Campbell County, KY Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Before operating, § 117.04(A)
- Establishment fee
- $3,000 per year, § 117.05(B)
- Manager/entertainer fee
- $155 per year each
- Outright bans
- Arcades, encounter centers, escort bureaus, § 117.04(E)
- First offense penalty
- Class B misdemeanor, § 117.99(B)
- Repeat offense
- Class A misdemeanor within 2 years
- Scope
- Countywide except City of Newport, § 117.24
Summary
Campbell County requires a business privilege license before anyone can operate a sexually oriented business or service oriented escort bureau, or work as its manager, entertainer or escort, under Code § 117.04. Annual fees run $3,000 for an establishment and $155 for an individual license, and the chapter outright bans sexually oriented arcades, encounter centers, motels and escort operations countywide.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any sexually oriented business or a service oriented escort bureau in the county unless the owner(s) thereof has obtained from the License Inspector the appropriate license to operate such business and such license is current and not under suspension. ... (1) The annual license fee for a sexually oriented business shall be $3,000. Upon denial of a business application, the business shall receive a refund of $1,500; ... (B) Penalty for violation. A first violation of this chapter, in accordance with division (A) of this section, shall be a Class B Misdemeanor; a second violation within two years of a previous violation shall be a Class A Misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-50: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. O-09-2026, passed 8-5-26; and Res. R-42-26, passed 7-15-26; and State legislation current through KRS Pamphlet 2025).
Full Breakdown
04(A)-(D) to operate a sexually oriented business or service oriented escort bureau, or to work in one as a manager, entertainer or escort, without a current, unsuspended license from the License Inspector. 04(E) goes further and bans several categories outright regardless of licensing: a sexually oriented arcade, encounter center, motel, unlicensed massage parlor, nude modeling studio, escort bureau or escort operation, and public exhibition of specified anatomical areas. 05(B) are $3,000 a year for a sexually oriented business establishment, with a $1,500 refund if the application is denied, $3,000 for a service oriented escort bureau, and $155 a year for each manager, entertainer or escort license, plus a $25 name-change fee and a $10 duplicate-license fee.
083(7), except that the City of Newport, which already regulates sexually oriented businesses at least as strictly, is exempt from this county chapter unless it later opts in. 99(B): a first offense is a Class B misdemeanor and a second offense within two years of a prior violation is a Class A misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license, operating at an unlicensed location, or continuing to operate on a suspended or revoked license under § 117.04 is prosecuted under § 117.99(B): a first violation is a Class B misdemeanor, and a second violation within two years of the first is a Class A misdemeanor, each punished under Kentucky's misdemeanor statutes. Some violations of §§ 117.14 or 117.15 can be cured with a $500 penalty and processing fee if paid within five days of written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to open a sexually oriented business in Campbell County?
How much does a sexually oriented business license cost in Campbell County?
Does this chapter apply inside the City of Newport?
What's the penalty for operating without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Campbell County
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