Texas counties have very limited zoning power, so Dallas County does not run a sexually oriented business licensing program. Each Dallas County city, including Dallas, Irving, Garland, and Mesquite, regulates SOBs under municipal code and Texas Local Government Code Chapter 243 secondary-effects authority.
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 243 authorizes counties to regulate sexually oriented businesses only in unincorporated areas, and Dallas County has not adopted a comprehensive SOB ordinance. Almost the entire county sits inside an incorporated city, where the municipality enforces its own SOB code under Chapter 243 and Penal Code Chapter 43. Dallas regulates SOBs under City Code Chapter 41A with 1,000-foot buffers, employee permits, and stage rules; Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Carrollton, and Grand Prairie maintain similar ordinances. Dallas County Sheriff enforces Penal Code obscenity and prostitution statutes countywide. The Dallas County District Attorney prosecutes SOB-related criminal cases such as compelling prostitution under Penal Code 43.05.
Operating an unlicensed SOB is enforced by the city in which the business sits. Penal Code 43 obscenity, prostitution, and compelling prostitution charges are filed by the Dallas County DA. Sheriff enforcement applies in unincorporated pockets only.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Dallas County, TX
Outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated Dallas County unless a daily burn permit is issued by the Dallas County Fire Marshal. Burns must be at least ...
Dallas County, TX
Dallas County Fire Marshal enforces the International Fire Code Chapter 61 for propane and liquefied petroleum gas storage in unincorporated areas. Cylinders...
Dallas County, TX
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Dallas County, TX
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Dallas County, TX
Drone flights near DFW International, Dallas Love Field, and Addison Airport require FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone. Controlled airspace covers...
Dallas County, TX
Dallas County Parks generally prohibit recreational drone takeoff and landing without authorization. The FAA preempts airspace regulation, but counties may r...
See how Dallas County's adult entertainment rules stack up against other locations.
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