Township of Haverford, PA Article II Circuses and Carnivals

[Adopted 6-13-1927 by Ord. No. 340]

§ 47-9 License required; fees; yearly licenses.

[Amended 2-8-1993 by Ord. No. 2168]

A. From and after the passage of the Article, no theatrical exhibition, menagerie, circus performance or any show or carnival, exhibition or performance in connection with or traveling with such menagerie or circus where a price of admission is charged shall be allowed within the Township of Haverford without a license from said Township, and the Chief of Police of said Township shall have authority to grant licenses under his hand for such exhibitions, entertainments, performances, etc., on payment of sums set forth by resolution of the Board of Commissioners and as amended from time to time.

B. Hereafter, every skating rink and other similar entertainments that propose to hold regular exhibitions to which a price of admission is charged shall pay a license fee as provided by resolution of the Board of Commissioners which may be amended from time to time. Said fee shall be payable on or before the first day of January of each and every year.

C. Hereafter, every hall used for dancing or entertainment purposes and to which a price of admission is charged shall pay a license fee which shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Commissioners and may be amended from time to time.

D. In lieu of the license fee for each exhibition, etc., as provided for in this article, hereafter, licenses may also be granted by the Chief of Police for a year, commencing January 1 of any year and ending December 31 of the same year, for any specified building, hall or room, which license shall be an authority to have and hold during said year in said building, hall or room theatrical exhibitions, concerts, shows, exhibitions, lectures and performances other than a menagerie and circus performances, provided that no such license shall be granted except upon payment in advance of a fee fixed by resolution of the Board of Commissioners which may be amended from time to time.

§ 47-10 Operational regulations.

[Amended 2-8-1993 by Ord. No. 2168; 6-10-1996 by Ord. No. 2245]

A. License fees shall not be assessed to any organization or company of citizens of the Township of Haverford properly representing to the Chief of Police that the net proceeds of such entertainment shall be exclusively devoted to religious, educational, civic or charitable purposes within said Township and, in addition thereto, shall deposit with the Township Treasury the further sum of $200 to be returned to them upon satisfactory evidence that the net proceeds of said entertainment shall have been or will be appropriated to a religious, educational, civic or charitable purpose in the Township of Haverford.

B. Hereafter, any applicant for a license to permit exhibitions and entertainment as detailed in § 47-9A shall be required to show proof of ample off-street parking facilities to accommodate anticipated vehicular traffic of exhibition or entertainment patrons. Adequate off-street parking shall be defined as providing one off-street parking space for every 50 square feet of lot or building space devoted to such use.

C. No outdoor theatrical exhibition, menagerie, circus performance or any outdoor show, carnival, exhibition or performance shall be permitted to operate after 10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, or after 12:00 midnight on Friday or Saturday.

D. Any exhibition or entertainment as detailed in § 47-9A shall employ or retain adequate security personnel, as determined by the Chief of Police.

E. Any exhibition or entertainment as detailed in § 47-9A shall employ or retain adequate traffic control personnel to direct traffic and safely cross patrons over any major road, as determined by the Chief of Police.

F. It shall be unlawful to permit the use of sound amplification equipment at an exhibition or entertainment detailed in § 47-9A which is located within 1,000 feet of a residential district.

§ 47-11 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960; 6-13-1988 by Ord. No. 2019; 3-12-2012 by Ord. No. 2660]

Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall, upon summary conviction before any District Justice of the Peace, pay a fine not exceeding $600 and costs of prosecution; and in default of one payment of the fine and costs, the violator may be sentenced to the county jail for a term of not more than 30 days. Each and every day in which any person, firm or corporation shall be in violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense.

§ 47-12 Applicability of provisions.

The provisions of this article shall not be held to apply to concerts, exhibitions or entertainments held in churches or schoolhouses for religious, educational, civic or charitable purposes.