Arlington, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer distance
- 1,000 feet
- Code authority
- Arlington Code Chapter 4
- Permit type
- Business + employee
- Max fine
- $4,000 per day
Summary
Arlington licenses sexually oriented businesses under Chapter 4 of the City Code with strict 1,000-foot buffers from churches, schools, parks, and residential zones. Operators and employees must obtain individual permits and pass background checks.
Sec. 243.003. AUTHORITY TO REGULATE. (a) A municipality by ordinance or a county by order of the commissioners court may adopt regulations regarding sexually oriented businesses as the municipality or county considers necessary to promote the public health, safety, or welfare.(b) A regulation adopted by a municipality applies only inside the municipality's corporate limits.(c) A regulation adopted by a county applies only to the parts of the county outside the corporate limits of a municipality.(d) In adopting a regulation, a municipality that has in effect a comprehensive zoning ordinance adopted under Chapter 211 must comply with all applicable procedural requirements of that chapter if the regulation is within the scope of that chapter. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept.
Full Breakdown
Arlington Code Chapter 4, Article II regulates sexually oriented businesses including adult bookstores, adult theaters, cabarets, and modeling studios. Each business must obtain a city license, and individual employees must hold operator permits. Locations must sit at least 1,000 feet from any church, school, public park, daycare, or residential district, measured property line to property line. Hours are restricted; no alcohol service is permitted on premises in conjunction with nude entertainment, consistent with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code limits. Background checks disqualify applicants with recent prostitution, obscenity, or sex-offense convictions. Inspectors from APD and code compliance audit annually.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to $4,000 fine and one year in jail per day. The city may revoke licenses, padlock locations, and pursue civil injunctions. Buffer-zone violations trigger immediate cease-and-desist orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a strip club open near AT&T Stadium?
Are dancers required to be licensed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Arlington to another location·View the Texas business licensing & operations overview
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Adult Entertainment in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Tarrant County handle adult entertainment.