Bexar County, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- TX Loc Govt 243
- Minimum age
- 18 to enter or work
- State fee
- $5 per customer
- Buffer zones
- Schools, churches, homes
- Permit issuer
- Sheriff or designee
Summary
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 243 authorizes Bexar County to regulate sexually oriented businesses in unincorporated areas through location, hour, and licensing rules. The county requires permits, age 18 minimum, and significant separation from churches, schools, and homes.
CHAPTER 243. MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY AUTHORITY TO REGULATE SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS. Sec. 243.001. PURPOSE; EFFECT ON OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY. (a) The legislature finds that the unrestricted operation of certain sexually oriented businesses may be detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare by contributing to the decline of residential and business neighborhoods and the growth of criminal activity. The purpose of this chapter is to provide local governments a means of remedying this problem. (b) This chapter does not diminish the authority of a local government to regulate sexually oriented businesses.
Full Breakdown
Under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 243, Bexar County may regulate sexually oriented businesses in unincorporated areas. The county requires operators and entertainers to obtain permits from the Sheriff or designated official, prohibits employment of anyone under 18, and enforces minimum distance buffers from churches, schools, public parks, and residential property lines. State law also imposes a 5-dollar fee per customer entry under the Sexually Oriented Business Fee Act. Permit applications include background checks for prior sex offenses and vice convictions. Operating hours, signage, lighting, and on-site alcohol sales are restricted. Cities inside Bexar County impose their own parallel regulations.
Violations & Fines
Operating a sexually oriented business without a permit, employing minors, or violating buffer rules can trigger Class A misdemeanor charges, civil injunction, permit revocation, and nuisance abatement actions by the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must an SOB sit from a school?
Are entertainers required to have permits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bexar County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Bexar County to another location·View the Texas business licensing & operations overview
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