  • The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which will handle endorsements and licenses for these businesses.

Terms To Know

Streatery
An outdoor dining area set up on a parking lane or alley network under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority.
Washington Convention and Sports Authority food and alcohol business
A retailer with commercial streetfronts that sells food and is approved to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption by the Washington Convention and Sports Authority.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify how long it will take for applications to be processed after the public comment period.
  • It's unclear what happens if a business fails to comply with the new rules or loses its endorsement/license.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-20 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Law L26-0096, Effective from Mar 06, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 004482

  2. 2026-01-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Congress

  3. 2026-01-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0240 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000439

  4. 2026-01-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  5. 2026-01-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0240

  6. 2025-12-29 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jan 13, 2026

  7. 2025-12-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  8. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  9. 2025-11-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Committee Report Filed by the Business and Economic Development Committee, Includes Hearing Record

  10. 2025-11-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Committee Mark-up of B26-0147 by the Business and Economic Development Committee

  11. 2025-11-10 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Mark-up filed in the Office of Secretary

  12. 2025-04-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Public Hearing on B26-0147

  13. 2025-04-18 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register

  14. 2025-04-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register

  15. 2025-04-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Business and Economic Development

  16. 2025-04-08 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Business and Economic Development

  17. 2025-03-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0147 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  18. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Referred to Committee on Business and Economic Development with comments from the Committee on Transportation and the Environment

  19. 2025-02-27 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0147 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Streatery Program and Protest Process Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-240
INTHE COUNCIL OF THEDISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
JANUARY 12, 2026
ToamendTitle25oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodetoallowa retailerwithcommercialstreetfrontageatalocationunderthejurisdictionoftheWashingtonConventionand
SportsAuthoritytobelicensedfora streatery,requirethatalcoholbusinessesobtainastreateryendorsementfromtheAlcoholicBeverageandCannabisBoardtooperateastreatery,expandexistingcarryoutanddeliverylicenserequirementstoretailerswithcommercialstreetfrontageatalocationunderthejurisdictionoftheWashingtonConventionandSportsAuthority,requirestreatery,summergarden,andsidewalkcaféendorsementandstreaterylicenseapplicationstoundergoa45-daypubliccommentperiod,andexpresslyrequirenoticeandanopportunitytoprotestapplicationsforstreatery,summergarden,andsidewalkcaféendorsementsandlicenses.
BEIT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA, Thatthis
actmay be citedas the“StreateryProgram Endorsementsand ProtestProcessAmendment Act of
2025”.
Sec.2.Title25oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodeisamendedasfollows:
(a)Section25-101isamendedasfollows:
(1)A newparagraph(50A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(S0A)“Streatery”meanstheoccupationoftheparkinglaneofaroadwayoruseofdesignatedpartsofanalleynetworkortravellaneusedspecificallyforoutdoordiningpursuanttoavalidStreateryPermitissuedbytheDistrictDepartmentofTransportationandCertificateofUseissuedbytheDepartmentofBuildings.”.
(2)A newparagraph(55A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(55A)“WashingtonConventionandSportsAuthorityfoodandalcoholbusiness”meansaretailerwithcommercialstreetfrontageatalocationunderthejurisdictionofthe‘WashingtonConventionandSportsAuthoritythatsellsfoodandisapprovedbytheWashington
ConventionandSportsAuthoritytosellalcoholicbeveragesforon-premisesconsumption.”.
(b)Section25-113(a)(6)isamendedasfollows:

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(1)Strikethephrase“2022and2023”whereveritappearsandinsertthephrase
“2022,2023,2024,and throughDecember 31,2025” initsplace.
(2)Subparagraph(AY(i)(ID)isamendedbystrikingthesemicolonandinsertingthe
phrase“annuallywiththefeefor2025 due by April1,2025; except,thatan on-premisesretailer
licensee,classC/T, D/T, C/N, or D/N, or a manufacturerlicenseeclassB, shallpay thefeefor
2025 by September 30,2025;” initsplace.
(3)A new subparagraph(F)isadded toreadas follows:
“(F)AfterDecember 31,2025,theprovisionsof§ 25-113.01(c-1)shall
applytoanyestablishmentthatwishestosell,serve,orpermittheconsumptionofbeer,wine,orspiritstopatronsonastreatery.”.
(c)Section25-113.01isamended as follows:
(1)Subsection(c)isamended toreadas follows:
“(c)(1)The licenseeunder a manufacturer’slicenseclassA, B, or C holdingan on-site
salesand consumptionpermitor an on-premiseslicense,classC/R, D/R, C/H, D/H, C/T, D/T,
CIN, DIN, C/X, D/X, C/B, and D/B, shallobtaina sidewalkcaféendorsementor summer garden
endorsementfrom theBoard tobe eligibletoconductbusinessoperationson a sidewalkcaféor
summer garden,which may includethesale,service,and consumptionof alcoholicbeverageson
outdoorpublicorprivatespace.
“(2)A WashingtonConventionandSportsAuthorityfoodandalcoholbusiness
shallobtaina sidewalkcafélicensefrom theBoard tobe eligibletoconductbusinessoperations
on a sidewalkcafé,which may includethesale,service,and consumptionof alcoholic beverages
‘onoutdoorpublicspace.
“(3)Ifa licenseeholdinga sidewalkcaféor summer gardenendorsementunder
thissubsectionfailstocomply with thetermsofthis subsectionor theendorsement,theBoard
may finethelicenseeor suspend or revokeitslicenseand may revoketheendorsement.”.
(2)Subsection(c-1)isamended toreadas follows:
“(c-1)(1)BeginningJanuary 1,2026,no establishmentmay sell,serve,or permitthe
consumptionofbeer,wine,orspiritstopatronsona streaterywithouttheappropriate
endorsementor licenseprovidedpursuanttothissubsection.
“(2)TheBoardshallestablish:
“(A)Astreateryendorsementforestablishmentslicensedason-premises
retailersormanufacturerswithanon-sitesalesandconsumptionpermitandpermittedhoursfor
hoursof operationand thesales,service,and consumptionofalcoholic beverages;
“(B)A streaterylicenseforWashingtonConventionandSportsAuthority
food and beveragebusinessesand permittedhoursforhoursof operationand thesales,service,
and consumptionofalcoholic beverages;and
“(C)A commonapplicationforestablishmentsseekingtoobtainthe
appropriateendorsementotlicense,

||||

‘NROLLED ORIGINAL,
“(3)An establishmentseekingastreateryendorsementorlicensepursuanttothis
subsectionshall:
“(A)Demonstratethatitoperatesastreatery;
“(B)Paya$100feeaccompanyingitsapplicationandannuallythereafter
by a datesetby theBoard;
“(C)Demonstratethatthestreateryislocatedinacommercialormixed-
usezoneasdefinedintheDistrict'szoningregulations;and
(D)Agreetomaintainitsownclearlydelineatedstreaterythatdoesnot
sharetablesandchairswithanotherbusiness.
«(4)(A)AsofJanuary1,2026,anestablishmentthatregisteredwiththeBoard
pursuantto § 25-113(a)(6)shallbe deemed to be inviolationof thissubsectionif itcontinuesto
sell,serve,orpermittheconsumptionofbeer,wine,orspiritstopatronsinoutdoorspaces
unless:

“(i)Iftheestablishmentoperatesastreatery,itsubmitsan
applicationtotheBoardfortheappropriateendorsementorlicensebyDecember31,2025;or
“(ii)[ftheestablishmentoperatesanoutdoorspacethatqualifiesas
asummergardenorsidewalkcafé,itappliesforasummergardenorsidewalkcaféendorsement
orlicense,asappropriate,byDecember31,2025.
“(B)An applicantthatregisteredwiththeBoardpursuantto§25-
113(a)(6)andfileditsapplicationfortheastreatery,summergarden,orsidewalkcafé
endorsementorlicensebyDecember31,2025,maycontinuetosell,serve,orpermitthe
consumptionofbeer,wine,orspiritstopatronsconsistentwiththatregistrationuntiltheBoard
rendersadecisiononitsapplication.
(5)If'alicenseeholdinga streateryendorsementunderthissubsectionfailsto
complywiththetermsofthissubsectionortheendorsement,theBoardmayfinethelicenseeor
suspendor revokeitslicenseand may revoketheendorsement.
“(6)(A)The Board shallinterpretsettlement-agreementlanguagethatrestricts
sidewalkcafésorsummergardensasapplyingonlytothoseoutdoorspacesthatarecurrently
approvedbytheBoardassidewalkcafésorsummergardens.
“(B)TheBoardshallnotinterpretsettlement-agreeme!
restrictsorprohibitssidewalkcafésorsummergardenstoapplytostreaterie:
(3)Subsection(g)(1)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Designatetheexistingtextassubparagraph(A).
(B)A newsubparagraph(B)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(B)EffectiveJanuary1,2026,aWashingtonConventionandSports
Authorityfoodandalcoholbusinessthatisnotalreadylicensedpursuanttosubparagraph(A)of
thisparagraphshallobtainacarryoutanddeliverylicensefromtheBoardtobeeligibletosell
beer,wine,or spiritsinclosedcontainerstoindividualsforcarryout,ordeliverbeer,wine,or
spiritsinclosedcontainersto consumers intheDistrict.”.
3

languagethat

ENROLLED ORIGINAL.
(@)Section25-421isamendedbyaddinganewsubsection(a-1)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(a-1)Forthepurposesofsubsection(a)ofthissection,anapplicationforastreatery,sidewalkcafé,orsummergardenendorsementorlicenseshallbeconsideredtobeasubstantialchangeinoperationandsubjecttothenoticerequirementsofthissection.”.
(e)Section25-601isamendedbyaddinganewsubsection(c)toreadasfollows:
“(©)Forthepurposesofthissection,anapplicationforastreatery,sidewalkcafé,orsummergardenendorsementorlicenseshallbeconsideredtobeasubstantialchangein
operation.”.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpact statement.
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommittee reportas thefiscal
impactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,
approvedOctober 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobythe
Mayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
LieMane—Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

APPROVED
JANUARY 12, 2026

COUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

DecaNo.626.047
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