Kane Co. may loosen some liquor service regulations

Liquor may flow a little earlier and more freely in unincorporated Kane County depending on how board members view a couple of suggested changes to local liquor laws.

One pending provision addresses the ability of businesses to serve liquor outside.

All outdoor liquor service requires some form of barrier or fencing to prevent patrons from taking the liquor off-site or into parking lots. But erecting such a barrier can be a problem for venues that host large outdoor events such as weddings.

The change would allow liquor service at outdoor wedding-type events without a barrier but also keep the barrier restriction in place for permanent beer gardens.

One potential hitch is the lack of any provision in the change limiting noise created by outdoor liquor events.

Liquor commission attorney Patrick Kinnally told the commission Tuesday they don't have the authority to address the noise issue within the liquor code.

"For now, it's going to have to be kind of the honor system with the operator of the establishment," Kinnally said. "Noise is a use issue, and that's not in the liquor code. That would have to come from our zoning people."

A second pending change would allow bars to open and packaged liquor sales at stores to begin as early as 9 a.m. on Sundays. Current code allows restaurants to serve liquor at 9 a.m. on Sundays with a special brunch permit.

Kinnally said only about half of the 47 municipalities adjacent to unincorporated areas allow 9 a.m. tavern openings and liquor service.

"Most of those that allow it are larger municipalities," Kinnally said. "But half think 9 a.m. is OK, and half don't. I don't know what that means."

The commission favored the creation of a "Sunday Endorsement" that cost $150. That way only liquor establishments that want the privilege of earlier hours of operation would be impacted by the increased cost of doing business.

The full county board will review the pending changes.