San Bernardino Municipal Code Ch. 5.32 Billiard Rooms and Poolrooms

It is unlawful for any person, whether as principal, officer, clerk, agent or employee, either for himself or herself or for any other person, to engage in, conduct, carry on or maintain the business, trade, occupation or calling of conducting a billiard room or poolroom in the city without first having procured therefor a license from the City Clerk and a permit in writing from the City Council.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

Any person who desires to procure a permit for conducting or maintaining in the city a billiard room or poolroom shall make application therefor in writing to the City Clerk. Such application shall be made on a form prescribed by the City Clerk, and shall be verified by one of the applicants. Such application shall set forth the name of the applicant or applicants, the location of such proposed business and the number of billiard or pool tables intended to be kept therein.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

(A) Each permit shall be conditional upon, and it is unlawful:

(1) For any person under the age of 18 years to enter and remain in any establishment where any billiard or pool table is maintained for public use or hire unless accompanied by his or her parent or guardian, or unless said parent or guardian has signed in the presence of the owner thereof, an annual written consent and permission for attendance by such person when he or she was of the age of 14 or more years;

(2) For the management of any establishment where any billiard or pool table is maintained for public use or hire to permit a person under the age of 18 years to enter and remain in such establishment unless accompanied by his or her parent or guardian, or unless said parent or guardian has signed in the presence of the owner thereof, an annual written consent and permission for attendance by such person when he or she was of the age of 14 or more years;

(3) For any person under the age of 18 years to enter and remain in any establishment where any billiard or pool table is maintained for public use or hire after the hour of 10:00 p.m.;

(4) For the management of any establishment where any billiard or pool table is maintained for public use or hire to permit a person under the age of 18 years to enter and remain in such an establishment after the hour of 10:00 p.m.;

(5) For any person under the age of 21 years to violate any law pertaining to alcoholic beverages in any establishment where any billiard or pool table is maintained for public use or hire;

(6) For the management of any establishment where any billiard or pool table is maintained for public use or hire to violate any law pertaining to alcoholic beverages; and

(7) For the management of any establishment where any billiard or pool table is maintained for public use or hire to fail to have an employee of the age of 21 years or older in attendance at all times when the establishment is open to the public.

(B) MANAGEMENT includes owner, lessee or any agent, employee, representative or concessionaire of such owner or lessee.

(C) For the purpose of preventing the violation of any portion of this section, the management shall refuse to permit any person to remain in any establishment where any billiard or pool table is maintained for public use or hire who is unable to produce adequate written evidence of his or her age, or in the event such person is under the age of 18 years, who is not accompanied by his or her parent or guardian, or for whom there is not an annual written consent and permission document on file with the management.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964; Ord. 2598, passed 7-25-1964)

It is unlawful for any person to violate any law pertaining to lotteries, gaming or gambling on the premises of the billiard room or poolroom.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

No profanity of any kind shall be used, suffered, allowed or permitted on the premises of the billiard room or poolroom.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

The owners, managers and operators, and each of them, of the billiard room or poolroom shall be strictly responsible for the enforcement of all required rules and regulations, and shall not permit any person violating any rule or regulation to remain in such billiard room or poolroom, and shall not permit any habitual violator to enter such billiard room or poolroom.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

At least four signs shall be posted and maintained at conspicuous places in and about the billiard room or poolroom, printed in bold one-inch high letters placed on a contrasting background, and setting forth the substance of the rules and regulations contained in this chapter.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

When any room or place is maintained where games of billiards, pool or bagatelle are conducted for profit, which room or place is a part or portion of a business affording amusement or recreational games for which a fee is charged, said games shall be, at all times, open to public view from the sidewalk or street right-of-way adjoining the room or place; and any partitions between the room or place and other game areas shall be made of not less than 50% transparent glass between a point three feet above the floor and a point six feet above the floor.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

The City Council may impose any reasonable condition upon the issuance of the permit in addition to the conditions and regulations set forth in this chapter

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

At the time of filing each original application, the applicant shall pay to the City Clerk an application investigation fee of $25 for each location or address where it is proposed to conduct a billiard room or poolroom. If the application is denied, such fee shall not be refunded.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

Any permit issued for a billiard room or poolroom may be revoked or suspended for a violation of any of the conditions of the permit, or of the provisions of this chapter or other provisions of law, or for good cause, which shall include, but not be limited to, a material misstatement in the application for the permit, or conduct which does not comport with the public welfare. No permit shall be revoked for any cause or violation until a public hearing has been held thereon by the City Council, and the permittee has been given five days’ notice in writing of the time and place of such hearing either by United States mail, or by personal service, and a brief statement of specific charges; provided that any permit may be suspended by the Mayor, pending the holding of a public hearing as provided above, by causing a written notice of such temporary suspension to be delivered to the permittee personally, or to his or her manager.

(Ord. 2589, passed 6-23-1964)

[Reserved]

(Repealed by Ord. MC-460, passed 5-15-1985)