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B26-0500 • 2025

Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Enacted

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

Sponsor
McDuffie
Last action
2026-01-02
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on expanding carryout and delivery licenses, so this claim was removed.

Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This act amends the rules for businesses to obtain endorsements from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board to operate streateries, sidewalk cafés, or summer gardens in Washington D.C., including a public comment period.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows retailers with commercial streetfronts under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority to be licensed for streateries.
  • Requires alcohol businesses to obtain a streatery endorsement from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board to operate a streatery.
  • Revises application processes for streatery, summer garden, and sidewalk café endorsements and licenses to include a 45-day public comment period.
  • Requires notice and an opportunity to protest applications for streatery, summer garden, and sidewalk café endorsements and licenses.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Retailers with commercial streetfronts under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority
  • Alcohol businesses operating in D.C.
  • The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board

Terms To Know

Streatery
An outdoor dining area that uses parking lanes or designated parts of an alley network for business operations.
Washington Convention and Sports Authority food and alcohol business
A retailer with commercial streetfrontage under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority that sells food and is approved to sell alcoholic beverages on-premises.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act expires on March 19, 2026.
  • It does not specify what happens after the expiration date.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0220 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000031, Expires on Mar 19, 2026

  2. 2025-12-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2025-12-19 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0220, Expires on Mar 19, 2026

  4. 2025-12-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Dec 29, 2025

  5. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-12-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0500 Introduced by Councilmember McDuffie at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-220
INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,
DECEMBER 19,2025
To amend, on an emergency basis,Title25 of the Districtof Columbia OfficialCode toallow a
retailerwithcommercialstreetfrontageatalocationunderthejurisdictionoftheWashingtonConventionandSportsAuthoritytobelicensedfora streatery,requirethatalcoholbusinessesobtainastreateryendorsementfromtheAlcoholicBeverageandCannabisBoardtooperateastreatery,expandexistingcarryoutanddeliverylicenserequirementstoretailerswithcommercialstreetfrontageatalocationunderthejurisdictionoftheWashingtonConventionandSportsAuthority,requirestreatery,summergarden,andsidewalkcaféendorsementandstreaterylicenseapplicationstoundergoa45-daypubliccommentperiod,andexpresslyrequirenoticeandanopportunitytoprotestapplicationsforstreatery,summergarden,andsidewalkcaféendorsementsandlicenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmaybecitedasthe“StreateryProgramEndorsementsandProtestProcessEmergencyAmendment Act of 2025”.
Sec.2.Title25oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodeisamendedasfollows:
(a)Section25-101isamendedasfollows:(1)A newparagraph(50A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(S0A)“Streatery”meanstheoccupationoftheparkinglaneofaroadwayoruseofdesignatedpartsofanalleynetworkortravellaneusedspecificallyforoutdoordiningpursuanttoavalidStreateryPermitissuedbytheDistrictDepartmentofTransportationandCertificateofUseissuedbytheDepartmentofBuildings.”.
(2)A newparagraph(55A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(55A)“WashingtonConventionandSportsAuthorityfoodandalcoholbusiness”meansaretailerwithcommercialstreetfrontageatalocationunderthejurisdictionoftheWashingtonConventionandSportsAuthoritythatsellsfoodandisapprovedbytheWashingtonConventionandSportsAuthoritytosellalcoholicbeveragesforon-premisesconsumption.”.
I
ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
(b)Section25-113(a)(6)isamended as follows:
(1)Strikethephrase“2022and2023”whereveritappearsandinsertthephrase
“2022,2023,2024, and throughDecember 31,2025” in itsplace.
(2)Subparagraph(A)(i)(II)isamendedbystrikingthesemicolonandinsertingthe
phrase“ annuallywiththefeefor2025 due by April1,2025; except,thatan on-premisesretailer
licensee,classC/T, D/T, C/N, or D/N, or a manufacturerlicenseeclassB, shailpay thefeefor
2025bySeptember30,2025;”initsplace.
(3)A newsubparagraph(F)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(F)AfterDecember 31,2025,theprovisionsof§ 25-113.01(c-1)shall
applytoanyestablishmentthatwishestosell,serve,orpermittheconsumptionofbeer,wine,or
spiritstopatronsonastreatery.”.
(c)Section25-113.01isamended as follows:
(1)Subsection(c)isamended toreadas follows:
“(c)(1)The licenseeundera 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 sidewalkcaféendorsementorsummer garden
endorsementfrom theBoard tobe eligibletoconductbusinessoperationson a sidewalkcaféor
summergarden,whichmayincludethesale,service,andconsumptionofalcoholicbeverageson
outdoorpublicorprivatespace.
*“(2)A Washington Conventionand SportsAuthorityfood and alcoholbusiness
shallobtaina sidewalkcafélicensefrom theBoard tobe eligibletoconductbusinessoperations
on a sidewalkcafé,which may includethesale,service,and consumption ofalcoholicbeverages
‘onoutdoorpublicspace.
“()If'alicenseeholdingasidewalkcaféorsummergardenendorsementunder
thissubsectionfailstocomply withthetermsof this subsectionortheendorsement,theBoard
may finethelicenseeor suspendorrevoke itslicenseand may revoketheendorsement.”
(2)Subsection(c-1)isamended toreadas follows:
“(c-1)(1)BeginningJanuary1,2026,noestablishmentmaysell,serve,orpermitthe
consumptionofbeer,wine,orspiritstopatronson a streaterywithouttheappropriate
endorsementorlicenseprovidedpursuanttothissubsection.
“(2)The Board shallestablish:
“(A)A streateryendorsementforestablishmentslicensedason-premises
retailersor manufacturerswith an on-sitesalesand consumptionpermitand permittedhoursfor
hoursofoperationandthesales,service,andconsumptionofalcoholicbeverages;
“(B)A streaterylicenseforWashingtonConventionandSportsAuthority
food and beveragebusinessesand permittedhoursforhoursof operationand thesales,service,
and consumptionof alcoholicbeverages;and
“(©)A commonapplicationforestablishmentsseekingtoobtainthe
appropriateendorsementorlicense.
2
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(3)Anestablishmentseekingastreateryendorsementorlicensepursuanttothissubsectionshall:
“(A)Demonstratethatitoperatesa streatery;
“(B)Paya$100feeaccompanyingitsapplicationandannuallythereafterbyadatesetbytheBoard;
“(C)Demonstratethatthestreateryislocatedinacommercialormixed-usezoneasdefinedintheDistrict'szoningregulations;and
“(D)Agreetomaintainitsownclearlydelineatedstreaterythatdoesnotsharetablesandchairswithanotherbusiness.
“(@)(A)AsofJanuary1,2026,anestablishmentthatregisteredwiththeBoardpursuantto§25-113(a)(6)shallbedeemedtobeinviolationofthissubsectionifitcontinuesto
sell,serve,orpermittheconsumptionofbeer,wine,orspiritstopatronsinoutdoorspacesunless:
“(iIftheestablishmentoperatesastreatery,itsubmitsanapplicationtotheBoardfortheappropriateendorsementorlicensebyDecember31,2025;or
“Gi)Iftheestablishmentoperatesanoutdoorspacethatqualifiesasasummergardenorsidewalkcafé,itappliesforasummergardenorsidewalkcaféendorsementorlicense,asappropriate,byDecember31,2025.
“(B)AnapplicantthatregisteredwiththeBoardpursuantto§25-113(a)(6)andfileditsapplicationfortheastreatery,summergarden,orsidewalkcaféendorsementorlicensebyDecember31,2025,maycontinuetosell,serve,orpermittheconsumptionofbeer,wine,orspiritstopatronsconsistentwiththatregistrationuntiltheBoardrendersadecisiononitsapplication.
“(6)Ifalicenseeholdingastreateryendorsementunderthissubsectionfailsto
complywiththetermsofthissubsectionortheendorsement,theBoardmayfinethelicenseeorsuspendorrevokeitslicenseandmayrevoketheendorsement.
“(6)(A)TheBoardshallinterpretsettlement-agreementlanguagethatrestrictssidewalkcafésorsummergardensasapplyingonlytothoseoutdoorspacesthatarecurrentlyapprovedbytheBoardassidewalkcafésorsummergardens.
“(B)TheBoardshallnotinterpretsettlement-agreemerestrictsorprohibitssidewalkcafésorsummergardenstoapplytostreaterie
(3)Subsection(g)(1)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Designatetheexistingtextassubparagraph(A).
(B)A newsubparagraph(B)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
*(B)EffectiveJanuary1,2026,aWashingtonConventionandSports,Authorityfoodandalcoho!businessthatisnotalreadylicensedpursuanttosubparagraph(A)of
thisparagraphshallobtainacarryoutanddeliverylicensefromtheBoardtobeeligibletosellbeer,wine,orspiritsinclosedcontainerstoindividualsforcarryout,ordeliverbeer,wine,orspiritsinclosedcontainerstoconsumersintheDistrict.”.
3

languagethat

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(d)Section25-421isamendedbyaddinganewsubsection(a-1)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(a-1)Forthepurposesofsubsection(a)ofthissection,anapplicationforastreatery,sidewalkcafé,orsummergardenendorsementorlicenseshallbeconsideredtobeasubstantialchangeinoperationandsubjecttothenoticerequirementsofthissection.”.
(€)Section25-601isamendedbyaddinganewsubsection(c)toreadasfollows:
“(©)Forthepurposesofthissection,anapplicationforastreatery,sidewalkcafé,orsummergardenendorsementorlicenseshallbeconsideredtobeasubstantialchangeinoperation.”.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
airman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

December 19, 2025

DocketNo,826-0500
[1ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XTACTION
VOTEDATE
[X1VOICEVOTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[}ROLLCALLVOTE~Resutt
COUNCILOFTHE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading
December2,2025
‘Approved
Felder

CouncilMember__|Aye[Nay|NV_|AB| Rec|CouncitMember[Aye|Nay|Nv[AB|Rec|CouncilMember| Aye|Nay|NV[AB| Rec|
ChairmanMendelson]x Henderson| x Pinto
‘Alen x LewisGeowe| x White
Bonds x MeDute x T.Wite
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X- IndicateVote AB Absent NV -Present,NotVoting Rec -Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
1H" 3 ve

‘SecretarytotheCouncil Date