Licence - sex establishment
Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, covers the licensing of sex shops.
All applications must be advertised in the local press. In addition, where the application is in respect of a premise, a notice must be displayed outside the premises. The local authority is responsible for processing applications and issuing of licences.
Eligibility criteria
When considering an application for a sex establishment licence the local authority may only use the following criteria:
- the suitability of the applicant
- whether the person applying is a "front" person for someone else
- the location and situation of the premises in relation to other premises in the area
- whether the number of sex establishments in that locality is equal to, or exceeds the number which the local authority considers appropriate for the area
Applying for the service
A notice (ask council for details) must be displayed continuously for 21 days on or near the premises to be licensed, from the date of the application. The notice must be placed in such a manner that it can conveniently be read by the public.