West Allis, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- RMC § 9.59, adopted 2022
- Buffer
- 500 ft from homes, schools, churches
- Staff rule
- performers must register with city clerk
- Hours
- tied to Class B alcohol closing times
Summary
West Allis requires a license for any adult-oriented entertainment business under RMC § 9.59, and bars new locations within 500 feet of another such business, a residential district, or a school, church, or child care center.
License Required. No person may conduct a business that provides adult-oriented entertainment without first obtaining an adult-oriented entertainment license. Exceptions. No license is required under this section if any of the following applies: The person is a public or private school instructing pupils as part of its curriculum. The person is operating a licensed medical care facility engaged in the providing of medical care or education. The adult-oriented entertainment is an incidental and insignificant part of the business. Application Process. The application process in WAMC 9.50 is adopted, except as modified below: No premises may be located within 500 feet of any of the following: Another premises licensed for adult-oriented entertainment. Any residential zoning district. Any pre-existing school, church or child care center. Regulations Restricted Entertainment. The common council may approve certain forms of adult-oriented entertainment and deny other forms. No licensee may provide any form of adult-oriented entertainment unless specifically authorized at the time the license is granted.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: ?).
Full Breakdown
Revised Municipal Code § 9.59 requires a city license to operate an adult-oriented entertainment business, with narrow exceptions for schools, licensed medical facilities, and businesses where such entertainment is only an incidental part of operations. Licensed premises can't sit within 500 feet of another adult-oriented entertainment business, any residential zoning district, or a pre-existing school, church, or child care center. The ordinance also requires performers and staff to register with the city clerk, restricts semi-public booths to one occupant that must stay visible from public areas, bars on-site sexual activity, and ties closing hours to the same schedule Class 'B' alcohol premises must follow.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license, locating within the 500-foot buffer, or letting an unregistered performer work triggers the WAMC 9.51 discipline process, which can suspend or revoke the license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does West Allis require a license for adult entertainment businesses?
How far must such a business be from a school or home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Allis
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Adult Entertainment in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle adult entertainment.