El Monte, CA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

12 (Alcoholic Beverages) contains three overlapping prohibitions. 010(A) makes it unlawful to consume any alcoholic beverage, or possess an opened, resealed, or partially emptied bottle or can of one, on any public street, alleyway, sidewalk, parkway, park, building, lavatory, parking lot, auto park, or building lobby/entrance within the city. 030 separately bars possessing an open container in or upon any public street, sidewalk, public park, public hall or other public place, or other place open to the public, including at premises hosting a public dance, regardless of whether the person is inside a vehicle.

020 adds a narrower rule for retail off-sale liquor stores: no one may enter or remain on the posted premises, adjacent posted parking lot, or adjacent posted public sidewalk of an off-sale licensee while carrying an opened alcohol container, and those establishments must post visible notices at their business license renewal or upon opening. 010(B) allows consumption inside the enclosed interior of a city-owned public building by an authorized group serving alcohol under a city-approved event, subject to the facility use policy and any state ABC permit.

040 exempts city-owned property that has been leased or licensed to a specific tenant, whose alcohol use is instead governed by the lease terms and state law.