Shasta County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Section 17.88.290(A) states the board of supervisors' finding that adult entertainment businesses have 'objectionable operational characteristics' that can blight surrounding neighborhoods when concentrated, and that the section's 'primary purpose...is to prevent concentration or clustering of these businesses in any one area.' Subsection B defines the regulated uses broadly: adult bookstores, adult hotels or motels, adult mini and full motion picture theaters, adult motion picture arcades, cabarets, model studios, and sexual encounter centers, all keyed to the section's definitions of 'specified sexual activities' and 'specified anatomical areas' in subsections C and D.

Subsection E(1) makes it unlawful to establish any such business, even in a district where it would otherwise be a permitted use, within 500 feet of any residentially zoned area, within 1,000 feet of any other adult entertainment business, or within 1,000 feet of any public or private school, park, playground, public building, church, religious organization's noncommercial establishment, or any establishment likely to be used by minors. 'Establishment' under E(2) covers opening a new business, relocating one, or converting an existing business into an adult entertainment use.

Subsection F lets a property owner apply to the planning commission for a waiver of the locational rules, but only on findings that the use won't harm nearby properties or encourage a 'skid row' area, won't conflict with neighborhood conservation programs, and will comply with all other code provisions; the waiver hearing follows the same notice and appeal procedure as a standard use permit under Section 17.92.020.