Los Angeles Municipal Code § 103.106 Dance Halls, Dancing Clubs, Public Dances

(Title Amended by Ord. No. 115,510, Eff. 3/13/60.)

(a) Definitions. As used in this article:

1. “DANCE HALL” means any place where the holding or conducting of public dances is carried on.

2. “DANCING CLUB” means any club or association of persons which conducts dances, other than public dances for its members or bona fide guests at which a fee is charged, either for admission to such

dance or for dancing therein, or at which any collection or donation of money is made or received, or in which the amount of dues to be paid by each member is dependent upon attendance at such dances by such member.

3. “PUBLIC DANCE” means a gathering of persons in or upon any premises where dancing is participated in and to which premises the public is admitted.

(b) Permit required. No person shall conduct or maintain any dance hall, dancing club or public dance without written permit from the Board.

1. A permit shall be required to hold any public dance on one occasion.

(c) Floor Space. (Amended by Ord. No. 150,081, Eff. 10/8/77.) No permit shall be issued or be valid for any dance hall, dancing club or public dance for dancing to be held at any premises, or location which is a part thereof, that does not have designated and set aside for dancing purposes at each location identified therefor on the permit application for the premises, at least two hundred (200) square feet of dancing area, exclusive of hallway space. Nor shall a permit be issued unless the Board determines that the surface set aside and reserved for dancing at each specified location is sufficiently flat, level, hard and rigid to be suitable for dancing.

The application for permit shall specify each location on the premises, the dimensions and the nature of the surface designated for dancing. A surface area designated for dancing shall not be located in a manner which blocks or obstructs ingress or egress of patrons at the dance. All of each of the specified dancing areas set aside shall be reserved exclusively for dancing during the time any dance or dancing is taking place, or is scheduled to take place, at the location.

(d) Dance – When Liquor May Be Served. Alcoholic beverages may be served at a dance hall, dancing club, or at a public dance when the sale and service of such beverages is permitted by State law and not otherwise prohibited by this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 152,531. Eff. 8/6/79.)

(Added by Ord. No. 141,580, Eff. 4/2/71.)

(a) Social Contact Concierge Establishment Defined. As used in this article, “Social Contact Concierge Establishment” shall mean any dance hall or place conducting public dances where partners are provided for dancing or social contacts by those conducting, managing, maintaining or operating such public dances for patrons or guests and for which such patrons or guests pay a fee or other consideration.

(b) Permit Required. No person shall conduct, manage, maintain or operate a Social Contact Concierge Establishment without a written permit from the Board.

(c) Floor Space. No permit shall be issued for the conduct of any Social Contact Concierge Establishment having less than 400 square feet of contiguous area set aside and reserved exclusively for dancing, such area to be exclusive of hallway space.

(d) Hours of Operation. No Social Contact Concierge Establishment shall operate between the hours of 2:00 o’clock A.M. and 6:00 o’clock A.M. of any day.

(e) Alcoholic Beverages – Prohibited. No permit shall be issued at any establishment that serves or offers for sale any alcoholic beverages.

(f) Possession of Alcoholic Beverages Prohibited. No person shall possess an alcoholic beverage in or on the premises of a Social Contact Concierge Establishment.

(g) Employees – Social Contact Concierge Dancers. No person under the age of 18 years shall be employed as a dancer, social contact concierge dancer or instructor. (Amended by Ord. No. 144,116, Eff. 12/31/72.)

(h) Illumination. The illumination shall conform with the provisions of Section 41.48 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

(i) Public Hearings. The Board may require a public hearing prior to taking action on an application for a permit pursuant to this section. The applicant shall cause to be published a notice of public hearing two times at intervals of not less than 5 days within the 21-day period following the filing of an application, in a newspaper of general circulation in the district where the business is to be located. Furthermore, the Board may give notice by mail to all property owners within three hundred feet of the proposed business. The Board shall cause a suitable public notice to be posted at the location where the business is to be conducted. The applicant shall bear all expense involved in mailing, printing, publishing and posting such notice. Such public notice shall conform to the rules and regulations adopted by the Board and shall be designed to inform the public as to the nature of the business to be engaged in, its location, the names of the applicant or applicants, the time of the public hearing, and the right of persons objecting to be heard. Any interested person may file written protests or objections, or appear at the hearing. The Board shall give consideration to all such protests in reaching a decision on such application.

(j) Prior Operation. Any business activity that qualifies under the Social Contact Concierge Establishment Ordinance and is currently operating with a Dance Hall Café Permit at the time this ordinance first becomes effective shall be exempt from Subsection (i) of said Social Contact Concierge Establishment Ordinance and shall be exempt from the original permit fee. The annual fee shall be effective when applicable.