Santa Monica Municipal Code Ch. 4.16 Private Dancing Parties

This Chapter applies to, and shall be complied with by, any person, firm, or corporation carrying on a business of renting halls, dining rooms, or other types of facilities for private parties, dinners, dances, or other affairs and also applies to any person who, not carrying on such business, owns, possesses, leases, or occupies land or a building which is regularly or occasionally rented, loaned, or used without compensation for such affairs, but nothing in this Chapter shall be applicable to a private residence used for a party to which the public is not admitted.

The above includes, but is not limited to, hotels, restaurants, fraternal organizations, patriotic organizations, churches, religious organizations, welfare and youth organizations, and private clubs. It also includes a public dance hall within the meaning of Section 6.24.070 of this Code when such dance hall is used for a private party.

(Prior code § 4400; amended by Ord. No. 641CCS, adopted 3/10/64)

The person, firm, or corporation which permanently possesses any land or building which is to be used for a private party at which there will be dancing, or where dancing may be reasonably anticipated, whether music is provided by mechanical or electronic means or by live musicians, shall notify the Chief of Police, or such other police officer as he or she shall designate, of the party at least ten days prior to the date of such party upon a form as specified by the Chief of Police, giving such information as is indicated in such form.

(Prior code § 4401; amended by Ord. No. 641CCS, adopted 3/10/64)

Any on-duty police officer of the Santa Monica Police Department may request admittance to such party from time to time during the continuance thereof and for the purpose of observing the participants only, which admittance shall be immediately permitted, notwithstanding that the party may be supervised by a police officer or private patrolman.

(Prior code § 4402; amended by Ord. No. 641CCS, adopted 3/10/64)

When fifty or more persons are expected to attend a party at which there will be dancing, or where dancing may be reasonably anticipated, and where fifty percent or more of the persons invited will be under twenty-five years of age, the Police Chief or representative may require, if he or she deems it necessary or desirable, that an off-duty Santa Monica Police Officer or a private patrolman, or more than one as he or she may require, not to exceed one officer per one hundred guests or fraction thereof, be present to supervise and chaperone the party. The cost of providing such supervision shall be borne by the person or firm regularly possessing the land or building in which the party is to be held.

(Prior code § 4403; amended by Ord. No. 641CCS, adopted 3/10/64)