Regulations of Public Dance Halls April 11, 1966
MEMORANDUM TO: City Manager
FROM: City Attorney
RE: Public Dance Halls
. At your request I have prepared a draft ordinance for
consideration by the Council.
There is no specific authority for the regulation of public hand,
dance halls by cities, as there is for counties. On other m t the
the general police power of a city would, in my opinion,
adoption of this ordinance.
Unfortunately, under the authority granted to counties by
statute the judge of the Circuit Court passes on the good standing
of an applicant. I do not believe that we can put this into our
ordinance and thus invoke jurisdiction of the court which is not
otherwise available.
The proposals outlined in the ordinance do not necessarily
reflect the views of the City Attorney but are offered as guidelines
for control as we have discussed.
A. Hugo Blankingship, Jr.
City Attorney
AHB/smb
cc: Hon. Edgar A. Prichard
Mayor
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4.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR T HALLS
REGULATION
OF PUBLIC DANCE
1 . Definitions:
Public Dance Halls
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1 Any place of assembly where dances are conducted
periodically to which the general public is admitted, with or
iy.
without charge.
Sponsors owners or patrons
{ Those firms. corporations or persons having proprie-
j t r Y or supervisory authority over public dance halls.
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Total Floor Space
The floor space measured in square feet within the exterior
walls of the public dance hall.
Dance floor space
The floor space measured in square feet separated exclu-
sively for dancing.
2. No public dance hall shall be operated within the City of Fairfax
without a license therefor having first been issued by the City Manager.
3. Every applicant for a license to operate a public dance hall shall
make application on a form provided by the City Manager which shall
include the following:
a. Name, age and address of the sponsors, owners or patrons.
b. Exact description and location of the area to be used as
a dance hall, including total floor space and dance floor space.
c. Maximum number of occupants at any time.
d. Dates and hours during which the dance hall is ti:4 be operated.
e. A copy of any lease for the premises.
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ever license issued for a public dance hall a license tax
4. For Y
of shall be paid to the City Treasurer.
5. No license to operate a public dance hall shall be issued:
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a. For any location for which there exists an A. B. C. license
to sell beer or wine or which is within
feet of any other
location having such a license.
b. To any applicant, sponsor, owner or patron who has
been convicted of a felony within ten years preceding the
date of the application.
c. For any location zoned other than C-2.
6. Every public dance hall licensed by the City Manager shall be
operated in a strict compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth
finances and fire regulations of the City of Fairfax and shall
and Ord
not be operated:
a. Between the hours of 12;00 midnight and 12:00 noon.
b. On Sundays.
c. To cause or create traffic congestion, noise or public
disturbance.
. \ d. For any immoral or illegal purpose.
e. Without displaying in a prominent place a notice showing
`; the maximum number of occupants permitted on the dance
floor and within the dance hall at a given time and the hours
i erated.
during which the public dance hall may be lawfully op
occupants per
square feet
f. With more than
\ . of floor space shown on the license. c
�' g. With more than _—
occupants of the dance floor per _
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square feet of dance floor.
h. To
admit minors under 18 years of age and permit
the same to remain on the premises.
7. A violation of any of the foregoing provisions or the furnishing of
false information on the application for a license pursuant to this
Ordinance shall constitute a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be punishable as provided by law.
8. This Ordinance, however, shall not apply to dances held for
i benevolent or
charitable purposes, or when the same are conducted
under the auspices of religious,'ous, educational, civic or military orga-
nizations.
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