Rohnert Park Municipal Code Ch. 5.16 Dances and Dance Halls

Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the following terms, as used in this chapter shall mean or include:

A. "Dance" means any gathering of persons in or upon any premises other than a private home or residence or a class in which instruction in dancing is given for hire, where dancing is participated in. Dances, as defined herein, shall be classified as follows: "General dance" includes any dance to which persons eighteen years of age or older are admitted. "Special dance" includes any dance to which no persons fifteen years of age or younger or twenty-one years of age or older are admitted as participants.

B. "Dance hall" means any building or place in which a dance is held.

C. "Person" includes any person, copartner-ship, firm, corporation, association, club or any legal entity.

(Ord. 112 § 1, 1969)

It is unlawful for any person to own, conduct, operate, or maintain or to cause or to permit to be conducted, operated, or maintained, any dance hall or to conduct, promote, or sponsor or to cause or to permit to be conducted, promoted, or sponsored any dance within the city without first having obtained a permit from the chief of police.

Any place or premises where a dance is to be held must conform to all existing ordinances of the city and laws of the state of California.

(Ord. 112 § 2, 1969)

Application for a dance permit or dance hall permit shall be made in writing to the chief of police and shall be made in such form and shall contain such information as the chief of police shall require. Every applicant for a permit may be required to furnish such evidence of good moral character as the chief of police shall require. In granting or denying a permit, the chief of police shall give particular consideration to the peace, order, and moral welfare of the public; provided, however, that only one class of dance, as enumerated in Section 5.16.010(A), shall be permitted in any dance hall on the same day up to and including two a.m. of the following day.

The chief of police may consider but is not limited to, the following factors in issuing or granting a permit:

A. The moral character of the applicant;

B. Suitability of the premises in relation to the surrounding neighborhood;

C. Number of permits in the immediate vicinity;

D. Physical suitability of the premises with reference to floor space and lighting;

E. Proximity to bar facilities, if any;

F. Type of dance to be conducted.

(Ord. 112 § 3, 1969)

Any decision of the chief of police either granting or denying an application for a dance or dance hall permit may be appealed to the city council by any interested person within ten days after such decision. The city council may, but shall not be required to hold a public hearing on such appeal.

(Ord. 112 § 4, 1969)

Every person granted a dance hall permit by the chief of police shall pay to the city clerk a license fee of one hundred dollars annually, payable in advance.

The license fee prescribed in this section is due and payable on a calendar year basis, starting January 1, 1969. Fees for new licenses issued prior to January 1, 1969, or after the first day of January of that year, or in any subsequent calendar year, shall be prorated with regard to the calendar year on a monthly basis.

The license fee provisions of this section shall not apply to any dance hall used exclusively for any of the following dances:

A. Dances of a bona fide social character to which admission is limited strictly on invitation of the person acting as host, and for which no fee, either by way of admission or in any other manner, is charged.

B. Dances given by any public agency or by any educational, recreational or social agency, or by any bona fide fraternal, charitable, or religious or benevolent or any other non-profit organization having a regular membership association primarily for mutual, social, mental, political, and civic welfare, to which admission is limited to members and guests, and revenue accruing therefrom to be used exclusively for the benevolent purposes of said organization.

C. Dances conducted by any dancing academy or dancing class in which instruction in dancing is given for hire.

D. Dance studios previously taxed under the business license ordinance of the city.

(Ord. 284 § 1, 1975; Ord. 112 § 5, 1969)

A. Hours. "Special" dances shall be conducted only between the hours of six a.m. and twelve midnight; "general" dances shall be conducted only between the hours of six a.m. and two a.m. of the following day; provided, however, the chief of police may, in his discretion, allow, by order permitting the same, the conduct of "general" dances at other than the hours stated in this subsection.

B. Supervision. The chief of police may require that one or more special police officers and/or special police women, satisfactory to the chief of police, be in attendance. The cost of such special police officers shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant and a deposit of such cost may be required in advance.

C. Minors Prohibited—Exceptions. No person under eighteen years of age shall enter or be, or shall be permitted to enter or be in any dance hall at any time a "general" dance is being conducted therein, unless such person is accompanied by parent, guardian, or other adult person having the care and custody thereof.

No person under fifteen years of age shall enter or be, or shall be permitted to enter or be, in any dance hall wherein a "special" dance is being held unless said person is accompanied by parent, guardian, or other person having the care and custody thereof.

D. Adults Prohibited. No person twenty-one years of age or older shall attend or be permitted to attend a "Special" dance as a participant therein, unless express provision is set forth by the chief of police in the dance permit.

E. Pass-out Checks—Exception. The chief of police may require as a condition of any permit that no person admitted to a dance shall be permitted to leave and thereafter re-enter the dance premises during the course of said dance, and that no pass-out checks be issued unless required by the physical arrangement of the premises.

(Ord. 112 § 6, 1969)

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the jail of the county for a term of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Any violation of the provisions of this chapter or any of the terms and conditions of any dance or dance hall permit by a permittee hereunder is deemed to be disorderly and improper conduct and is grounds for revocation of the permit without further notice, provided, however, that upon request the chief of police shall hold a public hearing within five days of the revocation as to whether such revocation of the permit shall remain in force. Any revocation of a permit is subject to appeal to the city council as provided in Section 5.16.040.

(Ord. 112 § 7, 1969)