Sex establishments licence

A sex establishment can be a sex shop, sex cinema or a sexual entertainment venue, all of which require a licence. Such establishments include a:

• sex shop - a premise that a business uses to sell sex articles
• sex cinema - a premise used to show films which are concerned primarily with, or relate to, or are intended to stimulate sexual activity
• sexual entertainment venue - a premise that includes live displays of nudity or live performances intended to stimulate sexual activity, or provided before a live audience for the financial gain of the organiser / entertainer

Legislation summary

View the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

Eligibility criteria

The applicant must:

• be at least 18 years old
• not be disqualified from holding a licence
• must have been resident in the UK at least six months immediately before the application or, if a body corporate, must be incorporated in the UK

The licence is valid for one year and operates from the 1 March to 28 February. However, you may apply for a licence at any time during the year.

Applying for a licence

To apply for a new licence, please download applications part 1 ^{(PDF, 194kb)} and part 2 ^{(PDF, 47kb)}. 

We advise you to read the sex establishments policy ^{(PDF, 181kb)} before applying.

When considering an application for a sex establishment licence, we use the following criteria:

• the suitability of the applicant
• whether the applicant is a "front" person for someone else
• the location and situation of the premise in relation to other premises in the area (it's near a school, place of worship or family shopping area)

Once your application is submitted and paid for online it is automatically sent to the responsible authorities, so there is no need for applicants to send in paper hard copies.

Fees

Note. Where separate application and compliance fees are listed applicants will still need to pay both fees before the licence is issued for use, the total fee can be paid at the time of application. Applicants who wish to pay the fees separately can do so, the application fee is paid at the time the application is submitted and the compliance fee is paid after the licence is granted prior to issue.

Application evaluation process

Once your application is received, a licensing officer will contact you to make arrangements to carry out an inspection of your premises.

The inspection will ensure that the premises meet our licensing conditions.

Failed application redress

Any person who is refused a licence can appeal to Magistrates Court.

Offences and penalties

• if you operate a sex establishment without a licence, fail to comply with licence conditions or admit persons under 18, you're committing an offence
• penalties upon conviction range from £1,000 to £20,000

Page last updated: 20 March 2024