Multnomah County, OR Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- License authority
- County Sheriff
- License term
- Annual, due April 1
- Unlicensed grace period
- 6 months before removal
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Penalty class
- Class A violation
Summary
Unincorporated Multnomah County requires an annual Sheriff-issued license to run an adult bookstore or adult theater, with removal ordered if unlicensed or over-concentrated.
It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct an adult bookstore or adult theater business in unincorporated the county without a current annual license. ... Any adult bookstore or adult theater remaining unlicensed for an uninterrupted period of six months shall be deemed in violation of this subchapter, and shall be removed or be relocated so as to comply with the requirements of this subchapter.
Full Breakdown
It is unlawful to operate an adult bookstore or adult theater in unincorporated Multnomah County without a current annual license from the Sheriff. The Sheriff issues the license only after inspection confirms a complete application, paid fees, and compliance with county zoning, building, and plumbing codes. A business left unlicensed for six uninterrupted months must be removed or relocated, and where two or more adult businesses sit close together and can't all be licensed, only the one established longest keeps the right to remain. This covers unincorporated county land only. Portland licenses adult businesses under its own city code.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or remaining unlicensed six straight months, is a Class A violation (fine up to the state Class A maximum, each day a separate offense) and triggers Sheriff-ordered removal or relocation; the Sheriff may also deny or revoke a license for violations, with 30 days to correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Portland?
What happens if an adult bookstore never gets licensed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon business licensing & operations overview
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