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PR26-0412 • 2025

Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Enacted

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

Sponsor
McDuffie
Last action
2025-12-12
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the resolution affects takeout and delivery services beyond expanding existing requirements.

Emergency Rules for Streatery Licenses

This resolution allows certain retailers in Washington D.C., under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority, to apply for a license to have an outdoor dining area called a 'streatery' and sets up a protest process.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows certain retailers with street frontage at locations under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority to be licensed for a streatery.
  • Requires alcohol businesses to obtain a streatery endorsement from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board before they can serve drinks on their streatery.
  • Expands existing carry out and delivery license requirements to retailers with street frontage under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority.
  • Sets up a 45-day public comment period for applications related to streateries, summer gardens, and sidewalk cafes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Retailers with street frontage in Washington D.C. under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority.
  • Alcohol businesses applying for streatery endorsements from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board.

Terms To Know

Streatery
An outdoor dining area attached to a restaurant or bar that is licensed by local authorities.
Endorsement
A formal approval given by an authority, in this case the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board, for businesses to operate certain activities like serving alcohol on streateries.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution only applies until permanent legislation is passed.
  • It does not specify what happens if a protest occurs during the public comment period.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0277, Effective from Dec 02, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 013908

  2. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  3. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  4. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0277

  5. 2025-12-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0412 Introduced by Councilmember McDuffie at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-277

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

December 2, 2025

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend Title 25 of
the District of Columbia Official Code to allow a retailer with commercial street
frontage at a location under the jurisdiction of the Washington Convention and
Sports Authority to be licensed for a streatery, require that alcohol businesses
obtain a streatery endorsement from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board
to operate a streatery, expand existing carry out and delivery license requirements
to retailers with commercial street frontage at a location under the jurisdiction of
the Washington Convention and Sports Authority, require streatery, summer
garden, and sidewalk café endorsement and streatery license applications to
undergo a 45-day public comment period, and expressly require notice and an
opportunity to protest applications for streatery, summer garden, and sidewalk
café endorsements and licenses.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That
this resolution may be cited as the “Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025”.

Sec. 2. (a) The Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Amendment
Act of 2025, passed on 1st reading on December 2, 2025 (Engrossed version of Bill 26-
147), would permanently codify existing emergency legislation that allows streatery
endorsements through December 31, 2025. As of January 1, 2026, the bill would prohibit
establishments from selling, serving, or permitting patrons to consume beer, wine, or
spirits on a streatery unless the establishment obtains the appropriate endorsement or
license from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board (“Board”).
(b) On November 18, 2025, the Council approved Bill 26-147 at its Committee of
the Whole meeting and placed the measure on the consent agenda for the Council’s
December 2, 2025, legislative meeting. Before the measure takes effect, it must complete
Council, Mayoral, and congressional review, which could take several months.
(c) To assist our local establishments in transitioning to the permanent streatery
endorsements process after December 31, 2025, it is imperative that emergency
legislation authorizing businesses to obtain a streatery endorsement or license from the
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

2

Board to operate a streatery take effect immediately. This will allow licensees to have
ample time to register with the Board before the deadline.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the
Streatery Program Endorsements and Protest Process Emergency Amendment Act of
2025 be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.