Reynoldsburg has become the latest city in central Ohio to establish a district where residents and visitors can enjoy alcoholic beverages outdoors.
The Reynoldsburg City Council has approved a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA), allowing individuals 21 and older to purchase alcohol from participating businesses and consume it while walking outdoors. The DORA will take effect on June 27, a month after the council’s approval.
The drinking district covers approximately 57 acres, primarily located along East Main Street from Davidson Drive to Waggoner Road, commonly known as Olde Reynoldsburg. Signage will be posted to delineate the DORA’s boundaries.
Participating businesses within the DORA will serve alcoholic beverages in branded plastic cups. Patrons must use these cups and are not permitted to bring their own beverages.
The DORA will operate annually from March 1 through Nov. 1, on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. The mayor can adjust these hours for holidays or special events, pending council approval.
The city will coordinate with the Reynoldsburg Police Department and Truro Township Fire Department to establish a safety plan, as well as implement a sanitation plan through the city’s public safety and parks and recreation departments, according to the legislation.
The ordinance requires the city council to evaluate the DORA every five years to decide whether to continue or dissolve it.
Designated outdoor drinking areas became legal in Ohio in 2015, providing an exception to open container laws. Reynoldsburg joins several other local cities with a DORA, including Bexley, Downtown Columbus, Dublin, Gahanna, Grove City, the Arena District, Hilliard, Worthington, Powell, and Westerville.