LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Some late-night Louisville businesses will now be required to hire licensed security guards after Metro Council approved a new public safety ordinance Thursday.
The measure passed in a nearly unanimous vote and applies to businesses open between 2-5 a.m. that repeatedly become the site of criminal activity.
The ordinance was drafted by Councilmember Tammy Hawkins, who said the issue is personal for her.
"There's no way we can have a better city unless we all work together effectively," Hawkins said. "I watched my brother protect citizens, clubs, people, employees for years, and, one day, somebody drove down Broadway and shot him in the head."
The ordinance's passage followed months of debate over late-night safety, including violent incidents at businesses along the Bardstown Road corridor and other parts of Louisville.
A shooting outside Atomic last month raised new concerns about late-night crowds after the bar’s liquor license was temporarily suspended. The license was later reinstated after the business agreed to implement additional security measures.
What the ordinance requires
Under the ordinance, most businesses can be cited after two enforcement actions within a year, while hotels would need five. An enforcement action is not limited to an arrest — it can include a citation or a police report. Once cited, businesses must hire licensed security guards for a period ranging from 90 days to one year, depending on the severity of the crime.
The required security period breaks down as follows:
- One year: If a deadly weapon was used
- Six months: For violent crimes without a weapon
- 90 days: For non-violent crimes such as theft
Families speak out
Charlotte Morris Cochran was among those who urged council members to pass the ordinance. In October 2025, her husband, Andrew Cochran, was shot outside Club Cedar in the Russell neighborhood just before midnight. His death marked the second fatal shooting in less than a year at that business.
"If they had security in the club, I feel like this wouldn't have happened," Morris Cochran said.
Morris Cochran said the vote brought her to tears.
"I'm just glad that this was able to be passed," she said. "It's been a long time going and it finally passed."
The proposal drew opposition from the Louisville Hospitality Association, which argued the ordinance unfairly targets bars and restaurants and said existing laws already give the city authority to address businesses linked to crime.
The ordinance takes effect immediately.
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