Bloomington, IL Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- City Clerk, Economic & Community Development Director review
- Allowed zoning districts
- B-1, B-2, B-3 only
- Spacing from another such business
- 1,000 feet, lot line to lot line
- Spacing from schools/parks/homes
- 500 feet, lot line to lot line
- Hours closed
- 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily
- Penalty
- $250 to $3,000 per offense
Summary
A sexually oriented entertainment business needs a City Clerk license to operate anywhere in Bloomington, and it can only sit in the B-1, B-2 or B-3 zoning districts, at least 1,000 feet from another such business and 500 feet from schools, parks, churches, day cares and homes.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, establish, operate or maintain a Sexually Oriented Entertainment Business within the City unless the person first obtains and continues to maintain in full force and effect a Sexually Oriented Entertainment Business License issued by the City Clerk as required by this Ordinance. ... Sexually Oriented Entertainment Business Establishments may be located only in the B-1 Highway Business District, the B-2 General Business Service District and the B-3 Central Business District as set forth in Chapter 44 of the Bloomington City Code, 1960, as amended (Zoning Code), ... (b) No lot line of any lot to be occupied by any Sexually Oriented Entertainment Business Establishment shall be located closer than 1,000 feet to the lot line of any other lot occupied by a Sexually Oriented Entertainment Business Establishment, and no lot line of any lot to be occupied by any Sexually Oriented Entertainment Business Establishment shall be located closer than 500 feet to the lot line of any other lot used for an amusement center, an amusement park, a day-care center ... a place of worship ... a hospital ... or a zoo.
Full Breakdown
5-601 makes it unlawful for anyone to engage in, conduct, establish, operate or maintain a Sexually Oriented Entertainment Business in the City without first obtaining and keeping in force a license issued by the City Clerk. 5-603. The Economic & Community Development Director reviews applications, conducts inspections, and can grant a temporary 90-day license while a criminal background check is pending. 5-609 sets the standards for issuance, including a zoning and spacing rule: a sexually oriented entertainment business may locate only in the B-1 Highway Business, B-2 General Business Service or B-3 Central Business Districts, and no lot line of such a business may sit closer than 1,000 feet to the lot line of another such business, or closer than 500 feet to the lot line of a day-care center, school, park, place of worship, residential dwelling, hospital, or similar protected use.
No license may issue to a premises that already holds a massage therapy studio or liquor license. any day. A licensee who is revoked or surrenders a license for cause is barred from getting another one for the same premises for a year. 5-604.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of the ordinance or of a Sexually Oriented Entertainment Business License is punishable by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $3,000 for each offense under § 37.5-1203, and each violation can be grounds for license revocation. Section 37.5-1204 also declares a business operated in violation a public nuisance, letting the City sue to enjoin, remove or abate it in addition to any fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a sexually oriented business locate in Bloomington?
Does Bloomington require a license for these businesses?
What happens if a sexually oriented business operates without a license?
Can a bar or massage studio also get a sexually oriented business license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
Compare Bloomington to another location·View the Illinois business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.