City Council Approves New Ordinance Allowing Social Districts
Social Districts Approved
Britt Clampitt
Britt.Clampitt@charlottenc.gov
8/22/2022
Social Districts Approved

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 22, 2022) — The Charlotte City Council has approved a new city ordinance allowing for the proposal and creation of social districts.

Social districts are contiguous areas where people can walk with open, to-go containers of alcoholic beverages. Beverages must be purchased from a bar, restaurant or other establishment permitted by the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, and consumed within the boundaries and hours of the social district. Containers are labeled with the social district's logo to identify where the drink was purchased and is allowed.

Interest in creating social districts in Charlotte grew after the North Carolina General Assembly enacted legislation in October 2021 allowing cities to adopt an ordinance designating social districts.

The ordinance does not create any social districts in Charlotte. Rather, it allows the city to consider community proposals for creating new districts in the future.

Any district must be first approved by the Charlotte City Council and named and designated in city code. The ABC Commission has final approval. To be approved, each new district must:

  • Establish boundaries, and days and hours of operation, and signage with this information.

  • Develop a management and maintenance plan.

  • Have labeled containers (no glass, maximum 16 ounces) for ABC-permitted establishments in the district.

  • Have signage for establishments within the district that do not sell alcohol, but allow consumption on their premises during social district hours.

A business located within the social district can decide whether to participate in the activities of the district.

"[Social districts are] a great way for us to be able to help our small, local businesses in the community," said District 1 Council Member Larken Egleston. "It will require more work on the back end of this vote by the next council to approve the specific districts that come in."

Residents had the opportunity to comment on the ordinance update at the City Council's Aug. 15 zoning meeting. The city will continue developing the process for proposing a social district and will refine district requirements.

Learn more about social districts. Send any questions to socialdistricts@charlottenc.gov.