East Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 5.56 Public Dances

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meaning set forth in this section:

"Public dance" means any dance to which the general public is admitted upon the payment of any fee or charge of admission whatever, or for which tickets, invitations, or other admission devices are sold, or offered for sale, or which is given or conducted in connection with the sale of food in restaurants, taverns, cafes or hotel dining rooms to which the general public is admitted, or given or conducted in connection with the provisions of other amusement or entertainment for profit.

"Public dance hall" means any hall, room or place in which a public dance is held.

(Prior code § 8-1.601)

No person shall give or conduct a public dance within the city without first obtaining a permit therefor from the license board.

(Prior code § 8-1.602)

The provisions of Section 5.56.020 shall not apply to dances held by bona fide patriotic, religious, or fraternal associations, or organizations, or dances held in connection with patriotic or holiday celebrations or festivals, nor to school dances held on a school campus.

(Prior code § 8-1.603)

In addition to any other information required by this chapter, applicant shall submit the following information with his/her application:

A. A sketch or outline, with approximate measurements showing the location and size of the dance area with respect to any counter or bar, or stools in connection therewith, and showing the size of the dance area;

B. The number and date of dances to be held under the permit;

C. A statement of the ownership of the realty of which the premises for which a permit is sought are a part.

(Prior code § 8-1.604)

Each application for a public dance permit shall be accompanied by the fingerprints of the applicant upon a form issued by the chief of police of East Palo Alto. In the event the public dance is to be operated by a partnership, fingerprints of all partners shall be presented.

(Prior code § 8-1.605)

No permit shall be issued for the giving of any public dance at any establishment having less than one hundred twenty (120) square feet of dance floor set aside for dancing, or having a dance floor within four and one-half feet of any counter or bar or stools in connection therewith.

(Prior code § 8-1.606)

Before the license board shall grant any permit under this chapter, the application therefor shall be submitted to the chief of police for a report as to the moral character of the applicant; to the city fire marshal for a report as to the safety of the premises, and to the city health officer as to the sanitary conditions of the premises.

(Prior code § 8-1.607)

No person conducting any public dance, or any agent, employee or representative of any such person shall violate or permit the violation of any of the following regulations:

A. The premises on which any public dance is being conducted shall be well lighted.

B. No immoral, obscene or disorderly dancing, conduct or behavior shall be permitted.

C. No person under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotics shall be admitted or permitted to remain in or upon the premises.

D. At all times during the holding of any dance, all doors leading from or opening into the place where the dance is held are to remain unlocked, unbarred and unfastened.

E. The chief of police, police officers and any constable of the city may enter free of charge any public dance hall for the purpose of inspection.

F. No person shall conduct or assist in conducting any public dance between the hours of two a.m. and six p.m. on any day.

(Prior code § 8-1.608)

Every person conducting any public dance hall, who owns, operates or controls any parking lot adjacent to such public dance hall and used in connection therewith, shall adequately and uniformly light such parking lot.

(Prior code § 8-1.609)

The chief of police, police officers and constables of the city shall have the power to stop any public dance or close any premises for which a permit has been issued under this chapter for disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, obscene or indecent behavior, or for violation of any law or ordinance.

(Prior code § 8-1.610)

At every public dance and public dance hall having a capacity of greater than two hundred (200) persons, not less than one employee for the first two hundred (200) persons and one additional employee for each additional one hundred (100) persons who could be accommodated, whether actually present or not, shall be constantly in attendance during the entire time that any dance is in progress and shall devote their entire time and attention to keeping order and seeing to it that all provisions of this chapter are complied with.

(Prior code § 8-1.611)

For all public dance permits, the following fees shall be charged and collected:

A. For a permit for a single dance: ten dollars ($10.00);

B. For a permit for a series of dances extending over a period of one month or less: twenty dollars ($20.00);

C. For a permit for a series of dances extending over a period of more than one month and not to exceed three months: five dollars ($5.00);

D. For a permit for a series of dances extending over a period of more than three months: one hundred dollars ($100.00) per year.

(Prior code § 8-1.612)