Auburn, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Establishment license fee
- $500.00 per year
- Manager license fee
- $50.00 per year
- Spacing from homes/schools/parks/churches
- 1,000 feet
- Spacing from other adult businesses
- 1,000 feet
- Operating hours ban
- 2:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- License appeal window
- 10 calendar days
Summary
Auburn requires a $500-a-year establishment license and $50-a-year manager's license for adult entertainment businesses under ACC 5.30, and bans sexually oriented businesses within 1,000 feet of homes, schools, daycares, churches, parks and each other under ACC 18.74.030.
A. Sexually oriented business uses are prohibited: 1. Within 1,000 feet of any property zoned for any residential use or of any property used for any single-family or multiple-family residential use... 2. Within 1,000 feet of any public or private elementary or secondary school; 3. Within 1,000 feet of any child daycare center, child care service, nursery, preschool or community youth center; 4. Within 1,000 feet of any church or other facility or institution used primarily for religious purposes; 5. Within 1,000 feet of any public park, open space or other similar place where children are likely to congregate;... 7. Within 1,000 feet of any other sexually oriented business use. B. As used herein, the distances shall mean the straight-line distance between the edge or corner of the property on which the sexually oriented business use is located to the nearest edge or corner of the property of another sexually oriented business use or any of the sensitive uses set forth above.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030). 090). 040). 030(A) bans such uses within 1,000 feet of any residentially zoned or used property, any public or private school, any daycare or child care service, any church or religious facility, any public park or place where children congregate, any large enclosed retail complex catering to children, and within 1,000 feet of any other sexually oriented business. 030(B)). 030(C)). m.
Violations & Fines
Violating the ACC 18.74 location rules is a civil infraction enforced through Chapter 1.25 ACC, and is separately declared a public nuisance per se subject to abatement, on top of possible business license revocation (ACC 18.74.050). Denial of a license under Chapter 5.30 can be appealed to the hearing examiner within 10 calendar days, with judicial review under Chapter 7.16 RCW available afterward (ACC 5.30.070).
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must an adult business be from a school or park in Auburn?
What does an adult entertainment license cost in Auburn?
Can an existing adult business stay if the 1,000-foot rule now applies to it?
What happens if an adult business violates Auburn's location rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
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Adult Entertainment in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle adult entertainment.