THE SKINNY ON SHREVEPORT RETAIL ALCOHOL SALES PERMITS

1. ZONING MUST ALLOW RETAIL ALCOHOL SALES

Property must be zoned to allow the retail sale of alcohol beverages. The Shreveport Unified Development Code (UDC) sets forth the  permitted uses within zoning districts. The Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) regulates and enforces the UDC.

2. THE 200 FOOT RULE

The location of a proposed liquor store cannot be closer than 200 feet of a residential zoning district.

The 200 foot line is measured from a point on the lot line of the proposed location to the nearest point on the lot line from any residential zoning district.

3. THE 300 FOOT RULE

The location a proposed liquor store cannot be closer than 300 feet of a parish/municipal playground, buildings used exclusively for church or synagogue, full-time day care facility, public library or school.

The 300 foot line is measured as a person walks using the sidewalk from the nearest point of the property line of the listed buildings to the nearest point of the PREMISES to be licensed.

4. PREMISES DEFINITION

The "premises" is defined in the UDC as the building or part of the building identified in the application approved by SPD for sale of alcoholic beverages.

5. THE 1000-FOOT RULE

The location of a new proposed liquor store cannot be closer than 1000 feet from any other existing establishment with liquor sales.

The 1000-foot line is measured from a point of the lot line on which such use is proposed to be located to the nearest point on the lot line of any existing establishment with liquor sales.

6. MPC MAKES MEASUREMENTS

The UDC and the city ordinance for issuance of a city retail alcohol permit both provide that any distance measurements are to be made by the MPC. These ordinances also have the same restrictions on zoning, restrictions on locations, and distance requirements.

PROVIDED ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE SATISFIED THE MPC IS MANDATED TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR THE PROPOSED LOCATION FOR RETAIL SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

7. SPD ISSUES PERMIT FOR RETAIL SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

These permits are limited to designated locations and designated owners of the retails sales establishments.

An SPD permit is required for all retail alcohol dealers.

8. STATE OF LOUISIANA ATC

Retail liquor dealers must also get a state retail sales permit. Like the Shreveport, the permit is limited to a specific location and specific owners. The State has many of the same restrictions on locations as the Shreveport UDC and it allows more stringent requirements as those adopted by Shreveport in the UDC.

A RETAIL LIQUOR STORE MUST HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, A CITY OF SHREVEPORT SALES PERMIT AND A STATE OF LOUISIANA SALES PERMIT TO LEGALLY OPERATE.

IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED
THAT MANY OF LIQUOR STORES MAY BE EXEMPT FROM SOME OF THESE REQUIREMENTS/RESTRICTIONS IF THE APPLICABLE ORDINANCES/LAWS WERE ADOPTED AFTER THE STORES WERE OPENED, IE. "GRANDFATHERED"

CAVEAT: THIS SUMMARY HAS NOT BE REVIEWED NOR APPROVED BY ANY OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES SET FORTH ABOVE. IF ERRORS ARE DISCOVERED AN UPDATED/CORRECTED SUMMARY WILL BE PROMPTED ISSUED AND PUBLISHED. IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED.