Entertainment Districts & Common Consumption Areas

The Town of Erie exercises its local option to allow common consumption areas per the 2011 state law allowing local jurisdictions to license common consumption areas. These designated areas allow patrons over the age of 21 to consume alcoholic beverages from various liquor-licensed establishments in a common space.

Laws, Rules, and Regulations

Licensed Common Consumption Areas must oblige by state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. The Town of Erie Rule 8:2, in particular, details that:

All licensees attached to a common consumption area shall attend the public hearing each year.
No changes to the events/activities to be conducted, dates and hours of operation, areas of consumption, or security plan can occur without the Local Licensing Authority's approval after the public hearing.
Detachment from a common consumption area may be done administratively, at the Authority’s discretion. EMC § 4-8-13; CRS § 44-3-301(11); Regulation 47-328.

For more details on each law, rule, and regulation visit the following: State Statue, State Rules, and Town of Erie’s Ordinance.

Common Consumption Areas must:

Be licensed.
Be a certified promotional association.
Be designated in an entertainment district.
Follow the rules to avoid fines or loss of license.

Obtain or Renew License

An application for a Common Consumption Area liquor license requires information about the Promotional Association (applicant), Common Consumption Area (area for alcohol consumption), and the Entertainment District (the area surrounding the Common Consumption Area). See the terminology, below for details.

Previously approved permits must have an application submitted for renewal by Jan. 31 of the following year.

Terminology

Common Consumption Area	Entertainment District	Promotional Association
The area for alcohol consumption	The area surrounding the common consumption area	The License Applicant
A designated area where patrons over the age of 21 can consume alcohol purchased from existing liquor-licensed establishments	An area within the Town that is no more than 100 acres and contains premises licensed as a tavern, hotel, restaurant, brew pub, or vintner's restaurant at the time the Entertainment District is created.	An association that: 1) has a board of directors; and 2) has at least one director from each licensed premises attached to the common consumption area on the board of directors, and; 3) agrees to submit annual reports by Jan. 31 each year tot he local licensing authority showing a detailed map of the boundaries of the common consumption area, with the area's hours of operation, list of attached licensed premises, list of directors and officers, and security arrangements.
Each Common Consumption Area must be located within an Entertainment District	Each Entertainment District must be approved by the Town of Erie Board of Trustees	Promotional Associations must be certified to receive a Common Consumption Area license

Required Documents

A Common Consumption Area Application must be submitted with all of the following required documents. All materials must be legible. Legal documents included as part of the application must be properly signed and executed. Checklist of the Application's Required Documents:

A Site Plan for the Common Consumption Area (CCA). Outline the boundaries of the proposed common consumption area in red. Label all attached liquor licensees and any businesses included in the CCA.
A CCA location map is required. Label the boundaries of the Entertainment District and show where the CCA will be.
Proof of possession of the premises and evidence of permission authorizing alcohol consumption from any non-liquor licensed premises located within the CCA (example: lease, deed, or other document showing you are allowed to occupy the space).
List of attached licensees with the following: liquor license number, list of any past liquor violations, and copy of any operational agreements.
Proof of liability insurance or a certificate of insurance naming the Town of Erie as an additional insured in a minimum amount of $1,000,000.00.
Documentation of how the applicant addresses the reasonable requirements of the neighborhood and the desires of the adult inhabitants as evidenced by petitions, written testimony, or otherwise.
Copy of any changes to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and/or directors and officers of the Promotional Association.
Hours of operation of the CCA for the upcoming calendar year.
List of the directors and officers of the Promotional Association.
Security arrangements are required within the CCA. Appropriate security includes evidence of training and approval of personnel, a detailed description of security arrangements, and the approximate location of all security personnel within the CCA during operating hours. All security within the CCA or its attached licensed premises shall complete the Server and Seller Training program established by the Director of the Liquor Enforcement Division of the Department of Revenue.
Street closure plan.
Annual Report is required each year when applying for re-certification.

Application Process

The Town Clerk's Office is responsible for the initial review of the application which takes about 7-10 business days.

The Town Clerk's Office will notify Promotional Associations (applicants) via email when a public hearing with the Licensing Authority is set. The notice packet will include a date and time for the hearing, posting requirements, and information about the hearing process. The hearing will be scheduled 30-60 days after the Town Clerk deems the application to be complete.

Upon approval by the Licensing Authority, the Town Clerk's office will send the license via email. Please pay particular attention to the 'Stay Compliant' information below.

Stay Compliant

To remain in compliance with the Common Consumption Area license the Promotional Associations (applicants) must:

Distribute and post your license.
- a) Provide a copy of the common consumption area license to each attached licensee.
- b) Each attached licensee must display the common consumption area license prominently next to the liquor license.
Maintain an insurance policyand notify the Town Clerk of any changes. Failure to do so could result in a suspension or revocation of the license if insurance is suspended, voided, or cancelled.
- a) The Promotional Association must maintain commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit of one million dollars ($1,000,000) combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage for each occurrence and name the Town of Erie as an additional insured. All policies must be kept in full force and effect for the term of the license.
- b) Changes made to the insurance policy should be shared with the Town Clerk's Office within 72 hours of the change.
Renew the license and certification every year.
- a) Business licenses expire annually. It is unlawful to operate a Common Consumption Area with an expired license. A Common Consumption Area renewal application must be submitted by Jan. 31 of each year.
Notify the Town Clerk's Office of any changes to the Promotional Association, Aommon Consumption Area, insurance, security, director/president, etc. within 5 days.

Apply

The Town Clerk requires applicants to submit a Common Consumption Application with all the required documents. Please email TownClerk@erieco.gov with any questions.

The renewal application is due on Jan. 31 of each year.

Fees

New Application Fee: $500.00
Annual Renewal Fee: $100.00

More Resources

Add or Remove a Licensee
If you wish to add or remove a licensee from a Common Consumption Area, the Licensing Authority uses the state's application to make modifications. there are no fees required, as changes are approved at the local level only. Please complete the Permit Application and Report of Changes DR 8442 to add or remove a licensee.
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Previously Approved Common Consumption Areas

The Briggs Entertainment Associates, LLC., as a Promotional Association (applicant), received an Order of the Downtown Entertainment District as a Common Consumption Area on May 7, 2021.