(a) No person shall own or operate a billiard or pool room or any place of business in the municipality wherein one or more billiard or pool tables are kept for commercial purposes, i.e., for use by patrons for a charge or fee, without first obtaining a license therefore, and without complying with the requirements of this section.
(b) Applications for licenses for billiard and pool tables shall be filed with the Chief of Police.
(c) Each owner or operator of billiard and pool tables subject to this chapter shall pay an annual license fee of $100 for the first table, and $50 for each additional table. The license fee for any tables covered by this chapter placed on the premises after July 31 of any year shall be 50 percent of the annual fee. All licenses shall expire on January 31 of each year.
(d) It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to issue licenses for billiards and pool tables which shall be issued only when the Chief is satisfied as to the compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(e) Any change in the location of the premises at which the tables are used must be approved by the Chief of Police.
(f) All premises on which licensed billiard or pool tables are located shall be open to inspection by the police at all times.
(g) If a distributor or operator fails to comply with any requirement of this section, the license may be revoked at any time by the Chief of Police. In such case, the exhibitor may not operate within the municipality for a period of one year. The remedy shall be in addition to the penalty provided in § 808.99.
(h) If any billiard or pool table is used in any manner to gamble or otherwise operate a game of chance, or otherwise contrary to any provision of the laws of the state or the ordinances of the municipality, the Police Chief may, at his or her discretion, seize and destroy or dispose of the device after notice is given of the violation to the operator or distributor. The remedy shall be in addition to the penalty provided for in § 808.99.
(i) No operator or distributor shall operate any billiard or pool table within 300 feet from the building or grounds of any elementary or high school. The 300 feet shall be measured along the curb line center to center.
(j) No more than ten billiard or pool tables may be located in any single location or establishment.
(k) The owner/applicant of a billiard or pool table shall demonstrate, prior to licensing, that the establishment in which the devices are to be located complies with Ohio Basic Building Code requirements, including required square footage, open space around the tables, and must maintain compliance with these requirements throughout the licensing period.
(Am. Ord. 91-23, passed 6-17-1991) Penalty, see § 808.99