Chapter 5.32 — DANCES AND DANCE HALLS

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Club dance. Any dance held by a dancing club.

Dancing club. Any club or association of persons which conducts dances, other than public dances, for its members or bona fide guests more often than once per month.

Private room or booth. Any room, booth, alcove or enclosure any part of which is not clearly visible at all times from the main dance floor located upon the same floor upon which such private room or booth is located.

Public dance. A gathering of persons in or upon any premises where dancing is participated in either as the main purpose for such gathering or as an incident to some other purpose, and to which premises the public is admitted.

Public dance hall. A place where dancing is conducted, whether for a profit or not, and to which the public is admitted, either with or without charge, or at which the public is allowed to participate in the dancing, either with or without charge.

Teenage dance. A non-profit public dance or club dance for minors between the ages of 13 and 19 years of age to which no person 21 years of age or over or under 13 years of age, is admitted as a participant. Teenage dances shall require neither a deposit nor a fee and shall be exempt provided the person or organization sponsoring or conducting such teenage dance shall deliver to the City Clerk either personally or by first class mail, postage prepaid, the time and place of such dance at least three days in advance of such dance. (Prior code § 14-1)

• A. Required—Application Generally—Hearing. Except as provided in subsection B, no person may conduct or assist in conducting any public dance hall, dancing club or any other public dance within the City unless under and by authority of a permit issued by the City Council. Each application for a permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be placed on the agenda of the City Council by the City Clerk as soon as possible after an application meeting all requirements of Chapter 5.04 is filed with the City Clerk. The City Council shall thereafter hold a special hearing on the issuance of the permit, giving the applicant at least five days' written notice of the time and place of the hearing, unless the applicant appears before the City Council and waives the notice.

• B. Exemptions. A non-profit organization or non-profit group of persons, charitable, religious, social or fraternal organizations, the City or County or State or park and recreation groups and organizations thereof, patriotic organizations including organizations connected with civil defense, State militia, State Guard and organizations organized exclusively for social, religious and charitable purposes, schools and educational institutions and groups, and where such dances are not customarily carried on as a commercial enterprise and not more often than once a week and where in each instance the person or organization claiming exemption delivers to the City Clerk, either personally or by first class mail, postage prepaid, a notice of the time and place of such dance at least three days in advance of the dance, shall be exempt from the permit requirements of this chapter.

• C. Contents of Application. In addition to the requirements of Chapter 5.04, the application for a public dance hall, public dance or dancing club shall set forth the following facts:

  1. The name and residence of the applicant, and if any applicant is a firm, the names and residences of the partners thereof; if any applicant is an association, the names and residences of the officers thereof; and if an applicant is a corporation, the names and residences of the officers and directors thereof.

  2. The place for which the license is desired or in which any dances are to be held.

  3. The number and date of the dances to be held under the license.

4. Whether the application is for a new license or for the renewal of an existing license.

(Prior code §§ 14-2— 14-4)

A permit for a teenage dance shall be issued only to an adult sponsoring group which has been approved by the City Council.

(Prior code § 14-5)