CARLSBAD, Calif. (KGTV) - A new law, passed unanimously by the Carlsbad City Council, will allow any place with a license to serve food and alcohol to also host live entertainment.
Previously, only places that served primarily food were allowed to have live music or shows.
"What we’re looking at is more of the solo artist, the pianist, more of the acoustic music that we’re seeing a trend in the rise all over," says City Village Manager Claudia Huerta.
The city hadn't updated its live entertainment rules since 2017. Huerta says business owners had requested the change to keep pace with other similar coastal cities. Now, they can apply for a permit to have live entertainment, including music, DJs or other performers like hypnotists and comedians.
"The village is a special place," says Zac Markham, who owns Humble Olive Oils on State Street. "I really think this will raise bar of the village and make it a place to be for Carlsbad and all of our county."
Not everyone is excited about the change. Some neighbors worry that more music will lead to more people and more problems, especially late at night.
"The whole purpose of that is to get more business, right? I understand, that’s a valid business reason," says Carlsbad Barrio resident Simon Angel. "But is it appropriate for the communities that are going to be impacted by it? We already have people walking through at night. Sometimes they stop and relieve themselves or they get sick in people's front yards."
Huerta says the city is working to make sure that doesn't happen. Every application for an entertainment permit will be reviewed by the police. And the City Council will revisit the program after 6 months to make sure it hasn't created any problems.
The new ordinance goes into effect in April. However, Huerta says the Village still has to adapt its master plan before the change can take effect. That may not happen until the fall.
