Hosting live entertainment is getting easier and more affordable for small businesses in Sacramento.
The city’s new Limited Entertainment Permit (LEP) allows small businesses with a capacity of 299 or fewer people to host live entertainment, such as comedy, open mic nights, concerts, DJs, and ticketed events.
City Council approved the LEP in April 2025, in an attempt to help boost Sacramento’s nightlife. The permit would also reduce costs and streamline the process for smaller venues looking to enhance their businesses.
The city is hosting an outreach and training to help those businesses better understand the permit and application process on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Dustin Hollingsworth, the assistant director of the Department of Convention and Cultural Services, said the permit will provide easier access for small businesses.
“One of the big things that we hope this does is it opens up what we refer to as the venue ladder,” he said. “The venue ladder being the places that a local band or local entertainment group can kind of make its way through the music ecosystem here in Sacramento.”
The LEP is intended for smaller venues such as bars, coffee shops, breweries, wineries, and restaurants.
The permit costs $750 for two years, compared to the city’s $2,200 general license.
“If you’re one of those other businesses, like for coffee shops, wineries, things in that nature, it’s ideal, the limited entertainment permit,” Hollingsworth said. “It only goes till 10 p.m. on weekdays and then 11 p.m. on weekends, as opposed to the general entertainment permit, which can go as late as 2 a.m. or even later in some cases.”
Hollingsworth mentioned businesses had a lot of questions since the city launched the permit, which is the reason they’re holding an outreach and training event. He said they haven’t gotten as many applications as they anticipated.
The outreach and training will be held at 300 Richards Blvd., Room 221.
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