Ventura County Municipal Code Art. 2 Dance Halls

No person as a principal shall keep, conduct or maintain, or knowingly permit any building, house, hall, room, apartment, tent, or place under his control to be used in whole or in part as a public dance hall without first obtaining a license therefor.

A public dance for the purpose of this Article is defined to be any place where dancing is participated in by one or more couples in any dance hall or any place of business where dancing is allowed or permitted, which is open to the public and to which there may or may not be an admission charge.

Any person desiring to obtain a license required by section 2221 shall make a written application to the Sheriff therefor, stating in addition to the information required by section 2113-2, the following information:

(a) The name and residence of the applicant and all other persons to be interested in the business.

(b) The exact location of the place where the public dance is to be conducted.

(c) That the applicant is of good moral character and will not carry on such business in a manner detrimental to the morals, peace, safety, and well being of the community.

The Sheriff shall approve the application for the license unless one or more of the following circumstances are apparent to the Sheriff:

(a) The applicant is not of good moral character.

(b) The applicant is an unfit person to manage or conduct such public dance.

(c) By reason of the place where such public dance is to be located, it would be detrimental to the public health, order or morals.

The license required by section 2221 shall authorize the public dance to be carried on only at the place set forth in the application therefor, and shall not be transferable except upon written application to and written approval of the Sheriff.

Public dances shall not be permitted between the hours of 2 o'clock a.m. and 8 o'clock a.m. of any day.

No person having charge of any public dance hall shall permit any person except the person in charge thereof or the persons regularly employed in and about the dance hall to remain therein between the hours of 2 o'clock a.m. and 8 o'clock a.m. of any day.

The provisions of subsection 2226-1 of this Article shall not apply to places regularly and daily engaged in carrying on and conducting hostelry, cafe, bar, or restaurant where such business constitutes a material part or portion of such enterprise.

For a license required by section 2221, the fees shall be either $55.00 per year or $10.00 per dance, whichever fee the licensee desires.

(Am. Ord. 2449—4/27/71)

No fee shall be charged for the issuance of a license required by Section 2221 if the licensee is a charitable corporation or the net proceeds from the dance or dances for which the license is issued are used for charitable purposes.

Except for teen-age dances provided for in this ordinance code, no person under the age of 18 years shall enter or remain in any place where a public dance is being conducted, nor shall any person in charge of a public dance permit any person under the age of 18 years to enter or remain in a place where a public dance is being conducted unless such person is accompanied by his parent, guardian or a responsible adult.

(Am. Ord. 2611—8/1/72)

The zoning of a community building shall be approved for dancing by the Planning Department, and the safety of a community building shall be approved for dancing by the Department of Building and Safety. The Sheriff shall not approve the application required by section 2223 until he receives written approval from those respective departments. Such zoning and safety approval continue until revoked in writing by those respective departments.