State law establishes the number of liquor licenses that a city may issue. However, the number of licenses which may be granted under this chapter is limited to the number of licenses which were issued as of the effective date of this chapter, even if a larger number of licenses are authorized by law or election. The Council, in its sound discretion, may provide by ordinance that a larger number of licenses may be issued up to the number of licenses authorized by M.S. Chapter 340A, as it may be amended from time to time. If a larger number of licenses in a particular category has been authorized by a referendum held under the provisions of M.S. § 340A.413, Subd. 3, as it may be amended from time to time, but not all of them have been issued, the larger number of licenses is no longer in effect until the Council by ordinance determines that any or all of the licenses may be issued. The Council is not required to issue the full number of licenses that it has available.
(Prior Code, § 112.20)