Walworth County, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed district
- B-2 General Business District only, § 74-55(1)ll
- Separation distance
- 750 feet from residences, schools, churches, parks
- Building requirement
- Must be conducted within an enclosed building
- Measured from
- Time of zoning permit application or use start
- Penalty
- $100-$1,000 forfeiture per violation plus costs
Summary
Walworth County confines adult entertainment uses to its B-2 General Business District and requires a 750-foot separation from the nearest residential structure, residential zoning districts, churches, schools, parks, playgrounds, beaches, and daycare centers. Section 74-55 also requires the use to be conducted entirely inside an enclosed building in the unincorporated towns.
ll.Adult entertainment use provided that there is a minimum building separation of 750 feet from the nearest residential structure, residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, R-8, A-5, C-3, B-5, B-6), churches, schools, public parks, public playgrounds, public beaches, daycare centers and park zoning districts (P-1, P-2) existing at the time of application for a zoning permit or at the time of establishing an adult entertainment use within existing buildings which are properly zoned and do not require a zoning permit, and further provided that any adult entertainment use be conducted within an enclosed building.
Full Breakdown
Section 74-55 of the Walworth County Code lists adult entertainment as a principal use allowed in the B-2 General Business District, but only where there is a minimum building separation of 750 feet from the nearest residential structure and from residential zoning districts including R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, R-8, A-5, C-3, B-5, and B-6. The same 750-foot buffer must also be kept from churches, schools, public parks, public playgrounds, public beaches, daycare centers, and the P-1 and P-2 park zoning districts.
The distance is measured as of the time of application for a zoning permit, or as of the time an adult entertainment use is established within an existing building that is already properly zoned and does not require a new zoning permit. The ordinance further requires that any adult entertainment use be conducted entirely within an enclosed building, ruling out outdoor operation. Because the B-2 district is the only district where the code lists the use as a principal use, an adult entertainment business cannot locate in the B-1 Local Business, B-3 Waterfront Business, or B-4 Highway Business districts, or in any residential, agricultural, or park district, without first obtaining a rezoning to B-2 and meeting the 750-foot separation.
The County Zoning Administrator and the Planning, Zoning, and Sanitation Committee review compliance with the district and spacing requirements, and violations of the zoning ordinance are handled under §§ 74-46 and 74-47 like any other chapter 74 breach.
Violations & Fines
Operating an adult entertainment use outside the B-2 district, or inside the required 750-foot buffer from a residence, school, church, park, or daycare center, is a zoning violation under § 74-47, punishable by a forfeiture of $100 to $1,000 per violation plus costs, up to 30 days in jail for nonpayment, and each day of continued operation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can an adult entertainment business locate in unincorporated Walworth County?
How far must an adult entertainment use be from a school or church?
Can an adult entertainment business operate outdoors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Walworth County
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