Shreveport, LA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- §§ 72-4, 72-6, Sexually Oriented Businesses
- License required
- Yes, per location, from chief of police
- Type I license fee
- $1,000.00 per year
- Type II/III license fee
- $100.00 per year
- Employee card fee
- $24.00 plus $26.00 background check
- Approval window
- 30 days, chief of police
- Criminal penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail
Summary
Operating a sexually oriented business in Shreveport without a license is unlawful under chapter 72. Owners apply in person to the chief of police, submit a floor diagram, and pay a fee that runs from $100.00 to $1,000.00 a year depending on the type of business, while every employee needs their own $24.00 sexually oriented business employee card and background check.
(a)Sexually oriented business license.(1)It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a sexually oriented business in the city without a valid sexually oriented business license. Separate sexually oriented business licenses shall be required for each place of business of an operator.(2)An applicant for a sexually oriented business license shall file in person at the office of the chief of police a completed application made on a form provided by the chief of police...The initial license and annual renewal fees for sexually oriented business licenses shall be as follows: Type I license: $1,000.00. Adult cabaret. Adult motel. Adult motion picture theater. Escort agency. Exotic dance service. Type II license: $100.00. Adult arcade. Adult bookstore. Adult novelty store. Adult video store. Semi-nude modeling studio. Type III license: $100.00. Dual purpose business.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 Update 1 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 72 requires a separate sexually oriented business license for adult arcades, bookstores, novelty and video stores, cabarets, motels, motion picture theaters, escort agencies, exotic dance services, semi-nude modeling studios and dual-purpose businesses, with section 72-4 making it unlawful for any person to operate a sexually oriented business in the city without a valid sexually oriented business license. The application goes to the chief of police in person, with the applicant's name, address, proof of age, and a disclosure of any specified criminal convictions within the past two to five years depending on severity.
00. 00 background-check fee, renewable every two years. The chief of police has 30 days to approve or issue a written letter of intent to deny an application under section 72-5, and denial can be appealed to the city council within ten days. 00 for an employee card, or seek suspension or revocation for repeat or serious violations.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or letting an employee work without a valid employee card, violates section 72-4 and can bring a fine under section 72-16 of up to $500.00, up to 60 days in jail, or both. The chief of police can also impose progressive administrative fines under section 72-9, starting at $500.00 for a license or $100.00 for an employee card, or move to suspend or revoke the license entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a sexually oriented business license cost in Shreveport?
Do employees of an adult business need their own license?
How long does the chief of police have to approve or deny an application?
What happens if a business operates without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shreveport
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