For the purposes of this chapter, the words set out in this section shall have the following meanings:
A. 
"Dancehall"
means any room, hall, pavilion, boat, property, building or other structure kept for the purpose of conducting therein public dances or dancing.
B. 
"Person,"
as used in this relation, means and includes natural persons of either sex, copartnerships, corporations, or associations, and words of the masculine gender shall be held to include feminine; singular shall include plural.
C. 
"Public dance"
means any dance or ball at which the public generally may gain admission, with or without the payment of an admission fee.
(Prior code 4.04.010)
It is unlawful for any person to hold any public dance or conduct or maintain any dancehall without the limits of incorporated cities or towns in Whatcom County without having first procured from the Whatcom County sheriff a license authorizing the holding of said public dance or the conducting or maintaining of said dancehall.
(Prior code § 4.04.020; Ord. 93-048 (part))
Any person desiring a license under the provisions of this chapter shall make written application thereof at least five days before the holding of any dance or the conducting or maintaining of any dancehall to the Whatcom County sheriff, signed by the applicant, stating therein and submitting such proof as may be required by the sheriff, that he or she has never been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, that he or she is a citizen of the United States of America, and has been a resident of Whatcom County for a period of not less than three years immediately last past, and any Grange, patriotic, fraternal or community dance application shall include the further statement whether or not beer or liquor are sold or offered for sale on said premises.
(Prior code § 4.04.060; Ord. 93-048 (part))
A. 
Licenses for dancehalls shall be issued by the year, by the quarter or by the single dance, as requested by applicant. A license for a single public dance shall entitle the holder thereof to conduct such a dance only on the day and at the place specified in the license.
B. 
No license to conduct a public dance or dancehall shall be granted to any person, unless applicant therefor be of good moral character. No license shall be granted to any corporation, but if any dance is conducted by a corporation, the license shall be issued to the manager or other directing head thereof.
(Prior code § 4.04.030)
The fees to be charged for licenses granted as provided for in this chapter shall be set forth in the Whatcom County Unified Fee Schedule (fees shall apply whether mechanical or other music is engaged in the conduct of any dance).
(Prior code § 4.04.050; Ord. 93-080 Exh. G)
Any license granted hereafter to conduct a dancehall may be revoked by the Whatcom County council after a hearing held, upon not less than 10 days written notice to the licensee, and the action of the council in revoking such license shall be final and conclusive.
(Prior code § 4.04.140; Ord. 93-048 (part))
No license granted under this chapter shall be transferable except by formal order of the Whatcom County sheriff, nor shall any dancehall or public dance be conducted at any place other than specified in the license therefor.
(Prior code § 4.04.160; Ord. 93-048 (part))
All licenses issued hereafter shall be kept posted by the licensee in a conspicuous place on the licensed floor.
(Prior code § 4.04.130)
No immoral, indecent, suggestive or obscene dances shall be given or carried on in any dancehall or at any dance licensed under this chapter, and no boisterous, obscene or indecent language shall be permitted in or around any dancehall.
(Prior code § 4.04.070)
No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to attend any public dance without the escort of his or her parent or guardian. Any person under the age of 18 years who shall by affirmative misrepresentation of age obtain admission to or permission to remain in any public dance, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Prior code § 4.04.110)
No intoxicated person shall be allowed in or around any public dance or dancehall; the licensee is charged with the responsibility of keeping persons who show the effect of intoxicating liquor from frequenting said dances or dancehalls.
(Prior code § 4.04.090)
All buildings, halls, rooms, pavilions or other places in which public dances are carried on, as well as all halls, corridors and rooms leading thereto and connected therewith, shall at all times, while open to the public, be well lighted.
(Prior code § 4.04.080)
No public dance shall be conducted, nor dancehall be kept open, between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless special permit be obtained from the Whatcom County sheriff.
(Prior code § 4.04.100; Ord. 93-048 (part))
All police officers of the state of Washington shall have free access to public dances and dancehalls for the purpose of inspection and to enforce compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Prior code § 4.04.170)
The Whatcom County sheriff shall have authority to make any and all reasonable regulations not set forth in this chapter and any and all reasonable amendments to this chapter, and may at its discretion refuse to grant licenses for dancehalls to be located at such places, or to be conducted at such times as in their judgment interfere with the comfort and happiness of the community in which such proposed dancehall is to be located.
(Prior code § 4.04.120; Ord. 93-048 (part))
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine in any sum not exceeding $250.00, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
(Prior code § 4.04.180)