Nicholasville, KY Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Section 12-9, Use and/or possession of alcoholic beverages on city property, applies to land the City of Nicholasville owns. By its terms it does not address private property. Alcoholic beverages carry the meaning given in KRS 241.010(2), and the Alcoholic Beverage Administrator is the duly appointed alcoholic beverage control administrator of the City of Nicholasville.

Subsection (b) says no person shall possess, sell, deliver or consume alcoholic beverages at any time while on City of Nicholasville property, which includes, but is not limited to, city parks and other recreational areas other than the Performance Park, Rock Fence Park, parking lots, and municipal buildings. Performance Park and Rock Fence Park are then governed by subsection (c).

Subsection (c) provides that within the confines of Performance Park and Rock Fence Park, no person shall possess, sell, deliver or consume any alcoholic beverages except when authorized by a permit issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Administrator. Performance Park is the rectangular parcel bounded by South Main Street, North York Street and West Maple Street, Parcel Number 058-10-36-010.00. Rock Fence Park is the irregularly shaped parcel at the corner of North Third Street and West Oak Street, parcel number 058-10-13-034.00.

Subsection (d) narrows Rock Fence Park further: possession, sale, delivery or consumption there is prohibited except as part of a civic event. The code defines a civic event as a festival, show, performance or similar gathering held with the encouragement and involvement or at the behest of the governmental entities of the City of Nicholasville or Jessamine County.

The section lists four separate acts: possess, sell, deliver and consume. Holding a container is covered, not only drinking from it. The section carries amendment history through Ord. No. 040-2021, 4-26-21.