# Sec. 5-199. License application

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Sec. 5-199. License application

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-199 (2026)

(a) Before any license shall be granted under the provisions of this Division, applications shall be made in writing to the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement on forms provided by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. Copies shall be transmitted by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement to the Police Department and the Fire/EMS Department.

(b) Before any application for an initial license or renewal shall be granted for a proposed adult dance hall or teen dance hall to be located inside of or within one-half mile of the boundaries of an incorporated municipality, the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or their designee shall notify the governing body of the municipality of the pending application within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the application. The municipality shall have forty-five (45) calendar days for review, comment, and to hold a public hearing at the option of the municipality. If the proposed adult dance hall or teen dance hall lies within a municipality and is also within one-half mile of one or more other municipalities, the public hearing may only be held by the municipality within which the proposed adult dance hall or teen dance hall is located, with notice given to any affected municipality. If the proposed adult dance hall or teen dance hall is to be located within an unincorporated area, but is within one-half mile of two or more municipalities, the affected municipalities may hold a joint public hearing at their option. The municipality(ies) may recommend denial of the license after conducting a public hearing, upon a finding that the grant of the license would pose a threat to the peace and safety of the surrounding area or adversely affect the public health, safety, or welfare. If the municipality(ies) recommends denial, such license shall not be granted. The cost of any public hearing held by a municipality shall be borne by the applicant.

(c) Before any application for an initial license or renewal shall be granted for a proposed adult dance hall or teen dance hall, the applicant shall not be in violation of any licensing provision of the Prince George's County Code.

(d) Before any application for an initial license or renewal shall be granted for a proposed adult dance hall or teen dance hall, a security plan shall be submitted for review and approval of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, the Police Department and the Fire/EMS Department. A security plan shall be employed on the property owned or in control of by the licensee, owner, lessor, operator, promoter, person in charge or a person in apparent charge of the establishment and/or the property. The County approved security plan shall be employed at all times when the premises are used as an adult dance hall or teen dance hall.

Security Plan shall mean a document prepared under the direction of the applicant which minimally includes but is not limited to:

(1) A plan for operable and recordable, indoor and outdoor, security surveillance cameras.

(2) A parking plan.

(3) A vehicular traffic flow management plan.

(4) A lighting plan for the establishment and premises to include the parking lot(s) and all other portions of the premises within 1,000 feet of an adult dance hall or teen dance hall.

(5) A life safety and evacuation plan prepared by a certified fire protection engineer, if the calculated occupant load exceeds two hundred and fifty persons.

(6) A staffing plan for services provided which includes security staffing levels and responsibilities.

Such property includes, but is not limited to parking lots and areas within 1,000 feet of the adult dance hall or a teen dance hall.

(e) State or County certified private security officers wearing uniforms and bearing an identification card or sworn off duty police officers shall patrol the premises to include the outer perimeter of an adult dance hall and teen dance hall covering areas such as parking lots and areas within 1,000 feet of the establishment. Public safety officers shall be granted a right of entry anytime during an event to ensure Code compliance.

(f) Any party, including owners, lessors, operators, promoters, or persons in charge of or having apparent authority of an adult dance hall or teen dance hall, upon being issued a violation, shall have the right to request an administrative hearing comprised of the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or their designee, the Chief of the Police Department or their designee, and the Fire/EMS Department or their designee, the Administrative Board, within 72 hours of the violation issuance. The Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, the Police Department, and the Fire/EMS Department shall be authorized to temporarily or permanently suspend or revoke a license upon issuance of a violation pending an administrative hearing and any judicial appeal. Any party aggrieved by the suspension or revocation of a license by the Administrative Board shall have the right to appeal to the Circuit Court. The enforcement action shall continue or terminate according to the determination of the Administrative Board.

(g) The Department of Environmental Services, the Police Department and the Fire/EMS Department shall establish policies, rules, and procedures to implement this ordinance. Notwithstanding Sections 5-200(b)(c) (d) and (e) and 5-200.01, when the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, the Police Department or the Fire/EMS Department determines that a violation of Section 5-200 or Section 5-200.01 has occurred with respect to the use of any building, structure, or land, or there is a failure to obtain a use and occupancy permit, or when a use and occupancy permit has been issued, or it is being used for another purpose or when this ordinance has been violated, the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or their designee, the Chief of the Police Department or their designee, or the Chief of the Fire/EMS Department or their designee is authorized to suspend or revoke a license. The Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or their designee, the Chief of the Police Department or their designee and the Chief of the Fire/EMS Department or their designee are authorized to direct the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, the Police Department or the Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department, respectively, to issue a written violation notice directing that the violation cease and that all activities in the building, structure, and on the land cease pending a hearing before the Administrative Board in accordance with Section 5-200 and 5-200.01.

(h) The Director of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or their designee, the Chief of the Police Department or their designee, or the Chief of the Fire/EMS Department or their designee shall provide the written violation notice, issued pursuant to Section 5-200 and/or 5-200.01, to one or more of the following: the licensee, owner, lessor, operators, promoters, or persons in charge of or in apparent charge of an adult dance hall or teen dance hall. In the event that no person or no person representing entities set forth in this Section are present or any person or any person representing entities set forth in this Section flees when the activity or activities take place and the written violation notice is being issued, the written violation notice shall be posted on the building, structure or on the land in which or upon which the activity or activities took place, directing that the violation cease and that all activities in the building, structure, or on the land cease pending a hearing before the Administrative Board. Posting of the issued written notice shall be deemed to be constructive notice to the licensee, owner, lessor, operators, promoters, or persons in charge of an adult dance hall or teen dance hall.

(i) For violations of Section 5-200 and/or 5-200.01, the licensee, owner, lessor, operators, promoters, or persons in charge or in apparent charge of an adult dance hall or teen dance hall may request an administrative hearing in writing within 72 hours of the violation notice before the Administrative Board. The Administrative Board shall commence an administrative hearing within two days following receipt of the request for a hearing.

(j) The Administrative Board shall provide a hearing on the record.

(k) The enforcement action of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, the Police Department or the Fire/EMS Department shall not be stayed during the pendency of the administrative hearing.

(l) The Administrative Board shall render a decision on the enforcement action within two days after the conclusion of the hearing on the record. The decision shall include findings of fact, whether there is a use and occupancy permit; whether there was a use and occupancy permit that was used for another purpose; whether there is a threat to the public health, safety and welfare; and whether the activity constitutes a continuing threat to the public health, safety and welfare.

(m) The Administrative Board may reverse, modify or remand the decision of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, Police Department or the Fire/EMS Department, respectively, only if the decision of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, the Police Department or the Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department, respectively, is clearly erroneous, or arbitrary and capricious, or unsupported by any substantial evidence.

(n) The enforcement action of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, the Police Department or the Fire/EMS Department, respectively, shall terminate or continue according to the determination of the Administrative Board. Any party aggrieved by a decision of the Administrative Board may appeal the decision to the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland. The appeal shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of Title 7 of the Maryland Rules of Procedure.