Legal Definitions - house of assignation

A house of assignation refers to a location, often a private residence or a commercial establishment, that is used as a meeting place for secret or illicit appointments, particularly those involving sexual activity for payment. It is considered a type of disorderly house because its primary purpose or frequent use involves illegal or immoral conduct that disturbs public order.

Here are some examples illustrating a house of assignation:

• Example 1: Private Residence for Illicit Meetings
  A landlord owns a secluded house in a quiet residential neighborhood. Instead of renting it to a family, they secretly rent it out by the hour or night to different individuals who use it to meet clients for paid sexual encounters. The landlord is aware of and profits from facilitating these illicit meetings, which are kept discreet from the neighbors.

  This house serves as a "house of assignation" because it is a private dwelling specifically used for secret, illegal appointments involving prostitution, thereby disturbing the peace and order of the community.

• Example 2: Commercial Establishment with a Cover
  A seemingly legitimate "massage parlor" operates in a discreet part of a city's commercial district. While it offers some standard massage services, the back rooms are regularly used by clients to meet individuals for paid sexual acts that go beyond the scope of a legal massage. The establishment's management facilitates these encounters by providing the space and arranging the meetings.

  Despite its public facade, the private rooms within this establishment function as a "house of assignation" because they are designated spaces for secret, illicit sexual encounters for payment, contributing to public disorder.