Oxford’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area

On June 16, 2020, the Oxford City Council passed a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) for the Uptown Business District. [Section 4301.82 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) authorizes municipalities under 35,000 in population to create DORAs.]

On May 17, 2022, City Council voted to make DORA year-round.  After a public hearing on July 19th, 2022, City Council officially adopted a resolution to expand the boundary of the Uptown Oxford DORA area to include four additional city blocks.

The DORA program allows patrons to purchase an alcoholic beverage from a local establishment and carry their beverage outdoors in a designated area. The creation of DORA was a result of citizen and business owner requests. This program will allow patrons to support local businesses and enjoy an alcoholic beverage while sitting at sidewalk tables, enjoying the Uptown Park, or walking around within the boundary. The City Manager’s office has conducted research with many other Ohio communities with operations DORAs and all have reported that the program spurs economic activity and none have reported major problem behaviors as a result of the program. 

Program Outline

The DORA is seven days a week from 11 AM - 11 PM. 

Participating Bars & Restaurants will provide a special compostable DORA cup that may be used outside.  DORA participants get their cups when they purchase a beverage from a local business. The businesses purchase the cups from Enjoy Oxford.

dora cup
dora bin

DORA boundary sign - websitePatrons will need to empty their cups and place them in composting bin or trash before entering a new establishment. They cannot enter one bar with a beverage from another location. A new cup is required for each location. 

The City of Oxford Service Department will manage the compost and trash collection in the Uptown Business District. The Oxford Police Department will provide police coverage and enforcement. Extra sanitation and police staff may be brought in for especially busy time periods. 

Boundary for DORA

The boundary for DORA is:

  • The East side of Elm Street from Church Street to Walnut Street
  • The North side of Walnut Street from Elm Street to Campus Avenue
  • The West side of Campus Avenue from Walnut Street to Church Street
  • The South side of Church Street from Elm Street to Campus Avenue
The area covers approximately 39.17 acres. There are signs denoting entering/exiting the DORA area. [See the bottom of the page for an update on the boundary.]
DORA Boundary Map 2

Rules & Best Practices

Follow our guidelines to ensure a safe and fun DORA experience without getting the OPD involved! 

  • Do drink responsibly, please! Rules pertaining to public intoxication, indecency, noise, and driving while intoxicated still apply.
  • Do respect the boundaries - when you see a sign that says you are about to leave the DORA area, go ahead and finish your drink and throw the cup away.
  • Don’t refill your DORA cup - they are single use only.
  • Don’t bring your own drinks - all beverages must be purchased from a liquor serving establishment that is currently participating in the DORA program.
  • Don’t walk around with a purchased drink in any container EXCEPT the designated Oxford DORA cup. 
  • Do HAVE FUN! Grab a drink and challenge your friends to hacky sack in the park or participate in some retail therapy.
DORA Drink 1-M

Questions?

If you have questions or comments regarding this program, you may contact the City Manager’s office at 513-524-5200. For more information or to view the list of participating businesses, see Enjoy Oxford's article, here.