Entertainment District/Liquor Licenses

Under Ohio law, liquor licenses are apportioned on the basis of population. Each city is given one full liquor license for every 2,000 residents in the city. With a population of 13,560, the City of Sharonville is eligible for seven licenses; however, with regional assets like the Sharonville Convention Center, large employers, and the Northern Lights District, Sharonville draws far more visitors than its residential population each day. Expanding the Northern Lights Community Entertainment District (“CED”) will create more dining and entertainment options for everyone who lives, works and plays in Sharonville. 

In 2005, the state of Ohio passed legislation intended to revitalize communities and business districts. The legislation allowed for the creation of community entertainment districts (CED). When a CED is established, it creates a new pool of liquor licenses that can only be issued within the district. These licenses are called D5-J Licenses.

A D5-J license is a full liquor (beer, wine, spirits) license. The holder of a D5-J license must obtain a food service license and pass all necessary code inspections at the location of However a D5-J must be located within a CED and cannot be transferred outside the district.

A holder of a D5-J must be in an area properly zoned for commercial activity, have a valid certificate of occupancy, have at least two restrooms, serve hot food and obtain at least a Level 2 Food Service License. Depending on the quantity and type of food sold, a Level 3 or higher license may be required. The minimum requirements for a Level 2 Food Service license are: a hand-washing facility, three tub sink or dishwashing facility, mop sink, waste disposal facilities, smooth easily cleanable surfaces for preparation and service, hot water, commercial microwave or oven, commercial refrigeration/freezer.

No. Open containers are not allowed under state law unless they are in designated outdoor refreshment areas (“DORAs”). A CED Designation has no effect on the open container law.

No. Any school, church or other organization with an objection right retains those rights. The CED designation does not change anyone’s statutory objection rights.

No. Zoning trumps a CED Designation. If an area is currently not zoned for commercial activity, a CED Designation does not change the allowed uses.

No. Sunday Sales are not affected. If a precinct does not allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays, the CED Designation does not change the rules on Sunday Sales. Sunday Sales rules can only be changed by the voters of a precinct.

No. If a restaurant is in a CED and wants to have an outdoor patio, they must go through all of the normal requirements that any other applicant would have to go through to have an outdoor patio. The CED does not change these requirements.

No. All a CED does is create a pool of new restaurant licenses within a specific district. These licenses are sold by the State of Ohio at face value (on the secondary market, licenses are selling at 10-12x face value). CEDs can help small business get started and expand their hours.

No. The State of Ohio processes the applications on a first come first serve basis. The applicant must comply with all existing liquor laws of the State of Ohio and any local zoning, code and health requirements.

Yes. The Banks, Anderson Township, Over-the-Rhine, Corryville, Clifton Heights, Price Hill, Pleasant Ridge and Northside.

Positive. CEDs have helped these neighborhoods attract and retain new small businesses. There has not been a single establishment in Cincinnati using a CED license that has been shut down for bad behavior.

The CED would create up to 15 new D-5J licenses; however, only those restaurants that meet all of the requirements listed above would be able to obtain one of the licenses. All of the licenses may not be used, but they’ll remain available for future growth and development. Sharonville currently has 14 liquor licenses available.

Yes, City Council can amend a CED to expand or diminish its boundaries. City Council also has the power to repeal the CED, although no CED has ever been repealed in the Cincinnati Area.

If an establishment was in a CED and the CED is amended to remove the establishment from the CED, the establishment would be unable to renew their liquor license. This gives neighborhoods with CEDs one extra tool to combat “problem establishments”; however, no CED license holder in Cincinnati has ever had a permit revoked for misconduct.

An application for designation of a CED must include the following: 1) names and addresses of property owned within the proposed district; 2) a detailed map of the proposed CED; 3) a description of the establishments desired in the district; 4) a proposed timeline for the completion of development in the district; 5) evidence that the property in the district is in compliance with current zoning; 6) a certificate of acreage completed by a professional surveyor; and 7) an application fee.

The CED application is initially submitted to the Mayor who has 30 days to review it and present the application to city council. Within 30 days of receipt from the Mayor, the city council must publish notice of the potential CED in a newspaper of general circulation. Within 75 days of the completed notice by publication, city council must vote “yes” or “no” on whether to approve the CED application. In the event the council declines to designate the CED, the applicant is permitted to amend the application and resubmit a revised version of the CED application. Please note these dates are the maximum period of time for each of these steps listed; however, City Council and the Mayor may reach their decisions on these matters in less time.

The filing fee for a D5-J liquor license is $100, and the license costs $2,344 annually. Sunday sales (if permitted in the precinct) cost an additional $500 per year.