LICENSE OR PERMIT

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 7, art. III, div. 2

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-71 Required.

Sec. 7-71. - Required. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain any premises for use by the public for dancing on one (1) or more days per week without obtaining a license therefor pursuant to this division. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons acting as a group or unit to hold or conduct a public dance or ball without first obtaining a permit therefor from the manager as hereinafter provided, where such public dance or ball is being held on premises not licensed as a public dance hall. (Code 1950, § 912.2; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-72 Application.

Sec. 7-72. - Application. Applications for public dance hall licenses and permits to hold or conduct a public dance or ball shall be made to the manager upon forms to be provided. (Code 1950, § 912.3; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-72.5 Notice; posting; hearing.

Sec. 7-72.5. - Notice; posting; hearing. (a) Upon receipt of an application for a new license under this article, the manager shall schedule a public hearing upon the application not less than forty (40) days from the date of receipt of the application; and it shall be the duty of the manager to designate the neighborhood being affected by such application. The designation of the geographical extent and boundaries of such neighborhood shall be within the sole discretion of the manager. This section shall apply only to applications for new licenses and shall not apply to applications for a permit to conduct a single public dance or public ball. (b) The manager shall require public notice to be given of the application for a new license, by the posting of a notice of the public hearing, for a period of not less than ten (10) consecutive days, with the first posting to be not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the public hearing, in a conspicuous place on the premises whereon the establishment is proposed to be operated, legible from the public street or public way (other than an alley) nearest to such premises. This public notice shall state the type and class of license applied for, the name and address of the applicant, the designated neighborhood, a brief description of the type of activities for which application is being made or considered and the time when and place where a public hearing will be held on the application; provided that, such posted notice of the public hearing shall be displayed on a sign or signs, in number, size and location as prescribed by the manager. (c) At the time and place specified in the notice, or at such other time to which the hearing may be continued, the manager or any hearing officer shall receive petitions and hear such information and evidence as may be offered by the applicant and residents of the designated neighborhood (which term shall include residents of the neighborhood and all owners or managers of trading or commercial businesses located in the designated neighborhood, and the commander of the police district in which the designated neighborhood is located, or his or her representative) concerning the desires of the residents of the designated neighborhood, the reasonable requirements of the designated neighborhood (including, but not limited to, the cabaret license already granted for establishments within the designated neighborhood), and the effect the issuance of the license would have on either the health or welfare or morals of the designated neighborhood. Admissibility of evidence, exhibits and petitions shall conform with the general rules of evidence. (d) The approval or denial of any application for a new license shall rest within the sound discretion of the manager after evidence has been presented during such public hearing. In making the decision, the manager shall consider all of the items shown above in subsection (c) as well as all other requirements of this article. (e) No application shall be received or acted upon for either a new license or for changing or modifying a presently licensed premises if, within two (2) years next preceding the date the application is tendered to the department, the manager denied an application (including an application for renewal) for any class of cabaret license or any class of license issued under this article at either; (1) The location or premises for which application is being made; or (2) Any location or premises which is part of, or contained in, the location or premises for which application is being made; or (f) A hearing upon application for renewal or change of ownership of the licensed premises may be scheduled at the discretion of the manager, either upon the manager's own initiative or upon proper complaint to the manager, and the procedure, costs and requirements in this event shall be the same as shown in this division for a new license application. (Ord. No. 251-86, § 1, 4-28-86; Ord. No. 500-01, § 8, 6-18-01; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-73 Causes for denial.

Sec. 7-73. - Causes for denial. No dance hall license or permit to conduct a public dance or ball will be issued when: (1) The applicant, any of the officers of a corporate applicant, or the business manager are under the age of twenty-one (21) years; (2) The applicant or any of the officers of a corporate applicant or the manager of the business have been convicted of any crime or ordinance violation involving use of or traffic in narcotic drugs, violent acts against persons or property, or sex offense within ten (10) years preceding the date of application; (3) Dancing is not permitted at the location for which application is made by chapter 59 relating to zoning; (4) The premises do not comply with and conform to all ordinances or regulations relating to requirements of the transportation and infrastructure, fire, and public health and environment departments; (5) The premises for which application has been made are licensed under the cabaret ordinance or where malt, vinous or spirituous liquor or fermented malt beverages are sold for consumption on the premises sought to be licensed. (6) The applicant makes any false or misleading statement of material fact on the application; (7) The applicant, or any person holding a 10% or more interest in the applicant entity, has violated any state law or city ordinance in connection with any public dance hall or public dance within three years preceding the application; (8) The applicant, or any person holding a ten (10) percent or more interest in the applicant entity, has committed or permitted any act in connection with any public dance hall or public dance which is cause for suspension or revocation under section 7-76 or chapter 32 within three (3) years preceding the application. (Code 1950, § 912.4; Ord. No. 1110-96, § 1, 12-16-96; Ord. No. 500-01, § 9, 6-18-01; Ord. No. 427-18, § 4, 6-11-18; Ord. No. 39-20, § 10, 2-3-20; Ord. No. 551-23, § 6, 6-5-23)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-74 Issuance.

Sec. 7-74. - Issuance. After finding that the applicant meets the requirements set forth in section 7-73 and that the premises are a safe and proper place for the intended purpose, the manager shall issue the dance hall license or permit to conduct a public dance or ball. (Code 1950, § 912.5; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-75 Fees.

Sec. 7-75. - Fees. The application and license fees under this division are prescribed in section 32-67. (Code 1950, §§ 912.3, 912.5)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 7-76 Suspension or revocation of public dance hall license or public dance permit.

Sec. 7-76. - Suspension or revocation of public dance hall license or public dance permit. (a) After notice and an administrative hearing at which the city submits proof by a preponderance of the evidence, or upon stipulation of the parties, or upon failure of the licensee to appear at such a hearing after notice has been given, the manager may suspend or revoke the dance hall license or public dance permit of any person or entity who: (1) Makes any false or misleading statement of material fact on his or her application for a license or to any city employee enforcing this article or investigating whether a violation has occurred under this article; (2) Violates any state law or city ordinance on the premises of the dance hall or public dance or on any sidewalk, street, parking area or other grounds immediately adjacent to the public dance premises; (3) Knowingly, intentionally, or negligently permits any person to violate any state law or city ordinance on the premises of the dance hall or public dance or on any sidewalk, street, parking area or other grounds immediately adjacent to the public dance premises; (4) Fails to maintain the dance hall or the premises on which the public dance is held in compliance with the requirements of the fire department, transportation and infrastructure department, building department, zoning department, and public health and environment department; (5) Violates any rule or regulation promulgated by the manager under this article; (6) Violates any term, condition or limitation on his or her license or permits any person in his employment to do the same; (7) The licensee or permittee and his employees engage in or permit any conduct that is offensive to the senses of the average citizen on the premises of the dance hall or public dance or on any sidewalk, street, parking area or other grounds immediately adjacent to the dance hall or the premises of the public dance; or (8) Commits any act or omission or meets any condition which is cause for suspension or revocation under chapter 32. (Code 1950, § 912.11; Ord. No. 1110-96, § 1, 12-16-96; Ord. No. 500-01, § 10, 6-18-01; Ord. No. 427-18, § 4, 6-11-18; Ord. No. 39-20, § 11, 2-3-20; Ord. No. 551-23, § 7, 6-5-23; Ord. No. 1003-25, § 4, 7-28-25)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH7AM_ARTIIIDAHA_DIV2LIPEFetched: 10/27/2026