Chapter 5.12
PUBLIC DANCES AND DANCE HALLS

Sections:

5.12.010    Definitions.

5.12.020    License—Required.

5.12.030    License—Application—Fee—Issuance.

5.12.040    License—Refusal.

5.12.050    License—Revocation.

5.12.060    License—Nontransferable—Posting.

5.12.070    Restrictions on operation and location of dance halls.

5.12.080    Free access for inspection.

5.12.090    Violation—Penalty.

5.12.010 Definitions.

The term “public dance” shall be construed to mean any dance or ball to which the public generally may gain admission with or without the payment of an admission fee. The term “dance hall” shall be construed to mean any room, hall, pavilion, boat, float, building or other structure kept for the purpose of conducting therein public dances or dancing. (Ord. 280 § 1, 1989)

5.12.020 License—Required.

No person, copartnership or corporation shall hold any dance or conduct or maintain any dance hall, room or floor wherein dancing is permitted, within the town without first having procured from the town council a license to do so. Licenses for dance halls shall be issued by the year or by the quarter, as requested by the applicant. A license for a single public dance shall entitle the holder thereof to conduct such dance only on the day and at the place specified in the license. No license to conduct a public dance or dance hall shall be granted unless the applicant therefor be of good moral character. No license shall be granted to any corporation, but if any dance hall be conducted by a corporation the license shall issue to the manager or other directing head thereof. The license(s) required by and provided for through this chapter are separate from and in addition to the business license issued under Chapter 5.02, which may also be required when applicable. (Ord. 691 § 4, 2020; Ord. 280 § 2, 1989)

5.12.030 License—Application—Fee—Issuance.

A.    Applications for licenses shall be made in writing and shall be filed with the town clerk, and shall be accompanied with a receipt showing the payment to the town treasurer, of a license fee as follows:

1.    Annual license: one hundred dollars ($100.00);

2.    Semi-annual (six months): fifty dollars ($50.00);

3.    Single dance: twenty dollars ($20.00);

4.    Benefit (individual person or family): five dollars ($5.00).

B.    Whenever the council shall decide to grant a license hereunder, it shall notify the town clerk, who shall issue the license to the applicant. In the event the application for license is refused, the amount tendered as license fee shall be returned to the applicant. (Ord. 280 § 3, 1989)

5.12.040 License—Refusal.

The town council reserves the right, in its discretion, to refuse to grant licenses for dance halls to be located at such places or to be conducted at such times as will, in their judgement, interfere with the comfort and happiness of the community where such proposed dance halls are located. (Ord. 280 § 5, 1989)

5.12.050 License—Revocation.

A.    Any license to conduct a dance hall may be revoked by the town council, after a hearing held upon not less than ten days’ written notice to the licensee and the action of said council in revoking any such license shall be final and conclusive.

B.    Every licensee accepting a license hereunder shall be deemed to have consented to the provision of this section with respect to the cancellation of licenses. (Ord. 280 § 6, 1989)

5.12.060 License—Nontransferable—Posting.

A.    No license granted hereunder shall be transferable except by a formal order by the town council, nor shall any dance hall or public dance be conducted at any place other than specified in the license therefor.

B.    All licenses granted hereunder shall be kept posted in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises at all times. (Ord. 280 § 7, 1989)

5.12.070 Restrictions on operation and location of dance halls.

A.    All buildings, halls, rooms, pavilions or other places in which public dances are carried on, as well as halls, corridors and rooms leading thereto or connected there with shall at all times while open to the public be well lighted.

B.    No public dance shall be conducted nor dance hall kept open between the hours of one a.m. and six a.m., unless a special permit is obtained by the town council. Each duly licensed dance or dance hall is granted permission to remain open until two a.m., provided however that no dancing shall be permitted from two a.m. Sundays to six p.m. on Mondays, except by special permission by the town council.

C.    No person under the age of eighteen (18) shall be permitted to attend any public dance unless they are properly chaperoned. (Ord. 362 § 2 (part), 1995; Ord. 280 § 4, 1989)

5.12.080 Free access for inspection.

All peace officers of the state of Washington, town councilmembers, and the chief of police, and each of his patrolmen shall have free access at all times to public dances and dance halls for the purpose of inspection and supervision to enforce compliance with the provisions of this chapter and state law. (Ord. 280 § 9, 1989)

5.12.090 Violation—Penalty.

See Section 5.07.220. (Ord. 606 § 5, 2012: Ord. 280 § 8, 1989)