Tacoma, WA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Establishment license fee
- $2,400 first year, $600 renewal
- Manager/entertainer license
- $150 each, annual
- Business hours ban
- 2:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
- Licensing authority
- Finance Department, Tax and License Division
Summary
Tacoma requires adult entertainment establishments, managers, and entertainers to hold separate City licenses, with a $2,400 first-year establishment fee plus $150 manager and entertainer fees.
Adult entertainment establishments shall not be operated or maintained in the City unless the owner or operator has first obtained a license from the Finance Department as set forth in this chapter. It is unlawful for any entertainer, employee, or operator to knowingly work in or about or to knowingly perform any service directly related to the operation of any unlicensed adult entertainment establishment.
B. The fees for an adult entertainment establishment license in the City as required in this chapter is $2,400 for the first year of application, of which $250 shall not be refundable, and a $600 annual renewal fee thereafter to defray the costs of processing the application.
Adult Entertainment Establishment License, Initial Fee $2,400 Adult Entertainment Establishment License, Renewal Fee $600 (Ord. 27297 § 1, 2004-11-23)
Full Breakdown
Under TMC § 6B.30.030, adult entertainment establishments cannot operate in Tacoma without a license from the Finance Department, and it is unlawful for any entertainer, employee, or operator to knowingly work in an unlicensed establishment. The initial establishment license costs $2,400, with $250 non-refundable, plus a $600 annual renewal fee. Separate manager's and entertainer's licenses cost $150 each per year under TMC § 6B.30.040. Applicants undergo fingerprinting and criminal background checks, and the City can deny, suspend, or revoke a license for false statements, criminal history, or other grounds listed in the chapter. Adult entertainment is barred between 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Violations & Fines
Operating, working, or performing at an unlicensed adult entertainment establishment is unlawful; the City can deny, suspend, or revoke a license for false statements or disqualifying criminal history.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an adult entertainment license cost in Tacoma?
Can adult entertainment establishments operate all night in Tacoma?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
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Adult Entertainment in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle adult entertainment.