Pawtucket, RI Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Chapter 193's sexually oriented business article requires anyone who operates one, whether an adult theater, adult motel, adult arcade, escort agency or nude model studio, to hold a city license under § 193-10; operating without one is a separate offense. The application must include a to-scale sketch of the premises, the applicant's name, address, date of birth and Social Security number, five years of prior addresses, a description of any prior adult-business license revocations, and, if more than one person owns the business, the signature of every individual holding a 20% or greater interest.

§§ 11-9-1, 11-10-1, 11-31-1, 11-34-1, 11-37-1 or 11-45-1(a)(7)) within the preceding five years for a misdemeanor or 10 years for a felony. The annual license fee is $3,000, plus $1,000 per adult arcade machine, under § 193-12, and licenses expire every November 30 with renewal due at least 30 days ahead under § 193-14. Location is tightly controlled: § 193-16 bars a sexually oriented business within 1,000 feet of a church, public or private school, residential district boundary, public park or hospital, and within 500 feet of another sexually oriented business, and bars stacking more than one such business in the same building.

Police, Health, Fire and Public Works representatives can inspect a licensed premises at any time it's open, per § 193-13, except rented motel rooms currently occupied by a customer.