By Lookout Staff

March 20, 2025 -- The City on Thursday lifted restrictions on restaurants licensed to serve alcohol in an effort to boost business in the wake of the Palisades Fire.

The second supplement to the Emergency Order issued by the City Council suspends the regulations through April 30, allowing restaurants to cash in on the "March Madness" college basketball tournament.

“While we didn’t see physical fire damage in Santa Monica, our small businesses and local restaurants continue to feel the impacts of decreased economic activity, on top of inflation and other economic realities,” said Arminé Chaparyan, the City's director of Community Development.

“As a city, we are committed to continuing to ease the burden as much as possible and ensure our local economy can recover and grow.”

Under the second supplement signed by Interim City Manager Elaine Polachek, hotels can request an extension for Transient Occupancy Tax payments and local schools can enroll students displaced by the January fires.

In addition, the supplement reinstates enforcement of the City’s prohibition on short-term rentals effective April 19.

To help alcohol serving restaurants, the supplement suspends limitations on hours of operation and alcohol service, as well as prohibitions against serving alcohol in any disposable container.

It also lifts prohibitions on bottle service, the requirement that food be served with alcohol purchases and the limitations on the percentage of total gross revenues per year from alcohol sales.

In addition to making it easier to serve alcohol, the supplement lifts
restrictions on the number of television screens and screen size and allows "pool tables, video or amusement games, bowling, darts and other similar entertainment activities."

It also allows “pub crawl” events and lifts the limitations on the number of outdoor and indoor seats, as well as requirements that outdoor dining areas be used primarily for seated meal service and that meals must be provided with any entertainment.