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Community Entertainment Districts

Community Entertainment Districts ("CEDs") are bounded areas that include entertainment, retail, educational, sporting, social, cultural, or arts establishments within close proximity to hotels, restaurants, retail sales establishments, enclosed shopping centers, museums, performing arts theaters, movie theaters, sports facilities, or other community services.

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There are 26 CEDs across Cincinnati as of 2024, the most recently established being Mt. Auburn and Mt. Washington, established in 2022.

Background

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State law limits the number of liquor permits allowed within a jurisdiction by type of permit based upon the population of the jurisdiction. The type of permit most often used by full-service restaurants that wish to serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks, is known as a D-5 permit. As the supply of such permits becomes constrained, the cost and availability of permits can become an impediment to the establishment of new restaurants. The Department of Community and Economic Development ("DCED") can establish CEDs to create a new, geographically limited allocation of permits that are, in most ways, comparable to the D-5 permit.​

 

Goal​

 

CEDs can help smaller or younger neighborhoods with less established business districts with activation and expansion of economic opportunity for small businesses.

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Mt Washington's CED

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Mt Auburn's CED

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OTR's Two CEDs

Who Can Apply?

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  • Mixed-Use and Commercial Developers

  • Non-Profits, Community Councils, Community Development Corporations

  • Neighborhood Groups

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Overview of Process

 

Applicants submit a CED application and accompanying materials at the link below. DCED staff reviews the application for completeness, before submitting to the City Manager’s Office for approval. If approved, the CED application is submitted to the City’s Law Department, where the Ordinance is drafted and submitted to the Mayor’s Office for review. Legally, the Mayor’s Office must deliver the CED application to Clerk of Council (with approval or disapproval recommendation) within 30 days of receiving it. Then, within 30 days of the Clerk of Council receiving it, the City must publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation for two consecutive weeks. City Council must vote on approval or disapproval of the application within 75 days of Mayor’s initial receipt of the CED application. Once approved, the City submits the Ordinance and CED materials to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control.​

Timeline​

 

Applications are received on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year.

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Other 'Need to Knows'

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  • The CED designation has no effect other than to create the new pool of restaurant liquor permits within that CED area.

  • The CED does not in any fashion limit the City’s normal land use, zoning, and other regulatory oversights.

  • The CED does not exempt such establishments from any of the other state requirements and operational controls that apply to liquor serving establishments.

  • CEDs are NOT open container law. Not to be confused with DORAs, the DORA law is separate and distinct from the CED law.

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Interested? Have questions? For more information, contact:

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Diana Vakharia, diana.vakharia@cincinnati-oh.gov

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