St. Martin Parish, LA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- Sheriff of St. Martin Parish, filed in person
- Type I license fee
- $1,000.00 (cabaret, motel, theater, escort, exotic dance, massage center)
- Type II and III license fee
- $100.00
- Application processing fee
- $75.00 initial, $35.00 renewal
- License term
- One year; renewal filed 60 days before expiration
- Hours barred
- 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m.
- Penalty under Sec. 34-16
- $100.00 to $500.00 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both
Summary
In unincorporated St. Martin Parish, Sec. 34-4 makes it unlawful to operate a sexually oriented business without a valid license, with a separate license for each place of business. Applicants file in person at the Sheriff's office, are fingerprinted, and pay license fees of $1,000.00 or $100.00 depending on business type under Sec. 34-6.
(a)Sexually oriented business license.(1)It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a sexually oriented business in the parish 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 or a sexually oriented business employee license shall file in person at the office of the sheriff a completed application made on a form provided by the sheriff. The application shall be signed by the applicant. ... (c)Fingerprinting. All applicants for licenses or cards under this chapter shall be fingerprinted.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 34 of the St. Martin Parish Code, enacted by Ord. No. 05-07-0573-OR on 7-5-2005, regulates adult arcades, bookstores, novelty and video stores, cabarets, motels, motion picture theaters, escort agencies, exotic dance services, massage centers, dual purpose businesses and other sexually oriented businesses. The Sheriff runs the licensing. Under Sec. 34-4 the applicant files in person at the Sheriff's office on the Sheriff's form, signs it, and is fingerprinted. Employees need a separate sexually oriented business employee card.
Approval: under Sec. 34-5 the Sheriff has 30 days after a completed application to approve it or issue a letter of intent to deny. Grounds for denial include an applicant under 21 years of age, taxes, fees or charges due the parish that are unpaid, a conviction for a specified criminal activity, and premises that fail the interior configuration rules or the locational requirements established in the applicable zoning regulations. Silence by the Sheriff past the deadline counts as a denial. The applicant has ten days to appeal to the parish council by written request to the Sheriff. Chapter 34 itself prints no spacing distance; Sec. 34-22 says only that any measurement required by the chapter is performed by the Sheriff or the Sheriff's designee.
Fees and term: Sec. 34-6 sets a nonrefundable $75.00 processing fee for an initial application and $35.00 for a renewal. The license fee is $1,000.00 for Type I (adult cabaret, adult motel, adult motion picture theater, escort agency, exotic dance service, massage center) and $100.00 for Type II (adult arcade, bookstore, novelty and video stores, semi-nude modeling studio, other sexually oriented businesses) and for Type III (dual purpose business). Employee cards cost $25.00 for an initial application, $15.00 for a renewal application and $40.00 for issuance or renewal of the card. A license is valid for one year, with the renewal application due 60 days before expiration, and a card is valid for two years.
Hours: Sec. 34-13 bars a sexually oriented business from being open between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. A business holding a Louisiana or St. Martin Parish alcohol license can stay open to sell alcohol in those hours but cannot conduct sexually oriented entertainment activity.
Violations & Fines
Under Sec. 34-16, a person who knowingly violates the chapter faces a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, or up to 30 days in the parish jail, or both, and each day is a separate offense. The parish attorney can also sue to restrain violations. Sec. 34-9(e) sets progressive Sheriff fines for a license of $500.00, $750.00 and $1,000.00, and Sec. 34-10(d) sets a two-year revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I apply for a sexually oriented business license in unincorporated St. Martin Parish?
What does the license cost for an adult cabaret compared with an adult bookstore?
Can a club conduct adult entertainment past midnight?
Do I need a second license for a second location?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Martin Parish
Compare St. Martin Parish to another location·View the Louisiana business licensing & operations overview
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