Cathedral City, CA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Section 11.09.015 is the Cathedral City public drinking ban. Paragraph A makes it unlawful to drink, use or consume any alcoholic beverage on any public street, sidewalk, highway, road, lane or alley, in or upon any park or recreation area, or on any other publicly owned property that is not licensed for on-premises consumption by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Paragraph B reaches privately owned property that is open to the use or patronage of the general public at the time, unless the drinker has the express or implied permission or invitation of the owner, lessee or other person in charge. Section 11.09.010 defines an alcoholic beverage as any liquid or solid containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer with one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume that is fit for beverage purposes. The stated purpose in § 11.09.005 is to protect health, safety and welfare and to protect property values from nuisance activity tied to alcoholic beverages.

Section 11.09.025 adds an open container rule around liquor stores. Every retail package off-sale licensee must post its licensed premises, any adjacent parking lot other than a privately owned residential parking lot, and the adjacent public sidewalk with a sign stating that it is unlawful to possess an opened, seal-broken or partially emptied container there and that all violations will be reported to the Cathedral City Police Department. Paragraph B makes it unlawful for any person holding such a container to enter, be, or remain on a premises posted under the section.

Section 11.09.030 separately declares a building or place used for unlawfully selling, serving or giving away alcoholic liquor a nuisance that the city attorney can abate under Penal Code Section 11200 and following.