Cowlitz County, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Adult cabaret license fee
- $500.00 per year
- Other adult enterprise license fee
- $125.00 per year
- Manager/entertainer license fee
- $100.00/yr + $25 processing
- Permit application fee
- $100.00 nonrefundable
- Barred operating hours
- 2:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Decision deadline
- 45 days from filing
- Licensing authority
- Dept. of Building and Planning
Summary
Unincorporated Cowlitz County requires every adult entertainment enterprise, cabarets, bookstores, arcades, theaters, and similar businesses, to hold a county permit under CCC § 10.44.040 before opening, plus an annual license under CCC § 10.44.070 costing $500 for adult cabarets and $125 for other adult entertainment enterprises.
No adult entertainment enterprise shall be permitted to operate without a valid adult entertainment enterprise permit, issued by the county for the particular type of business. It shall be a violation of this chapter if a person operates or causes to be operated an adult entertainment enterprise without the permit. ... The annual fee for an adult cabaret business license shall be $500.00. ... The annual license fee for all other adult entertainment enterprises described in CCC § 10.44.030 shall be $125.00.
Full Breakdown
44, Regulation of Sexually Oriented Businesses, was adopted by Ord. 040 makes it a violation to operate an adult entertainment enterprise without a county permit; applicants file a sworn application with the Department of Building and Planning listing legal name and aliases, any criminal convictions in the prior two years, fingerprints on Sheriff-prescribed forms, two passport-style photographs, a driver's license and Social Security or tax ID number, and a nonrefundable $100 processing fee. 060). 00 for other adult entertainment enterprises, expiring every December 31st and renewable by January 1st. 00 annual fee. m. 230.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required permit or license, or otherwise violating Chapter 10.44, is a civil infraction enforced under Chapter 2.06 CCC, since the chapter is treated as a "land use ordinance" for enforcement purposes under CCC § 10.44.290. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, the violation is also a public nuisance subject to injunctive relief, and paying a penalty does not excuse continued noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an adult cabaret operate 24 hours in unincorporated Cowlitz County?
How much does an adult entertainment enterprise license cost in the county?
What happens if the county doesn't act on my permit application in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cowlitz County
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