Sex establishments must be licensed under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009.
The definition of sex establishment includes:
Sex shop
Premises, vehicles or stalls used for selling, displaying or demonstrating sex articles (which may include R18-certificate videos and DVDs) or other things used in connection with sexual activity or acts of force or restraint associated with it.
Sex cinema
Where R18-certificate films can be shown
Sexual entertainment venue
Premises where entertainment made up of live sexually stimulating performances or displays of nudity is provided in front of an audience, for the financial gain of the organiser or performers. Providing this entertainment on no more than 11 occasions a year, with at least one calendar month between each event, doesn't require a sex establishment licence.
Cost
- Application fee: £1,893 plus on the application being successful £3,222 monitoring/enforcement fee payable on grant of the licence. The licence will be issued and become effective on payment of the monitoring/enforcement fee - Total £5,115
- Annual/Renewal fee: £721 plus on the application being successful £3,222 monitoring/enforcement fee payable on grant of the licence. The licence will be issued and become effective on payment of the monitoring/enforcement fee - Total £3,943
- Variation fee: £1,073
- Transfer fee: £1,073
You must not begin/continue operating a sex establishment until your application for a licence/renewal is granted, the fee for monitoring/enforcement paid and the licence issued.