OPERATING PERMIT

Norfolk City Code ch. 5, art. VI, div. 2

in effect

Norfolk City Code § 5-172 Required.

Sec. 5-172. - Required. No person shall operate a commercial recreation center within the city, without first obtaining a permit from the city manager or his authorized representative. (Ord. No. 32,063, § 1, 12-7-82)

Norfolk City Code § 5-173 Filing and contents of application.

Sec. 5-173. - Filing and contents of application. Application for a permit required by this division shall be filed in the office of the city manager and shall contain the following information: (1) The name, address, age, race and sex of the applicant, date and place of his birth and, where pertinent, the relationship of the applicant to any company, corporation or other entity which has any interest in the ownership or management of the center. (2) Prior criminal convictions, excluding traffic infractions, of the applicant, if any. (3) Prospective location of the center. (4) Maximum number of patrons the center will accommodate. (5) A list of all employees who are expected to serve in a managerial capacity in the center. (6) A certification by the applicant that all requirements of this article have been complied with. (Ord. No. 32,063, § 1, 12-7-82)

Norfolk City Code § 5-174 Fee.

Sec. 5-174. - Fee. Each application for a permit under this division shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00), which shall not be refundable. (Ord. No. 32,063, § 1, 12-7-82)

Norfolk City Code § 5-175 Investigation of applicant and proposed center; grant or denial.

Sec. 5-175. - Investigation of applicant and proposed center; grant or denial. Upon receipt of an application for a permit under this division, the city manager shall immediately cause an investigation to be made concerning the qualifications of the applicant and whether the proposed center is in compliance with this article. The city manager shall grant or deny such permit and shall notify the applicant of his action within thirty (30) days of the filing of the application. If the city manager denies such permit, he shall state, in writing, his reasons for such action. The following factors shall constitute grounds for denial of the permit: (1) A finding by the city manager that the applicant has falsified his application in a material manner. (2) A finding by the city manager that the applicant or any of his designated managerial employees has a criminal record which reveals any convictions for violations of any drug control laws or any other pattern of criminal misconduct involving moral turpitude. (3) A finding by the city manager that the applicant consistently fails to cooperate with law enforcement personnel in the exercise of their official duties. (4) A finding by the city manager that the application is not properly completed as required in this division. (5) A finding by the city manager that the proposed center fails to comply with the provisions of this article. No other factors shall be sufficient grounds for denial of a permit applied for under this division. (Ord. No. 32,063, § 1, 12-7-82)

Norfolk City Code § 5-176 Not assignable; void if center not operated for sixty days.

Sec. 5-176. - Not assignable; void if center not operated for sixty days. No permit issued under this division shall be assignable in any manner whatsoever. When the permittee shall cease to operate the center for a period of sixty (60) days, the permit shall be void. (Ord. No. 32,063, § 1, 12-7-82)

Norfolk City Code § 5-177 Revocation or suspension.

Sec. 5-177. - Revocation or suspension. (a) The city manager may revoke or suspend for a period of thirty (30) days the permit for the operation of a commercial recreation center if he finds: (1) That the premises have been declared a common nuisance by a court of competent jurisdiction. (2) That the permittee has consistently failed to operate the center in an orderly manner. (3) That the permittee has failed to take prompt and vigorous action to prevent violations of criminal statutes occurring on the premises which are known or should have been known to the permittee. (4) That circumstances exist which would have justified a denial of such permit at the time of its issuance. (5) That the permittee has failed to comply with the provisions of this article. (b) A permittee shall be entitled to a hearing before the city manager or his designee before his permit is revoked or suspended under this section. The city manager shall give the permittee thirty (30) days' notice of his intention to revoke or suspend such permit along with his grounds for revocation or suspension by certified mail, return receipt requested. The hearing shall be held not more than twenty (20) days after giving of the notice. (Ord. No. 32,063, § 1, 12-7-82)

Norfolk City Code § 5-178 Permit applicability.

Sec. 5-178. - Permit applicability. (a) Establishments heretofore legally in operation under the zoning ordinance use classifications of amusement enterprises including amusement arcades or amusement and recreational enterprises which would fall within the definition of commercial recreation center in section 5-163 and which are in operation on the effective date of this article shall not have to seek a permit as required by division 2 of this article until or unless transfer or assignment of ownership of the establishment occurs or the existing establishment ceases operation for a period of sixty (60) days. (b) Establishments and the current owners thereof which fall under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to have been issued a permit as contemplated in section 5-172, shall comply with the provisions of sections 5-165 through 5-172, and shall be subject to the provisions of section 5-177 of this article. (Ord. No. 32,063, § 1, 12-7-82)

Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH5AM_ARTVICORECE_DIV2OPPEFetched: 11/1/2026