Everett, MA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Section 21A of the Everett Zoning Ordinance regulates adult entertainment land use in the City of Everett, Massachusetts by Special Permit, citing Chapter 40A sections 9 and 9A. Its declaration of purpose says the City of Everett wants to protect its residential lands from encroachment by commercial adult uses and to preserve the safety of young people and children near schools and public parks. Section 21A groups adult bookstores, adult clubs, adult theaters, adult video stores and adult paraphernalia stores with fortune tellers, pawn shops, body piercing studios, check cashing establishments, tattoo studios and gun shops, and applies one set of restrictions to all of them.

Under Section 21A(C)(1), none of these uses can be located within 1,000 feet of each other, within 500 feet of the nearest lot line of a residential district or a place of worship, within 1,000 feet of a non-profit educational use, library or museum, within 1,000 feet of a park or playground, or within 1,000 feet of any establishment licensed under section 12 of Chapter 138 of the General Laws. The place of worship distance applies unless the Board of Appeals first determines in writing that the use will not be detrimental to the spiritual activities. Section 21A(C)(2) allows no advertisement, display or promotional material visible to the public from any public way.

Section 21A(D) allows the uses only by Special Permit in Industrial and Industrial Limited Districts, and names the City Council as Special Permit Granting Authority. A public hearing must be held within sixty-five days after filing, the council must act within ninety days after the hearing, and failure to act in that time is deemed a grant. A permit expires one year from issue if substantial use has not commenced. The application must list the owner, all persons holding an interest, a sworn statement on convictions under M.G.L. c. 119, s. 63 and c. 272, s. 28, a Chief of Police statement that the CORI check is satisfactory, proposed security precautions and the number of employees.