Ada County’s signature requirements for alcohol and wine sales are staying on the books for now.
After months of tense discussions between the Ada County Commissioners, the Idaho Wine Commission and residents of the small wine region in the Eagle Foothills, the wine commission has stepped back from lobbying for changes to the county’s regulations. Instead, the group is now considering state legislation to roll back regulations on wine and beer sales in Idaho.
“We are going to continue to work to promote Idaho’s wine community in and out of the state,” Idaho Wine Commission Executive Director Moya Dolsby wrote in an email. “We are exploring the idea of doing legislation. As you know that can be a long process.”
Ada County is the only county in Idaho with an ordinance on its books requiring anyone who wishes to sell beer or wine in unincorporated areas of the county to obtain 75% of the signatures of property owners within 1,000 feet of the proposed business. The Idaho Wine Commission approached Ada County earlier this year requesting county commissioners repeal the ordinance because of the burden it puts on locally owned wineries hoping to create tasting rooms along with their vineyards.