Title
Restaurant Catering Endorsement and Event-Specific Liquor Approval
History
Title 7, Chapter 4 of the Village Code regulates retail liquor establishments and establishes local liquor-license classifications and operating requirements. The current code does not expressly establish a local authorization for an existing Orland Park restaurant liquor licensee to transfer alcoholic liquor from its licensed restaurant premises and serve it with catered food at a different private location within the Village.
The proposed amendment creates a local Restaurant Catering Endorsement for eligible restaurants that already hold a current Village restaurant liquor license and a corresponding State retail liquor license. The endorsement is intended to supplement, not replace, the underlying Village and State licenses. Each catered event would also require written Village approval and every State license or permit applicable to the event.
The proposal creates a narrow authorization for existing Village restaurants rather than a stand-alone off-site liquor license. Annual review establishes baseline eligibility, while event-specific review allows the Village to evaluate each host, location, service plan, State authorization, and insurance certificate.
The principal controls are: a current Village and State retail license; private invitation-only events; host-paid service; substantial food; BASSET-certified servers; restaurant control of inventory and service; event-location insurance; required State authorization; local event approval; and enforcement against the underlying restaurant license. Collectively, these controls allow legitimate restaurant catering while preventing the endorsement from becoming an unregulated temporary bar or mobile-bar license.
The proposal is consistent with the Village’s broader effort to modernize liquor classifications, clarify license privileges, and regulate operating models that are not expressly addressed by the existing code.
State-Law Framework
Illinois law separately recognizes a caterer retailer license and a special use permit license as State license classes. The appropriate State authorization may depend on the licensee’s business model and the nature of the event. The ordinance therefore does not designate one State license as universally applicable. Instead, it requires the endorsed restaurant to obtain whichever State license, permit, approval, and insurance coverage the Illinois Liquor Control Commission determines is required.
A State special use permit allows an existing Illinois-licensed retailer to transfer alcoholic liquor inventory from its licensed retail premises to a designated event site contingent upon local approval and event-location dram-shop insurance. The Illinois Liquor Control Act provides that a special use permit is issued for a specific period not exceeding 15 days per licensee per location in any 12-month period. The proposed local ordinance incorporates that statutory limitation when a special use permit is required and also provides that no single Village event approval may exceed 15 consecutive days.
Because local approval is generally required as part of the State application, the Village may issue conditional local approval. Conditional approval would not authorize alcohol service. Service could begin only after the restaurant files proof of the required State authorization and event-location insurance with the Village.
Proposal
The proposed ordinance would add Section 7-4-31 to establish an annual Restaurant Catering Endorsement. Eligibility would be limited to a restaurant licensee that:
-Holds a current Village restaurant liquor license authorizing the types of alcoholic liquor proposed to be served;
-Holds a corresponding current State of Illinois retail liquor license;
-Operates a restaurant at a fixed licensed premises within Orland Park;
-Maintains required business, food-service, health, and liquor-liability coverage;
-Is current on amounts owed to the Village; and
-Is in good standing with the Village and the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.
The endorsement would run concurrently with the underlying restaurant liquor license. Expiration, surrender, suspension, or revocation of the underlying license would automatically terminate or suspend the endorsement and outstanding event approvals, as applicable.
Private Events and Host-Paid Service
The endorsement would apply only to prearranged, invitation-only private events at a private residence, business, office, commercial establishment, or private event facility within Orland Park, with authorization from the person lawfully controlling the premises.
Public festivals, fairs, concerts, farmers’ markets, block parties, community celebrations, public events, and events on public property would remain subject to the Village’s existing special event and temporary liquor-license processes.
All alcoholic liquor must be paid for by the host under a written catering contract. The proposal prohibits cash bars, individual drink sales, drink tickets, bottle or package sales, guest-paid alcohol packages, guest reimbursement, mandatory donations tied to alcohol service, and charges measured by alcohol availability or consumption. A fixed charge for a bona fide private event would be permitted only when established independently of alcohol service and no portion is represented as payment for alcoholic liquor.
Food Service and Operating Requirements
The restaurant must provide substantial food throughout the alcohol-service period, and alcohol service must remain incidental and subordinate to food catering. Prepackaged snacks alone would not satisfy this requirement. The endorsement may not be used solely for bartending or alcohol-only catering.
Alcohol must remain under the restaurant’s control. Personnel furnishing or serving alcoholic liquor must be at least 21 years of age and BASSET certified. A responsible event manager must be present whenever alcoholic liquor is stored or served. The licensee must verify age, refuse service to minors and intoxicated persons, prevent over-service and disorderly conduct, and control alcohol within the approved event area.
Event-Specific Review
An endorsed restaurant must submit an event application at least 14 calendar days before the event. The application would identify the host, premises, dates, hours, expected attendance, food and alcohol plan, responsible manager, servers, State authorization, and event-location insurance. It would include the catering contract, property authorization, BASSET documentation, and any requested occupancy, fire, security, parking, tent, or life-safety information.
Village approval would be limited to the licensee, host, location, dates, hours, and service plan stated in the approval. Material changes would require additional Village approval. The Village could impose reasonable conditions based on the location and event circumstances.
Mobile Bars
The endorsement would not authorize an independent mobile-bar business, alcohol truck, tap truck, trailer, cart, roaming sale, door-to-door sale, or other public solicitation. Portable bar equipment could be used only when disclosed in the event application, approved by the Village, and held under the exclusive possession and control of the endorsed restaurant.
Enforcement
For licensing and enforcement purposes, the approved event location would be treated as an extension of the restaurant’s licensed premises during the approved event. A violation could support action against the event approval, the annual endorsement, and the underlying restaurant liquor license.
An authorized Village official could order alcohol service stopped to address an imminent health or safety threat or a material violation of the event approval. Any suspension or revocation of the annual endorsement would remain subject to the notice and hearing procedures applicable under Chapter 4.
Comparable Fees
Staff reviewed Illinois municipal fee structures. Aurora charges $250 annually for a catering endorsement. Belvidere charges $200 annually. Bloomington uses a $100 annual application fee and a $100 fee for each approved catering event. The average annual or initial charge among these three comparables is approximately $183.33.
Staff recommends a $200 annual endorsement fee and a $50 event-review fee. The annual amount is consistent with the identified municipal range. The event fee is intended to offset a portion of the location-specific administrative review.
Financial Impact
Revenue will depend on the number of restaurants obtaining an endorsement and the number of approved events. Each annual endorsement would generate $200, and each event application would generate $50. The fees are intended to offset a portion of those administrative costs.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to adopt the Ordinance as presented.
(Full motion - not necessary to be read)
I move to adopt an Ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 7, CHAPTER 4 OF THE ORLAND PARK VILLAGE CODE TO ESTABLISH A RESTAURANT CATERING ENDORSEMENT, subject to Village Attorney review.