DANCES AND DANCE HALLS

Columbus City Codes tit. 5, ch. 555

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 555.01 Definitions.

555.01 - Definitions. Unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context in which the word is used, when used in this chapter, certain terms are defined as follows: (a) "Public dance," means any dance to which admission may be had by payment of a fee or by the purchase, possession or presentation of a ticket or token obtained for money or any valuable thing or in which a charge is made for caring for clothing or other property or any other dance to which the public generally may gain admission with or without the payment of a fee. (b) "Public dance hall," means any room, place, or space in which a public dance shall be held. (c) "Special occasions," means officially proclaimed legal city holidays. (Ord. 1346-77; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 555.02 Public dance license required.

555.02 - Public dance license required. It shall be unlawful for any person to hold any public dance within the corporate limits until the dance hall, in which the same may be held, shall first have been duly licensed for such purpose. (Ord. 1346-77.)

Columbus City Codes § 555.03 License application and qualifications.

555.03 - License application and qualifications. Every person, society, club or dance school desiring a dance hall license shall make application to the Director for a license therefor, which application and whose qualifications shall be as prescribed in Chapter 501 of Columbus City Codes, 1959. (Ord. 1346-77; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 555.04 Compliance with regulations.

555.04 - Compliance with regulations. No license for a public dance hall shall be issued until it shall be found that such hall complies with and conforms to all provisions of the Columbus City Codes and other ordinances of the city and to all health, building, and fire regulations of the city and that it is properly ventilated and supplied with sufficient toilet conveniences and is a safe, sanitary and proper place for the purpose for which it is to be used. For the purposes of carrying out the provision of this section, all applications for dance hall licenses shall be endorsed by the secretary of the board of health, inspector of buildings, and the chief of the fire department, that such building complies with the rules of their several departments and inspection fees have been paid before license shall be issued as provided herein. (Ord. 1346-77.)

Columbus City Codes § 555.05 License fee and period.

555.05 - License fee and period. Any person, society, club or dance school to whom a dance hall license is granted shall pay an annual fee of three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00). Public and parochial schools, city owned recreation centers and churches are excepted from the payment of fees as provided for in this section. Licenses shall expire one year from date of issue. (Ord. 2449-82; Ord. 868-03 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 555.06 License denial, suspension or revocation.

555.06 - License denial, suspension or revocation. Pursuant to Chapters 501 and 555 of Columbus City Codes, 1959, the License Section may issue, revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue a dance hall license. Any license granted or issued under the terms of these chapters may be revoked or suspended at any time by the License Section upon satisfactory proof of violation of any provision pursuant to these chapters or which could have been grounds for failure to issue the original license. (Ord. 1346-77; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 555.07 License appeals and procedure.

555.07 - License appeals and procedure. Decisions denying, revoking or suspending licenses under this Chapter may be appealed to the board of license appeals in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 505 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959. (Ord. 1346-77; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 555.08 Hours of operation.

555.08 - Hours of operation. In order to protect the good order and quiet of the city, it shall be unlawful for any person, society, club or dance school to operate or conduct a public or private dance within a licensed or unlicensed hall within the corporate limits of the city between the hours of 2:15 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., any day of the week, including Sunday; provided that the foregoing regulations shall not apply to private homes. The Director, having determined that such extended-hour dances shall not be detrimental to the peace and well being of the immediate neighborhood, may grant special permits for dance halls or public dances to remain open until a later hour on special occasions. (Ord. 1346-77; Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 555.09 Juvenile restrictions.

555.09 - Juvenile restrictions. (a) It shall be unlawful to permit any persons under the age of twelve years to attend or take part in any public dance after darkness unless accompanied by that person's parent or guardian. (b) It shall be unlawful to permit any person over twelve years of age but under the age of eighteen years to attend or take part in any public dance after the hour of 12:00 p.m. (midnight) unless accompanied by that person's parent or guardian. (c) It shall be unlawful to permit any person under the age of eighteen years to attend or take part in a public dance held in a room, place or space in which alcoholic beverages are served or consumed unless accompanied by that person's parent or guardian. (d) It shall be unlawful to permit any person over the age of eighteen years other than that person's parent or guardian, supervisors, managers, chaperons or the entertainers to attend or take part in any public dance being held specifically for juveniles under eighteen years of age. (e) It shall be unlawful for any person to falsely represent to have reached the age of eighteen years in order to obtain admission to a public dance, or to be permitted to remain therein, when such person is in fact under eighteen years of age. (f) It shall be unlawful for any person to falsely represent to be a parent or guardian of any person in order that such a person may obtain admission to a public dance, or shall be permitted to remain therein, when the party making the representation is not, in fact, either a parent or guardian of the other party. (Ord. 1346-77; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 555.10 Severability clause.

555.10 - Severability clause. If any portion of this chapter, or any section or part of a section is declared to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such declaration of invalidity shall be limited to that portion, section, or part of a section declared invalid. Any such declaration or invalidity shall not affect or impair the remainder of the chapter, and to this end the objectionable provisions are severable. (Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 3, 3-18-2024)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT5BURELICO_CH555DADAHAFetched: 10/27/2026