Louisville, KY Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual license fee
- $1,000 per year
- Spacing from schools/parks/churches
- 500 feet minimum
- Spacing from residential zones
- 500 feet minimum
- Employee license fee
- $25 per year
- Civil penalty
- $100 to $1,000 per day
Summary
Louisville Metro requires adult entertainment establishments to hold a $1,000 annual Director-issued license and keeps their public entrance at least 500 feet from schools, parks, churches, government buildings, residential zones, other adult businesses, and alcohol-licensed premises.
The public entrance to an establishment engaging in adult entertainment activities shall not be located within 500 feet of any building containing a public or private elementary, middle or secondary school, institution or higher education or business college, or any park-mall or park-like area of open space under the control of a governmental agency, or any building used for a place of religious worship, or any building used for a governmental function or public library.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 111 of the Code of Ordinances, an adult entertainment establishment must obtain an annual license from the Director, pay a $1,000 fee, and pass a zoning/building/fire inspection before opening (§§ 111.36, 111.38, 111.41). The public entrance may not sit within 500 feet of a school, park, church, government building or library, a residentially zoned area, another adult entertainment establishment's entrance, or an alcohol-licensed premises (§ 111.20). Businesses that held nonconforming-use status under KRS 100.253 before licensing are exempt from the spacing rule. Employees also need individual $25 licenses.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license is a civil penalty of $100-$1,000 per day, or a misdemeanor punishable by a $250-$500 fine or up to 90 days in jail, plus possible injunctive action (§ 111.99).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Louisville require a permit for adult entertainment businesses?
How far must an adult entertainment business be from a school or church?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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