Rules for alcohol on civic campus

Rules for alcohol on civic campus
Posted on 07/20/2023
Beer and wine in glassesQ: Can you BYOB to the Lenexa Public Market? A: No.

Q: Are coolers allowed?
A: No. 

The City Council amended Ordinance 5608 during their Sept. 7, 2021, meeting. Originally passed in 2017, the ordinance established a common consumption area for both indoor and outdoor spaces on the Lenexa civic campus.

Common consumption areas are permitted under K.S.A. 41-2659, et. seq. which allows a city or county to establish an area where the possession and consumption of alcoholic liquor is allowed pursuant to a common consumption area permit, which the Public Market has held since 2017.

The ordinance amendment extended the hours and slightly modified the boundary of the common consumption area to align with state law and allow for better event flow and daily operations. Additionally, the amendment allows only those who have booked rentable space within the civic campus to bring in their own alcohol specifically for private functions. This is only allowed with prior written approval of the City Manager or designee and those renting private space within the campus are highly encouraged to use the on-site licensed merchants to meet the needs of their private event when booking space. The amendment is aimed at addressing specific circumstances where a Market merchant is unable to accommodate a private function.

This part of the amendment was misinterpreted by several media outlets who indicated that the general public could now bring alcohol purchased elsewhere to the Lenexa Public Market and the common consumption area. This is not the case and alcohol purchased outside the Public Market and common consumption area is still generally prohibited.

Licensed Public Market merchants will continue to sell alcohol as part of their normal operations.

If you have questions about this ordinance, please contact Mike Nolan.
Updated July 20, 2023
Published Sept. 9, 2021