Knoxville, TN Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Spacing buffer
- 1,000 feet
- Business license fee
- $100 initial, $50 renewal
- Employee license fee
- $50 initial, $25 renewal
- Hours restriction
- Closed midnight-8 a.m., closed Sundays
- Enforcement
- Up to $50 fine per half-hour
Summary
Knoxville bars sexually oriented businesses from locating within 1,000 feet of residential zones, schools, parks, churches, day cares, alcohol sellers, or another such business, on top of a separate city license.
It shall be unlawful to establish, operate, or maintain any sexually oriented business within the city, if the proposed location is within one thousand (1,000) feet of:(1)A residentially zoned district;(2)Any school, park, church or house of worship;(3)Any licensed day-care center;(4)Any establishment authorized to sell any alcoholic beverages (defined as an alcoholic beverage with an alcohol content of five (5) percent or more) for on-premises or off-premises consumption; or(5)Any other sexually oriented business as defined by this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Knoxville Code of Ordinances § 16-468(d) prohibits establishing, operating, or maintaining a sexually oriented business anywhere within 1,000 feet of a residentially zoned district, a school, park, church, licensed day care, on- or off-premises alcohol seller, or another sexually oriented business, measured in a straight line from the closest structure to the nearest property boundary. Separately, § 16-471 requires every sexually oriented business and its employees to hold a city-issued license, $100 initial fee, $50 annual renewal for the business; $50 initial, $25 renewal for employees, subject to background checks, inspection, and revocation for specified criminal activity.
Violations & Fines
Operating within the 1,000-foot buffer or without a valid city license violates § 16-468 and § 16-471; each half-hour of continued violation is a separate offense, punishable by a fine up to $50.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a sexually oriented business open near a Knoxville school or church?
Does Knoxville require a special license for these businesses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Knoxville
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