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Lubbock, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified May 2026

Key Facts

Buffer distance
1,000 feet from sensitive uses
Permit issuer
Lubbock City Secretary
Background check
Required for operators
Renewal
Annual

Summary

Lubbock regulates sexually oriented businesses through licensing, location buffers from churches, schools, parks, and residential zones, and operating standards. Permits require background checks and annual renewal under Chapter 14.

Sec. 243.003. AUTHORITY TO REGULATE. (a) A municipality by ordinance or a county by order of the commissioners court may adopt regulations regarding sexually oriented businesses as the municipality or county considers necessary to promote the public health, safety, or welfare.(b) A regulation adopted by a municipality applies only inside the municipality's corporate limits.(c) A regulation adopted by a county applies only to the parts of the county outside the corporate limits of a municipality.(d) In adopting a regulation, a municipality that has in effect a comprehensive zoning ordinance adopted under Chapter 211 must comply with all applicable procedural requirements of that chapter if the regulation is within the scope of that chapter.

Source: Lubbock City SecretaryView official code

Full Breakdown

Lubbock's sexually oriented business ordinance requires a city permit before opening adult bookstores, cabarets, or theaters. Operators and managers undergo criminal background checks; certain felony convictions disqualify applicants. Locations must sit at least 1,000 feet from churches, schools, public parks, day cares, and residential districts, and cannot cluster within 1,000 feet of another adult business. Interior layout must allow unobstructed manager visibility, prohibiting fully enclosed booths. The City Secretary issues permits and the Lubbock Police Department enforces compliance through inspections.

Violations & Fines

Operating without a permit or within a buffer zone may result in permit denial or revocation, daily fines up to $2,000, and Class A misdemeanor charges for repeat violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far must an adult business be from a school?
Lubbock requires sexually oriented businesses to be located at least 1,000 feet from any school, church, park, day care, or residential district boundary.
Can I be denied a permit for past convictions?
Yes. Specified felony or sex-offense convictions within recent years disqualify operators, managers, and employees from holding a Lubbock sexually oriented business permit.

Sources & Official References

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All Lubbock rules

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