Bothell, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Chapter 5.14 of the Bothell Municipal Code regulates adult entertainment facilities, defined as adult arcades, adult cabarets, adult motels, adult motion picture theaters, adult retail establishments and other adult entertainment facilities (BMC 5.14.030). An adult retail establishment is one where adult materials or devices make up more than 25 percent of stock-in-trade, and an adult motel includes one that rents a sleeping room for less than 10 hours. Section 5.14.070 requires three separate licenses, all issued by the city clerk: a business license for the owner or operator, a manager's license for managers and assistant managers, and an entertainer's license for anyone appearing nude or semi-nude. Owners cannot employ unlicensed managers or entertainers.

An applicant must be at least 18, submit two two-inch by two-inch color photographs taken within six months, and supply a complete set of fingerprints taken by a designated city official. Each officer, director and principal stockholder (20 percent or greater interest) of a corporate applicant signs and is separately qualified (5.14.080). A person acquiring a significant interest after issuance must notify the clerk in writing within 21 calendar days and file a complete application within 45 calendar days. A nonrefundable application fee is set by city council resolution.

Public safety, health, fire and building departments each have 20 calendar days to investigate, extendable by up to 10 days (5.14.100). The clerk decides a business license application within 30 calendar days, or 40 with the extension, and decides manager and entertainer applications within 15 calendar days, with a temporary license issued on a complete application (5.14.110). Business, manager and entertainer licenses are each valid for one year and must be posted near the entrance. Denial grounds include noncompliant premises, an applicant under 18, false or missing information, an unpaid fee, or a specified criminal offense within the lookback in 5.14.030(Y): two years after a misdemeanor and five years after a felony. Appeals follow BMC 5.14.150.

Location is a zoning question under BMC 12.06.130: adult entertainment facilities are allowed only on General Commercial-zoned properties west of Bothell Way NE (SR-522), south of a point about 300 feet south of the SR-522 and Hall Road intersection, with frontage on SR-522, and no more than three establishments in that area at one time. Signage is limited to one flush sign.