Fairfax County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Special permit required
- Allowed district
- C-7 regional shopping center only
- Spacing
- 1,000 ft from schools, churches, other such uses
- Adjacency
- Cannot abut residential-zoned property
Summary
Adult entertainment establishments in Fairfax County need a special permit and can only operate in a regional shopping center within the C-7 District.
An adult entertainment establishment must:
(1) Be located in the C-7 District within a regional shopping center;
(2) Abut only property that is not used or zoned for residential purposes; and
(3) Be located a minimum of 1,000 feet from all religious assemblies, schools, and other adult
entertainment establishments.
U. Entertainment, Public
Standards applicable to all public entertainment uses:
(1) In reviewing an application, the Board will take into consideration factors such as safety, noise, hours of
operation, and traffic and may impose conditions to ensure that the use will be compatible with and not adversely impact adjacent properties.
(2) Food, beverage, and smoking activities may be offered in conjunction with the public entertainment use.
(3) In the I-2, I-3, I-4, I-5, and I-6 Districts, a public entertainment use is only allowed in conjunction with a
restaurant, craft beverage production establishment, or hotel or motel in those districts where the use is permitted.
V. Golf Course or Country Club
https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/fairfaxcounty-va/doc-viewer.aspx#secid--1 205/545
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published.
Full Breakdown
Fairfax County zoning confines adult entertainment establishments to the C-7 District inside a regional shopping center, and requires a special permit. The site must abut only non-residential property and sit at least 1,000 feet from every religious assembly, school, and other adult entertainment establishment, per Zoning Ordinance subsection 4102.5.T.
Violations & Fines
Operating an adult entertainment establishment without the required special permit or outside the C-7 regional shopping center location is a zoning violation subject to county enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can an adult entertainment business locate in Fairfax County?
How far must it be from a school or church?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
Compare Fairfax County to another location·View the Virginia business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.