The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 31: Recreation and Sports

Chapter 009: Municipal Regulation of Entertainment

• Subchapter 001: CIRCUSES, MENAGERIES, AND SIMILAR SHOWS

• § 401. Permits and fees

  A selectboard may permit the exhibition in its town of any show mentioned in 32 V.S.A. §§ 9905 and 9906, on payment by the owners or operators thereof, for the use of the town, of not more than $100.00 nor less than $10.00 for every day on which exhibitions are given in the town. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 461, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 402. Revocation of permit

  If, during the exhibition of a show under the license, the selectboard is satisfied that the exhibition disturbs the public peace, it may give notice in writing to the owner or operator of the exhibition that the license is revoked. If, after notice, the exhibition is not immediately suspended, the owner or operator shall be subject to the same penalty as if the owner had exhibited without a license. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 461, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 403. Penalties imposed on town officers

  Town clerks, selectboards, village trustees, or any other town or city officials shall be fined not more than $10.00 for issuing a permit or license to the owner or operator of a show mentioned in this chapter for less than the minimum fee prescribed for the use of the town in section 401 of this title. (Amended 1967, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Feb. 20, 1968; 2013, No. 34, § 21; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 72.)

• § 404. Exhibiting without State and town licenses

  A person who gives or attempts to give an exhibition in a town of a show mentioned in 32 V.S.A. §§ 9901–9910 without first having obtained permission of the selectboard of the town and without having received from the Secretary of State the license as provided in 32 V.S.A. §§ 9901–9910 shall be fined not more than $3,000.00 nor less than $1,000.00. (Amended 1967, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Feb. 20, 1968; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 461, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 405. Permits to exhibit natural curiosities

  A selectboard may permit a person to exhibit living animals and other natural curiosities for not more than two days at one time on payment of not more than $50.00 nor less than $10.00 by the person to the selectboard for the use of the town. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 461, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 406. Exhibition without license

  A person who for reward or gain or under color of a gratuity suffers premises under the person’s control to be used for the exhibition of a circus, living animals, and natural curiosities or exhibits a living animal or natural curiosity without having previously obtained permission shall be fined not more than $200.00. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 461, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 407. [Omitted.]

• Subchapter 002: FAIRS AND THEATRES

• § 441. Regulation of shows and games of chance

  The officers of a town fair association may regulate and prevent theatrical, circus, or mountebank exhibitions and shows, or traffic in fruits, goods, wares, and merchandise of whatever description, the trading of horses, and games of chance, on fair days, within a distance of 200 yards of any highway leading to or passing a fairground, if in the opinion of the officers the same would obstruct or interfere with the free and uninterrupted use of the highways. The police employed by the association shall have the same power in respect to matters on the highways as they have within the grounds. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 461, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 442. Licenses for theatres and similar entertainment

  The selectboard of a town, trustees of an incorporated village, and the aldermen of a city may grant licenses and fix a license fee for theatres, shows, moving picture shows, or concert halls operated and maintained for profit; may revoke the same; and may also, after hearing, refuse to grant a license when, in their judgment, the public good requires. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 461, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 443. Operating without license

  A person who installs, operates, or maintains a theatre, show, moving picture show, or concert hall without first obtaining a license, if required by the selectboard of a town, the trustees of an incorporated village, or the aldermen of a city, as provided in section 442 of this chapter, shall be fined not more than $100.00 for each day on which the person operates or maintains the theatre, show, moving picture show, or concert hall. The fine shall be paid to the town treasurer for the benefit of the town. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 461, eff. July 1, 2024.)

• § 444. [Omitted.]