San Leandro, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Police Chief
- Locational buffer
- 1,000 feet from sensitive uses
- Hours allowed
- 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Minimum age
- 21 years, patrons and applicants
- Permit term
- 1 year, renew 30 days ahead
- Stage separation
- 18 in. high, 10 ft. from patrons
Summary
Any adult-oriented business in San Leandro needs a regulatory permit from the Police Chief under Municipal Code § 4-24-300, plus compliance with the 1,000-foot locational spacing standards in the Zoning Code. Operators must be at least 21, hours are limited to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and every performer and employee needs a separate permit.
Every person who proposes to maintain, operate, or conduct an adult-oriented business in the City of San Leandro shall file an application with the Police Chief on a form provided by the City and shall pay a filing fee, as established by resolution adopted by the City Council from time to time, which shall not be refundable. ... Except for those businesses also regulated by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, an adult-oriented business shall be open for business only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on any particular day.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4967405; v8 updated 2026-07-06).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 4-24 (Adult-Oriented Businesses) requires every person who proposes to operate one to file an application and nonrefundable fee with the Police Chief under Section 4-24-300, disclosing ownership, a floor plan, and a certified drawing showing the property lines of any other adult-oriented business, place of religious assembly, school, park, residential zone, day care, or youth club within 1,000 feet of the entrance, per Section 4-24-305(h). The Police Chief must investigate and act within 30 days under Section 4-24-310, granting the permit if the business meets the locational criteria of Zoning Code Article 16-4-1683 and the development and performance standards of Section 4-24-400, unless Section 4-24-315 requires denial, such as for an under-21 applicant or a disqualifying conviction.
Every performer and employee also needs a separate adult-oriented business permit under Section 4-24-325. , exterior windows must stay covered with opaque material and doors may not be propped open, all indoor patron areas except restrooms must be visible to management, no one under 21 may enter, and live performers must remain on a stage at least 18 inches high and 10 feet from patrons behind a 30-inch rail with no physical contact or direct tipping. Permits run for one year and must be renewed at least 30 days before expiration.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a Section 4-24-300 permit, admitting someone under 21, allowing physical contact between performers and patrons, or failing to meet the 1,000-foot locational standards are each violations that can support permit denial or non-renewal by the Police Chief. Transferring a permit without approval under Section 4-24-320 voids it outright, and the City can pursue the standard enforcement remedies available under the Municipal Code in addition to permit denial or expiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What permit does an adult business need to open in San Leandro?
What hours can an adult-oriented business operate in San Leandro?
Can performers touch patrons at a San Leandro adult cabaret?
How long does an adult-oriented business permit last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Leandro
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Adult Entertainment in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle adult entertainment.