Adult Beverage Ordinance 19030

The Rural Areas and farmland across King County are currently being threatened by King County’s Adult Beverage Ordinance 19030 that allows retail alcohol and entertainment businesses to operate in protected rural and agricultural areas. The Sammamish Valley is Ground Zero - a handful of bars and event centers are already operating illegally outside of the urban boundaries. Many more will be established across King County rural and agricultural areas if the Ordinance is allowed to stand. There is plenty of space for these businesses inside the cities.

The result of allowing bars and event centers to operate in the Rural Areas and farmland where there is no commercial infrastructure is already on display in the Sammamish Valley: increased traffic congestion due to lack of turn lanes; parking in residential neighborhoods and on farmland; pedestrian safety issues; overflowing septic systems; water runoff that damages agricultural areas and rivers; lighting and noise pollution; and more environmental impacts.

The Status link below provides a reverse chronological list of all the major steps since the Ordinance was first introduced by King County Executive Dow Constantine. Key documents are contained at the other links below relative to our efforts to overturn the Ordinance.

• Status

• SV Winery and Beverage Study

• SV Wine Study Action Report

• Proposed by King County

• Project Overlay A

• Legal Arguments Against

• Other Opposition

• Adult Beverage Ordinance 19030

• GMHB Challenge

• Superior Court

• Court of Appeals Division 1

• WA Supreme Court

• WBD Moratorium

• Moratorium Extension

• Moratorium Extension 2

• General FAQ

• Ordinance Passage Q&A