El Dorado County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Highway 50 buffer
- 300 feet minimum
- Buffer from schools/churches/libraries
- 1,000 feet minimum
- Permitted hours
- 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Permit required
- Administrative Permit + vicinity map
- Governing section
- El Dorado County Code § 130.40.040
Summary
El Dorado County requires adult (sex-oriented) business establishments to keep 300 feet from U.S. Highway 50 and 1,000 feet from schools, churches, libraries, residential zones and other adult businesses. Owners must secure an Administrative Permit with a vicinity map before opening, and operating hours are capped between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. daily.
C.Prior to Administrative Permit approval, a potential adult business owner shall provide a vicinity map demonstrating that the adult business is not being established or located within 300 feet of U.S. Highway 50 and within 1,000 feet of the following existing uses:1.Any zone that allows residential uses by right;2.Any house of worship or any noncommercial establishment operated by a bona fide religious organization;3.Any public library, public building, or other public facility;4.Any public, private, or parochial school, pre-school, child day care center, park, or playground, or any establishment or facility likely to be used by minors; and5.Any other adult business. ... E.No adult business establishment shall be open nor shall any activity described in this Section be conducted or carried on in the business premises between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. of any day.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
4. The rule applies whenever a business opens as new, converts from a non-adult use, or enlarges an existing adult establishment. S. Highway 50 and outside 1,000 feet of any residentially-zoned parcel, house of worship, public library or building, school, preschool, child day care center, park, playground, or other establishment likely to be used by minors, and outside 1,000 feet of any other adult business. Distances run in a straight line between the nearest structure wall and the nearest property line of the protected use, ignoring any buildings in between.
m. 34 (Adult-Related Establishments), cannot be visible from outside the building, and every opening, entry or window must be covered or screened so the interior cannot be seen from the exterior. Loudspeakers audible in a public area are barred, and any dumpster on site must stay locked when not in use.
Violations & Fines
Operating outside the permitted hours, inside a buffer zone, or without the required Administrative Permit is a zoning violation the County can pursue through code enforcement, including permit denial, revocation, and citation. Exterior-visible signage or uncovered windows displaying prohibited material are cited the same way, and because the buffer review happens before permit issuance, an unresolved violation blocks the license needed to legally operate the business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must an adult business be from a school in El Dorado County?
What hours can an adult business operate in the county?
Do adult businesses need a special permit to open?
Can an adult business display signage visible from outside?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Dorado County
California rules heatmap·Compare El Dorado County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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