(A) Required. It is unlawful for any person to erect or cause to be erected any temporary structure composed, wholly or partly, of canvas or similar material to be used as a place of amusement, carnival, or for any religious, educational, or recreational purposes or for any other public assemblages whatsoever within the city without first having made application for and having received a permit to do so in accordance with the conditions and limitations as set out in this subchapter.
(Prior Code, § 111.40)
(B) Application; contents.
(1) The application for the permit for temporary structures, as required in division (A) above, shall be presented to the City Controller and shall be accompanied by a set of building plans, in duplicate, drawn to scale, which shall indicate clearly:
(a) The type of construction;
(b) The seating arrangements;
(c) The aisles;
(d) The structural details and calculations of the seats and supports;
(e) The location of all electrical wiring;
(f) The location of all exits;
(g) The location of all fire equipment within the structure and the specifications of the equipment; and
(h) The location, insofar as feasible, or adjacent structures and obstructions which might hinder the free egress of persons from the exits.
(2) The application shall further specify:
(a) Whether any open flame is intended to be used within the structure, and if so, what precautions are to be taken to render it safe;
(b) The name of the person which will use the structure;
(c) The location of the principal place of business of the person;
(d) The names and addresses of the officers if firm or corporation;
(e) The length of time the structure is intended to be used for the purpose for which the application was made;
(f) The hours of the day or night during which the structure is intended to be used as a place of assembly;
(g) The formula of the solution which is to be used to flameproof the structure;
(h) What provisions have been made for sanitary facilities for persons using the premises on which the structure is to be erected or is maintained; and
(I) Any other relevant information as the Fire Chief may require.
(Prior Code, § 111.41)
(C) Application; submission. This application and plans required by division (B) above shall be submitted to the Fire Chief at least ten days prior to the date of the opening of any structure, and he or she shall be notified at least 48 hours prior to the erection of the structure, so that he or she may make an inspection during reasonable daylight hours.
(Prior Code, § 111.42)
(D) Approval. If the Fire Chief finds that the following provisions are or will be complied with by the applicant, he or she shall recommend that a license and permit be issued to erect or maintain a temporary structure, conditional upon reasonable limitations and requirements as he or she may deem necessary for the safety of persons and property.
(1) The Fire Chief or the Fire Inspector upon his or her orders shall determine and make his or her recommendations on a temporary structure if the applicant has made provisions for:
(a) Adequate aisles, seats, platforms, and poles;
(b) Sufficient exits that are well marked and properly lighted;
(c) Lighted and unobstructed passageways to areas leading away from the structure;
(d) Removal before the structure is to be used as a place of public assembly of any pole, rope, or other obstruction in any aisle or exit;
(e) Inspection before the opening of each performance by a qualified electrician to ascertain if any defects exist in the wiring, and provision made for the immediate correction of any defects which may be found during the inspection;
(f) Sufficient first aid fire appliances to be distributed throughout the structure with operating personnel familiar with the operation of the equipment available and assigned during the use of the structure as a place of assembly;
(g) Sufficient “No Smoking” signs, the signs being visible at all times;
(h) An employee at each entrance to require the extinguishing of all cigarettes, cigars, and other smoking materials;
(i) Announcement at frequent intervals to the persons in the assembly of the fact that smoking within the structure is prohibited;
(j) Proper safeguarding of any use of open flames or its use prohibited;
(k) The clearing of straw, dry grass, sawdust, and any combustible trash from the structure before it is opened to the public, and arrangements made to keep the areas where debris may be expected to accumulate well serviced, especially under open seats;
(l) Proper facilities for calling the city fire force;
(m) Special fire equipment of the city to attend at the structure during its use as a place of public assembly as the Fire Chief may decide is necessary for proper fire protection;
(n) The attendance of special police officers and firefighters as the Fire Chief may deem necessary for the control of persons in the assembly to prevent overcrowding, obstruction of aisles and exits, and other control as may be necessary to render the occupation of the structure by the public safety; and
(o) The tent and canvas parts of the structure and all combustible decorative materials, including curtains, acoustic materials, streamers, cloth, cotton batting, straw, vines, leaves, trees, and moss, to be rendered fireproof.
(2) The City Health Officer shall make an inspection to determine if provision has been made for satisfactory sanitary facilities on or near the premises on which the temporary structure is maintained or is to be maintained. Upon completing his or her inspection, the City Health Inspector shall make his or her recommendations concerning a permit.
(3) (a) The Building Commissioner shall make an inspection to determine whether satisfactory provisions have been made for the public safety of persons on or near the premises on which the temporary structure is maintained or is to be maintained.
(b) Upon completion of his or her inspection, the Building Commissioner shall make his or her recommendations concerning a permit.
(Prior Code, § 111.43)