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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 text states the act remains in effect for no longer than 90 days as an emergency measure; long-term status beyond this period is not specified in the provided excerpt.

Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This law requires businesses selling alcohol in outdoor dining areas to get new permits or endorsements, sets a $100 fee for these applications, and creates a public process where neighbors can object before the permits are approved.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows retailers with commercial streetfrontage under the Washington Convention and Sports Authority to be licensed as streateries.
  • Requires alcohol businesses to obtain an endorsement from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board to operate a streatery, summer garden, or sidewalk café where they sell drinks.
  • Sets a $100 application fee for these new endorsements and licenses, with annual payments due by dates set by the Board.
  • Requires applications for outdoor dining permits to go through a 45-day public comment period before approval.
  • Gives neighbors an official chance to protest or object to new streatery, summer garden, and sidewalk café permit applications.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Restaurants with commercial streetfrontage under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority.
  • Businesses holding alcohol licenses that want to sell beer, wine, or spirits in outdoor dining areas like streateries, summer gardens, or sidewalk cafés.
  • The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, which must review applications and manage fees.

Terms To Know

Streatery
An area where a business uses part of the parking lane or roadway specifically for outdoor dining with permission from city agencies.
Endorsement
A special permit added to an existing alcohol license that allows a business to sell drinks in specific outdoor spaces like streateries, summer gardens, or sidewalk cafés.
Washington Convention and Sports Authority food and alcohol business
A retailer with commercial streetfrontage near the convention center that sells food and is approved to serve alcohol on-site.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law takes effect after approval by the Mayor but remains in force for no longer than 90 days as an emergency act.
  • Businesses must apply for new permits or endorsements by December 31, 2025, to avoid being considered in violation of the rules starting January 1, 2026.

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