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TOPIC AREAS
Admission/Ticketed Entry
Events charging admission are subject to the
City of Bellingham's admission tax, equal to 5%
of the cost of admission. See Bellingham
Municipal Code 4.74 for more information.
Qualifying live music venues in the Downtown
and Fairhaven entertainment districts are
exempt from this tax.
Alcohol
Events which provide alcohol must adhere to all
Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
(WSLCB) requirements and regulations.
Special Occasion licenses are issued only to
non-profit societies or organizations holding an
event at which alcohol is sold by the drink. Your
event may require a different type of permit.
Visit the WSLCB website for more information:
http://www.liq.wa.gov/licensing/special-
licenses-and-permits.
A copy of the liquor license must be filed with
the City of Bellingham no less than 14 days
prior to the event.
Events which serve alcohol are likely to be
subject to additional security requirements and
require additional insurance coverage. See the
Insurance & Endorsement and Security topic
areas for more information.
Beer Garden
"Beer garden" is a general term that
encompasses sale of any alcoholic beverage in a
defined location associated with a Special
Event. Sale, service, and consumption of alcohol
must be confined to a designated location(s)
and shown on the Event Site Map submitted
with your application.
Beer gardens must comply with the following
conditions:
Must be separately fenced and have
only one public entrance.
Alcohol may only be served when food
is also available.
Gardens shall be enclosed with 6' high
chain link fencing where security will
not be present at all times. Where
security will be present at all times, 42"
high picket or other approved fencing
may be used. Fencing should deter
fence "hopping" and alcohol from being
passed through.
Beer garden staff shall ensure that all
persons who appear 30 years of age or
younger present appropriate
identification verifying they are at least
21 years old.
Sufficient lighting must be maintained
so that identification may be checked
and patrons may be observed for the
enforcement of liquor laws.
Events in City parks are prohibited from serving
alcohol unless explicit written permission from
the Director of Parks and Recreation is
provided.
