Entertainment Zones

people outside in the street under patio lights

What are Entertainment Zones?

Sacramento’s Entertainment Zone program allows approved commercial districts to create designated areas where adults age 21 and older may purchase alcoholic beverages to-go from participating licensed businesses and consume them within the zone during permitted special events.

Entertainment Zones are intended to support local businesses, encourage economic activity, and create vibrant, well-managed public spaces.

Entertainment Zones are only active during approved special events. An approved Special Event Permit is required before an Entertainment Zone may be activated.

How Entertainment Zones Work

During an approved Entertainment Zone activation, participating licensed bars, restaurants, breweries, and wineries may sell alcoholic beverages to-go for consumption within the designated zone.

Zone boundaries must be clearly identified through signage, barriers, sidewalk markings, or other approved measures so participants can easily understand where beverages may be consumed.

Sacramento uses a two-tiered approach to establishing and operating Entertainment Zones:

The City Council establishes each zone’s geographic boundaries and allowable operating hours.
City staff review and approve a management plan that establishes requirements for operating the zone safely and responsibly.

Each activation must also receive the permits and approvals required for the associated special event.

Entertainment Zone Management Plans

Each Entertainment Zone operates under an approved management plan addressing public safety, event operations, neighborhood compatibility, and quality-of-life considerations.

The City’s Office of Nighttime Economy works with zone stakeholders and the Entertainment Services Division to develop and administer these plans.

Key elements of each management plan include:

Designating an Entertainment Zone Lead to serve as the primary point of contact and maintain the zone website and event calendar.
Identifying the zone’s geographic boundaries and allowable hours of operation.
Ensuring compliance with all permits and approvals required to activate the zone
Maintaining a security plan approved by the Sacramento Police Department
Reporting specified calls for service or violent incidents within 24 hours.
Establishing age-verification procedures to help ensure alcoholic beverages are consumed only by individuals age 21 and older
Requiring participating businesses to use approved containers for alcoholic beverages sold to-go.

Sacramento’s Entertainment Zone Program

The City of Sacramento established its Entertainment Zone program in June 2025 and has since expanded the program to additional commercial districts throughout the city.

California Senate Bill 969, which took effect in 2024, authorizes local jurisdictions to establish Entertainment Zones by ordinance.

Sacramento’s program was developed by the Office of Nighttime Economy in partnership with the Entertainment Services Division. Entertainment Zone requirements are established in Chapter 12.50 of the Sacramento City Code.