Sheboygan, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Premises licensed to sell alcohol beverages for consumption on the premises
- Who is liable
- The performer, and a licensee, manager or agent who knowingly permits it
- Counting
- Each performance is a separate offense
- Exempt venues
- Theaters, performing arts centers, civic centers, dinner theaters meeting the test
- Chapter 10 forfeiture
- $50.00 to $500.00, plus costs (Sec. 10-7(a))
- Permit or spacing rule
- None printed in the exported code text
Summary
In Sheboygan, Sec. 10-45 makes it unlawful to perform, or for a licensee, manager or agent to knowingly permit, a live act or dance that exposes the pubic area, genitals, anus, areola, nipple or covered male genitals in a turgid state on premises licensed to sell alcohol beverages for consumption on site. Each performance is a separate offense, and theaters and similar venues are excepted.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to perform or engage in, or for any licensee or manager or agent of the licensee to knowingly permit any person, employee, entertainer or patron to perform or engage in any live act, demonstration, dance or exhibition on the premises of an establishment licensed to sell alcohol beverages for consumption on the premises in such a manner or utilizing such attire as to expose to view: (1) Any portion of the pubic area, genitals, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage or any simulation thereof with less than a fully opaque covering; or (2) That portion of the female breast referred to as the areola, nipple or simulation thereof; or (3) The covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state. ... (c) The term "licensee" means the holder of a retail alcohol beverage license granted by the Common Council pursuant to this chapter or W.S.A., ch. 125. (d) Each performance in violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be a separate offense.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 10-45 of the Sheboygan Municipal Code, Nude or nearly nude dancing, is the adult-entertainment rule printed in the exported Municipal Code, and it works through the alcohol license rather than through a sexually oriented business permit. The Municode export read for this page prints no separate permit chapter or spacing distances for such businesses, and the zoning ordinance text is not part of that export, so no district or distance rule is described here. Zoning questions go to the Zoning Administrator in the Department of Planning and Development.
Subsection (a) reaches two groups. The first is any person who performs or engages in a live act, demonstration, dance or exhibition. The second is any licensee, manager or agent of the licensee who knowingly permits any person, employee, entertainer or patron to do so. The covered place is the premises of an establishment licensed to sell alcohol beverages for consumption on the premises. Three kinds of exposure to view are covered, whether by the manner of the act or by attire: (1) any portion of the pubic area, genitals, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage, or any simulation thereof, with less than a fully opaque covering; (2) the areola, nipple or simulation thereof; and (3) the covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.
Subsection (b) exempts theaters, performing arts centers, civic centers and dinner theaters where live dance, ballet, music and dramatic performances of serious artistic merit are offered on a regular basis. The exemption holds only where the predominant business or attraction is not entertainment intended to provide sexual stimulation or sexual gratification to customers, and only where the establishment is not distinguished by an emphasis on, or the advertising or promotion of, employees, entertainers or patrons engaging in nude or nearly nude dancing. Subsection (c) defines "licensee" as the holder of a retail alcohol beverage license granted by the Common Council pursuant to Chapter 10 or W.S.A., ch. 125. Subsection (d) makes each performance in violation of subsection (a) a separate offense, so every performance counts on its own.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 10-45 prints no penalty of its own, so Sec. 10-7(a) fixes the forfeiture for this Chapter 10 violation: not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00, plus costs, and in default of payment imprisonment in the county jail until the forfeiture has been paid, but not to exceed 90 days. A person under 18 faces a forfeiture of not more than $25.00 under Sec. 10-7(b). Because subsection (d) treats each performance as a separate offense, the forfeiture is counted per performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sheboygan require a sexually oriented business permit?
Who is responsible when a Sheboygan bar allows nude dancing?
Are theaters and performing arts centers covered by the Sheboygan rule?
How are repeat acts counted under Sec. 10-45?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sheboygan
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