Bellflower, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $300 per year
- Age restriction
- No licensee under 18
- Zoning permit
- Conditional Use Permit required (C-G)
- Buffer distance
- 500 feet from homes, schools, similar uses
Summary
Adult bookstores, adult theaters, and model studios in Bellflower must hold a $300-per-year business license, can't employ or be run by anyone under 18, and, under zoning, need a Conditional Use Permit plus 500-foot separation from homes, schools, parks, and similar uses.
Every person or firm engaged in the operation of an adult bookstore, adult mini-motion picture theatre, adult motion picture theatre, and/or model studio must pay a license fee of $300 per annum. Such licenses for an adult bookstore, adult mini-motion picture theater, adult motion picture theater, and/or model studio may not be issued to any person under 18 years of age or to a corporation any of whose officers are under 18 years of age.
B. Restaurants, bars and cocktail lounges operating with live entertainment including, without limitation, topless waitresses must pay an additional $300 per annum.
C. In addition to those specific requirements under Section 5.04.090, every applicant, if a corporation, must provide a current record and file showing the name and residence address of each of the officers, directors and each stockholder owning more than 5% of the stock of the corporation. If the owner is a partnership, whether a general or limited partnership, the name and residence address of each partner must be set forth. (Prior code § 5-2.35; Ord. 1311 § 7, 5/9/16; Ord. 1344 § 4, 10/23/17)
Full Breakdown
Two layers apply. Business Licenses Title 5 (§ 5.08.360) sets an annual $300 license fee for operating an adult bookstore, adult mini-motion-picture theater, adult motion-picture theater, or model studio, plus another $300 for restaurants, bars, or cocktail lounges adding live entertainment such as topless waitstaff; no such license can go to anyone under 18, including a corporate officer. Separately, General Commercial (C-G) zoning (§ 17.44.140) makes adult business a Conditional Use Permit use and imposes 500-foot buffers from residential property, schools, parks and playgrounds, other adult-business uses, and establishments serving alcohol, hotels/motels, pawnshops, pool halls, and secondhand stores; windows and signage can't expose the interior to public view.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the license or the zoning Conditional Use Permit, or locating inside a barred 500-foot buffer, exposes the business to license revocation under § 5.08.460 and zoning enforcement; a license also can't be held by anyone under 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellflower
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