Victoria, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Spacing rule
- 1,000 feet from churches, schools, homes, parks
- Licensing authority
- License issued by City Secretary
- Background check
- Fingerprinting plus criminal records check required
- Penalty
- Class A misdemeanor per violation
- Grandfather date
- Pre-March 21, 1995 businesses grandfathered
Summary
Victoria requires a City-issued license for any sexually oriented business and bans locating one within 1,000 feet of a church, school, home, park, child care facility, or another such business.
No person shall operate a sexually oriented business without first obtaining a sexually oriented business license issued by the City pursuant to the provisions of this article. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated a sexually oriented business within one thousand (1,000) feet of: a church; a public, private or parochial elementary or secondary school; a lot devoted to residential use; another sexually oriented business; a public park; or a child care facility.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 42).
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 14, Article IX, no one may open, convert, or relocate a sexually oriented business in Victoria without a City Secretary-issued license, and the Chief of Police must fingerprint the applicant and run local, state, and national criminal checks before approval. Sec. 14-131 bars locating any such business within 1,000 feet of a church, public or private school, residential lot, another sexually oriented business, public park, or child care facility, measured property line to property line. Businesses lawfully operating before March 21, 1995 are grandfathered unless they close for more than 30 days.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, violating the 1,000-foot spacing rule, or breaking any article requirement is a Class A misdemeanor; the City Attorney may also sue in district court for an injunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a sexually oriented business be from a school in Victoria?
Who reviews a sexually oriented business license application in Victoria?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Victoria
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Victoria to another location·View the Texas business licensing & operations overview
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