2 security guards on duty, video surveillance: Seattle passes new safety regulations for after-hours lounges

The Seattle City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved new safety rules for lounges open past 2 a.m. The regulations are aimed at curbing a trend of violence associated with the venues, which have been at the center of several shootings and fights.

The new regulations require after-hour lounges to have two security officers, video surveillance, and a safety plan. Establishments will have until June 1 to turn in a timeline for when they plan to have the new safety features installed.

More than 35 shootings have been connected to these lounges and more than 800 shell casings have been found over the past five years, according to a presentation from the Seattle City Attorney’s office.

“When people go out to these nightclub establishments they should expect to have a good time. They should also expect to come home at night and feel safe, so should the workers and security guards,” Councilmember Rob Saka said.

Erin Goodman, the Executive Director of the SoDo Business Improvement Area, also spoke in support of the new rules.

“These businesses often hide behind the guise of legitimacy, leaving patrons unaware that they are entering spaces where safety measures are nonexistent,” she said.

She added that the bill give businesses a pathway for legally operating after 2 a.m. while prioritizing safety.

“It is designed to close the gap between those who want to provide late night entertainment legally and safely, and the dangerous, unregulated venues," Goodman said. "It creates a safer environment for all."

Capri Bar and Restaurant, an after-hours lounge in Rainier Beach, was shut down by the Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes on April 7, after the city declared the location as a “chronic nuisance property.” Since July of 2024, police were called to the business six times due to gun violence. The lounge was also connected to a shooting that left two people dead on March 30 of this year.

The City Attorney’s office told KUOW that the bar voluntarily decided to permanently close its doors following its designation as a "chronic nuisance."

The bill now heads to Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s desk for a signature.

Correction notice, Thursday, 4/17/25 at 9:37 a.m.: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Capri Bar and Restaurant had been shut down by the City Attorney's Office. This story has been corrected to reflect that it was Police Chief Shon Barnes who shut the business down.