TEEN CLUBS

New Orleans City Code ch. 14, art. IV, div. 3

in effect

New Orleans City Code § 14-155 Definition.

Sec. 14-155. - Definition. The term "teen club" includes teenage dance halls, discotheques, nonalcoholic bars for teenagers, dry cabarets, juice bars, milk bars, teenage cabarets or other public resorts to be frequented exclusively by teenagers for entertainment or amusement, including but not limited to music, music videos, and dancing. Such establishments shall not be licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. (Code 1956, § 63-27)

New Orleans City Code § 14-156 Permit required.

Sec. 14-156. - Permit required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate within the city any teen club without having been issued a permit by the department of finance. (Code 1956, § 63-27.1)

New Orleans City Code § 14-157 Application for permit.

Sec. 14-157. - Application for permit. (a) The application for a teen club permit shall be filed with the department of finance, bureau of revenue in a format as prescribed by same and shall include the following information: (1) Full name and any name by which the person or applicant is or has been known. (2) Date and place of birth. (3) Driver's license number if available. (4) Fingerprints. (5) A current photograph. (6) Any prior felony or misdemeanor convictions except minor traffic violations. (7) Home and business address and telephone number. (8) Any revocation or suspension of a license issued pursuant to this division. (9) The name of any local, authorized agent who will be managing or operating the establishment at the indicated location and proof of their authority to act on behalf of the owner. (10) If the owner/operator is a corporation or a person financially interested in the applicant business is a corporation, the owner shall provide a list of the names and addresses of all persons financially interested in that corporation. (11) Certification that the premises where the teen club is to be located is adequate for the purpose and that the premises conforms with the existing health, safety, fire and zoning ordinances of the city. (12) The name and address of the licensed security agency which will provide the security officers for the establishment. (13) A copy of the neighborhood petition, as required by section 14-159, which was circulated for the approval of persons owning property, living, or doing business within 300 feet of the proposed location. (14) The size of the premises, room, space or building proposed to be used for such purposes. (15) Certification of the maximum number of persons that may be accommodated on the premises. (b) Any change in the information required to be provided above concerning the applicant or agent shall be reported to the bureau of revenue within ten days of the change. All other information must be updated at the time of permit renewal. (Code 1956, § 63-27.1(a), (b))

New Orleans City Code § 14-158 Exemptions.

Sec. 14-158. - Exemptions. The provisions of this division shall not apply to any of the following: (1) Private dances given at private homes. (2) Dances or balls held in the city auditorium or coliseum. (3) Dances for school children held in the auditorium or gymnasium of any public school under the supervision of the school authorities. (Code 1956, § 63-27.7)

New Orleans City Code § 14-159 Neighborhood petition.

Sec. 14-159. - Neighborhood petition. (a) No permit to operate a teen club under this division shall be issued until the applicant for such permit has filed a petition signed by a minimum of 65 percent of the residents within a radius of 300 feet of the proposed location, indicating their approval of the establishment of a teen club. (b) The director of the department of finance shall adopt rules and regulations governing the procedure for securing the petition of consent provided for in this section. The rules shall provide that the circulator of the petition requesting a waiver shall subscribe to an affidavit attesting to the fact that the petition was circulated in accordance with the rules of the department and that the circulator personally witnessed the signatures on the petition and that the same were affixed to the petition by the person whose name appeared thereon. (c) An official petition form shall be prepared by the department and shall state in boldfaced type the official definition of a public dance hall, including its allowed hours of operation and the fact that the consent of 65 percent of the residents within 300 feet of the subject establishment is required. The petition form to be circulated for a public dance hall shall be the official form prepared by the department. No other form shall be used or will be accepted as a valid petition. (Code 1956, § 63-27.5)

New Orleans City Code § 14-160 Supervision.

Sec. 14-160. - Supervision. A sufficient number of adult supervisors who are employees of the teen club shall be provided to ensure compliance with the provisions of this division. For the purposes of this section, a sufficient number shall constitute, at a minimum, a ratio of one adult to every 35 teenagers on the premises. All employees shall be considered supervisory staff. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(a))

New Orleans City Code § 14-161 Lighting of premises.

Sec. 14-161. - Lighting of premises. The premises of the teen club shall be adequately lighted at all times when in operation. For the purposes of this section, the volume of illumination shall at no time be less than one footcandle in any part of the building or premises accessible to participants. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(b))

New Orleans City Code § 14-162 Parking facilities.

Sec. 14-162. - Parking facilities. All off-street parking facilities for a teen club, under the direct or indirect control of the permittee, shall be adequately lighted and supervised to ensure compliance with this section and any other laws of the city. Required off-street parking shall be determined at no less than a rate of one space per 200 feet of floor area. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(c))

New Orleans City Code § 14-163 Hours of operation.

Sec. 14-163. - Hours of operation. A teen club shall not operate during regular elementary or high school hours. All applicable curfew hours shall be enforced by the operator of the facility. The hours during which teen clubs shall not be allowed to operate are as follows: (1) Fridays and Saturdays, between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 12:00 noon. (2) Sundays through Thursdays, between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 12:00 noon. (3) New Year's Day, between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(d))

New Orleans City Code § 14-164 Admissions.

Sec. 14-164. - Admissions. (a) It shall be the responsibility of the operator or permittee of a teen club to ascertain the correct legal age of all persons seeking admission and such persons who do not meet the age requirement of this subsection shall be excluded. (1) On nights preceding a regular school attendance day no person under the age of 17 shall be permitted to attend after 9:00 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. (2) On nights preceding a school holiday or during vacation periods no person under the age of 15 shall be permitted to attend after 9:00 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. (3) All persons over the age of 20 shall be denied admission unless such person is a parent or legal guardian. (4) All persons under the age of 13 shall be denied admission. (5) Teenagers under the age of 15 shall not be admitted unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or unless a parent or legal guardian has signed and filed with the operator, agent, or owner of the establishment a consent form for such minor to be there unaccompanied by such parent or guardian. Such form must be signed by the parent or guardian in the presence of the owner, operator or agent. The form shall contain the parent or guardian's telephone number and address. In addition to the consent form such teenager shall also be required to provide proper identification before being admitted. (6) Teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 shall be admitted upon providing proof of age. Proof of age shall be required of all persons entering teen clubs. Such proof may be established by identification issued by a governmental agency, the patron's school, or the department of motor vehicles, and must contain the patron's name, date of birth, and picture that has been taken within the preceding two years. (b) Admission shall be denied to any person showing evidence of drinking any alcoholic beverages or showing evidence or symptoms of being intoxicated as a result of the ingestion of any chemical substance. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(e))

New Orleans City Code § 14-165 Attendance.

Sec. 14-165. - Attendance. Except in emergency situations, no patron shall be permitted to leave the premises of a teen club and thereafter reenter prior to closing. No pass or other identification permitting reentry shall be issued. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(f))

New Orleans City Code § 14-166 Denial of entry on request of the parent or legal guardian.

Sec. 14-166. - Denial of entry on request of the parent or legal guardian. No person having charge or control of any premises regulated under this division shall allow any teenager to enter or remain on or at the premises after having received a written notice signed by the parent or legal guardian of such teenager. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(g))

New Orleans City Code § 14-167 Alcoholic beverages.

Sec. 14-167. - Alcoholic beverages. No alcoholic beverages are to be possessed, sold, served, or consumed on the premises for which a permit was issued under this division. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(h))

New Orleans City Code § 14-168 Location.

Sec. 14-168. - Location. (a) The teen club shall not be located within a 300-foot radius of a cocktail lounge or barroom or other establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold or consumed. (b) The establishment shall not be located within a 300-foot radius of any residential district. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(i))

New Orleans City Code § 14-169 Smoking.

Sec. 14-169. - Smoking. There shall be no smoking on the premises of a teen club. The sale of tobacco products to minors is prohibited. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(j))

New Orleans City Code § 14-170 Occupancy.

Sec. 14-170. - Occupancy. The maximum number of persons allowed on the premises of a teen club, as required by the fire codes of the city, shall be posted. (Code 1956, § 63-27.2(k))

New Orleans City Code § 14-171 Criminal history of supervisory staff.

Sec. 14-171. - Criminal history of supervisory staff. (a) No person, as the owner or operator or agent of a teen club, shall employ any person as a supervisory employee who has been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony in the last five years or any person who has been arrested and is out on bond or bail or out on his own recognizance pending trial. (b) No person shall be employed who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude. Upon a showing of just cause a licensee may petition the director of the department of finance for a waiver of this provision. Just cause shall include but is not limited to a demonstration that the prior conviction or arrest would not have an adverse effect on the employee's ability to supervise teenagers. (Code 1956, § 63-27.3)

New Orleans City Code § 14-172 Security.

Sec. 14-172. - Security. The owner, operator or agent of a teen club shall provide security at least one hour prior to opening and one hour after closing both on the premises and in the parking facility serving the establishment. The number of licensed security officers which shall be required is as follows: (1) For any number of persons from one to 75, two security officers. (2) For any number of persons from 75 to 150, three security officers. (3) For each additional 50 persons, one additional security officer. (Code 1956, § 63-27.4)

New Orleans City Code § 14-173 Operation after 1:00 a.m.

Sec. 14-173. - Operation after 1:00 a.m. (a) If the teen club intends to operate after the closing time set forth in this division the premises must first be vacated by all customers, and thereafter only those persons 18 years of age or older who present valid identification containing proof of age as set forth in this section may be permitted to enter the premises. (b) Any establishment holding a teen club permit shall require all minors to vacate the premises and shall close its operation for at least one hour prior to reopening the establishment to adults. (Code 1956, § 63-27.6)

New Orleans City Code § 14-174 Lighting and drinking fountains.

Sec. 14-174. - Lighting and drinking fountains. (a) Each permittee shall provide, at all times, adequate lighting in every part of the establishment, at one footcandle throughout the establishment. (b) There shall be at least one sanitary drinking fountain for each 2,500 square feet of floorspace or fraction thereof. (Code 1956, § 63-27.8)

Source: City of New Orleans, Code of Ordinances and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH14AMEN_ARTIVDABA_DIV3TECLFetched: 10/28/2026