Irondequoit, NY Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Article XIIIA of the zoning chapter, added 5-2-1995 by L.L. No. 9-1995, governs adult uses in the Town of Irondequoit. Section 235-76.23 sets the location rules on top of every other requirement of the Code. Adult uses are allowed only in an M Manufacturing District, excluding any M district that is also a WD Waterfront Development District or is proposed to be rezoned to WD. The primary entrance must be at least 700 feet from the property lines of residences or residentially zoned property, schools, day-care facilities, churches or other places of worship, parks, playgrounds or other areas where large numbers of minors may congregate, open space or greenbelt areas, and governmental facilities. A distance of at least 1,000 feet, measured from the outside walls of the structures, must separate adult use establishments. Every adult use must operate in an enclosed building, and no passerby can see a specified anatomical area or specified sexual activity through any display, sign, window or other opening.

A license is separate from zoning. Under § 235-76.3 it is unlawful to conduct, maintain or operate an adult use and entertainment establishment unless the premises are licensed. The application goes to the Town Board on a form from the Town Clerk. Each applicant, manager and security guard submits two sets of fingerprints and photographs to the Irondequoit Police Department, which forwards the prints to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. The Town Board refers the application to the Police Department and the Director of Development Services, who report in writing within 30 days. The report includes the Chief of Police's examination of noise, traffic and public safety impacts. The Board then holds a public hearing on at least 10 days' notice, and its decision is final.

The license fee is set in accordance with § 1-18. A license runs for one year from January 1 to the end of December, an original license runs from the grant date to the end of December, and a license granted after the first of July of any year pays 1/2 of the annual fee. Renewal applications go to the Town Board at least 30 days before expiration. The license is not transferable and covers only the location named in it. Revocation requires at least three days' mailed notice of a hearing under § 235-76.7.

A cabaret must employ not less than one unarmed, uniformed security guard registered under Article 7 of the General Business Law per every 100 patrons or portion thereof (§ 235-76.21), and minors under 18 cannot be admitted (§ 235-76.12).