Austin, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Local ordinance
- Austin Code Ch. 4-13
- Distance buffer
- 1,000 feet from sensitive uses
- Performer rule
- Six-foot no-touch buffer
- Licensing agency
- Austin Police Department
- State fee
- $5 per customer admission
Summary
Austin City Code Chapter 4-13 licenses sexually oriented businesses, requiring annual permits, distance buffers from schools, churches, parks, and residential zones, no-touch performer rules, and operator background checks; violations are class C misdemeanors enforced by APD vice.
Sec. 243.006. SCOPE OF REGULATION. (a) The location of sexually oriented businesses may be: (1) restricted to particular areas; or (2) prohibited within a certain distance of a school, regular place of religious worship, residential neighborhood, or other specified land use the governing body of the municipality or county finds to be inconsistent with the operation of a sexually oriented business. (b) A municipality or county may restrict the density of sexually oriented businesses.
Full Breakdown
Austin Code Chapter 4-13 regulates SOBs including adult cabarets, theaters, bookstores, modeling studios, and arcades. Operators, managers, and entertainers must each hold a license issued by the Austin Police Department. The ordinance imposes 1,000-foot distance separations from schools, day cares, churches, parks, residences, and other SOBs. A no-touch rule prohibits physical contact between semi-nude entertainers and patrons, and a six-foot buffer applies in cabarets. Licenses are denied for specified prior convictions within stated lookback periods. Operating hours are restricted, and configurations must allow line-of-sight for managers. Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 102 layers a $5 per-customer state fee on SOB admissions. Austin's permit fees and inspections are administered by APD.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit, allowing prohibited contact, violating distance rules, or admitting minors are class C misdemeanors with fines up to $500 per occurrence and license revocation. Repeat offenses trigger civil injunctions and permanent bans against operators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a sexually oriented business open in Austin?
Do dancers need their own license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
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Adult Entertainment in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Travis County handle adult entertainment.