§ 18.62.010 — Purpose and Applicability

It is the purpose of this Chapter to regulate the location, development, and operation of adult-oriented business uses, which tend to have judicially recognized adverse secondary effects on the community, including but not limited to increases in crime in the vicinity of adult businesses; increases in vacancies in residential and commercial areas in the vicinity of adult businesses; interference with residential property owners’ enjoyment of their properties when the properties are located in the vicinity of adult businesses as a result of increases in crime, litter, noise, and vandalism; and the deterioration of neighborhoods. Special regulation of these businesses is necessary to prevent these adverse secondary effects and the blighting or degradation of the neighborhoods in the vicinity of adult businesses while at the same time protecting the First Amendment rights of those individuals who desire to own, operate, or patronize adult businesses. This Chapter establishes reasonable and uniform location criteria for adult-oriented business uses.