Manchester, CT Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Chapter 98, Article I of the Manchester Code of Ordinances sets the spacing rule: no adult entertainment business may locate within 1,000 feet of a school or child day-care center, within 1,000 feet of a church or other permanent house of worship, or within 1,000 feet of a park, recreation facility or library owned or operated by the Town of Manchester. Section 98-2 measures that distance as a straight line, ignoring intervening buildings, from the nearest point of the business's parcel to the nearest point of the protected parcel.

Article II separately regulates adult-oriented establishments such as bookstores and mini motion-picture theaters that offer private viewing booths. Since October 1, 1995, those establishments must keep booth, cubicle and room interiors fully visible from common areas, with no doors, curtains, partitions or drapes blocking the view, and enclosed viewing booths are unlawful outright. Since May 1, 1996, viewing areas must stay lit to at least 1.0 footcandle at floor level at all times a patron is present. Minors may not loiter anywhere on the premises, including adjacent parking lots used by patrons.

The Manchester Police Department, Health Department inspectors and Fire Marshal-designated inspectors may enter and inspect an adult-oriented establishment at any reasonable time, and an operator answers for an employee's violation whenever it happens with the operator's knowledge, authorization or negligent failure to supervise.