Henrico County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issued by
- Chief of police
- Application fee
- $200 (renewal $100)
- Permit term
- 12 months, non-transferable
- Decision deadline
- 30 days (60 if pending records)
- Revocation grounds
- 12 listed causes, §15-183
- Governing article
- Ch. 15, Art. VI (§§15-181, 15-182)
Summary
Henrico requires anyone operating an adult bookstore, adult motel, adult nightclub or similar business to hold a $200 permit from the chief of police, on top of a standard business license. County Code §§ 15-181 and 15-182 define the covered businesses and set the application, background-check and renewal rules.
Adult business means any adult bookstore, adult video store, adult model studio, adult motel, adult movie theater, adult nightclub, adult store, business providing adult entertainment, or any other establishment that regularly exploits an interest in matter relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas or regularly features live entertainment intended for the sexual stimulation or titillation of patrons. ... Every person either operating or desiring to operate an adult business, in addition to obtaining any required business license from the director of finance, must apply to the chief of police, or his designee, for a permit to conduct such activity. Each such application must be accompanied by a fee in the amount of $200.00. ... The permit will be valid for 12 months from the date thereof and may be renewed in the same manner as it was initially obtained. The application fee for a renewal permit is $100.00. No permit is transferable.
Full Breakdown
Article VI of Chapter 15 defines 'adult business' to include any adult bookstore, adult video store, adult model studio, adult motel, adult movie theater, adult nightclub, adult store, or business providing adult entertainment, plus any other establishment that regularly exploits an interest in specified sexual activities or features live entertainment for the sexual stimulation of patrons. Section 15-182 requires every operator to apply to the chief of police for a permit in addition to any required business license, pay a $200 application fee, and submit a full background disclosure: identifying information, references, prior felony or misdemeanor convictions, any adult-business permits held elsewhere in the past five years, fingerprints and photograph, and a criminal records check.
The chief of police must act within 30 days (60 if awaiting outside records); if he misses the deadline, the applicant may begin operating pending a denial notice. A permit is denied for false information, a felony conviction within five years, a moral-turpitude or obscenity conviction within three years, a permit denial or revocation elsewhere within 12 months, code non-compliance, or an unpaid fee. Permits run 12 months, renew for a $100 fee, and are not transferable; a change in ownership or managers voids the permit automatically.
Violations & Fines
Under § 15-183, the chief of police can revoke a permit for fraud on the application, a post-issuance felony or moral-turpitude conviction, drug or prostitution activity on the premises, refusing an inspection, repeated offenses like exposing minors to harmful material or obscenity within 12 months, tax violations, or failing to comply with the article. Denials and revocations carry a right to prompt judicial review under § 15-185.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an adult business under Henrico's code?
How much does an adult business permit cost in Henrico?
Can the county deny or revoke an adult business permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henrico County
Compare Henrico County to another location·View the Virginia business licensing & operations overview
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