Minneapolis Liquor License Restriction Lifted

Many more Minneapolis restaurants can apply for liquor licenses after a change in the city’s charter. Previously, only restaurants located within a seven-acre commercially zoned area could serve liquor, which limited other establishments to offering only wine and beer to patrons.

Last November, 72 percent of voters supported repeal of the spacing restrictions. City officials report that so far 10 restaurants have applied for licenses and another 60 are eligible. They expect the number of license applications to increase in the spring when liquor licenses are up for renewal.

The change could encourage more restaurants to open in residential parts of the city. Past concerns from residents about liquor licenses have focused mainly on noise and parking, and city leaders want to facilitate community forums to address these issues.