Alcoholic beverages: licenses: County of San Luis Obispo.

Assembly Member Addis's legislation creates a targeted exception to California's population-based liquor licensing system, authorizing up to 10 new on-sale general licenses for restaurants in San Luis Obispo County. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control may issue these additional licenses at a rate of no more than five per year, specifically for bona fide public eating places within the county.

The measure establishes strict parameters around license transfers and resale. Licenses issued under this provision cannot be transferred outside San Luis Obispo County or to establishments that do not qualify as bona fide public eating places. The legislation also caps resale prices at the original fee paid to the department. Current holders of seasonal on-sale general licenses retain eligibility to apply for these new permits.

The bill's findings cite San Luis Obispo County's steady population growth coupled with exponential increases in tourism as factors necessitating additional alcohol licenses beyond standard population-based allocations. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control maintains authority to designate these permits as on-sale general licenses for special use, though such designation does not modify the privileges or restrictions established in the legislation.