ADULT NIGHTCLUB ESTABLISHMENTS

Las Vegas Municipal Code tit. 6, ch. 6.06B

in effect

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.010 Findings.

6.06B.010 - Findings. The Las Vegas City Council finds: (A) Adult nightclubs have solicited prostitution, offered sexual stimulation and sexual conduct to patrons for the purchase or alcoholic drinks for exorbitant prices. The patron, being defrauded and swindled as the drinks are actually nonalcoholic and the patron is threatened, coerced or forced from the premises without a refund of the admission or drink price, or fee charged for services promised but not performed; (B) Adult nightclubs are sometimes fronts for or operated by persons associated with a pattern of criminal activities and the need for law enforcement agencies to scrutinize such adult nightclubs is thereby required to protect the public, especially the tourist; (C) The law enforcement resources available for responding to problems associated with or created by adult nightclubs are limited and are best conserved by regulating and licensing adult nightclubs and those associated with them; and (D) The public health, safety, welfare and convenience require that adult nightclubs and their employees be regulated and licensed in order to reduce fraud and abuse upon patrons and protect the reputation of the community. (Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.020 Purpose.

6.06B.020 - Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to regulate adult nightclubs to prevent possible criminal activities, including but not limited to fraud and solicitation of prostitution. (Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.030 Definitions.

6.06B.030 - Definitions. In this Chapter the following definitions and those in Title 6 shall apply unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (A) "Adult nightclub" means a fixed place of business which may charge admission for entrance, which advertises, or holds out to the public that adult entertainment is provided, or advertises or implies that sensual or sexual entertainment is provided, and is not licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. (B) "Attendant" means a natural person, who is employed by or who receives any monetary consideration from an adult nightclub for soliciting the sale or purchase of any product or service, including but not limited to beverages, and/or who collects entry fee, admission or cover charge. (C) "Department" means the Department of Community Development. (D) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Community Development. (E) "Fondle or caress" means the conduct or affectionate touching that is intended to sexually arouse (may include "sexual conduct"). (F) An "offer to provide acts of sexual conduct" means to offer, propose or to solicit to provide sexual conduct to a patron. Such definition includes all conversations, publications, advertisements, handbills and acts which would lead a reasonable prudent person to conclude that such acts were to be provided even if such acts are illegal or are purported to be illegal or unlawful. (G) "Security guard" means a natural person who acts as a doorman, bouncer, or who performs a function described in NRS 648.016. (H) "Server" means a natural person who is employed by or who receives any monetary consideration from an adult nightclub for soliciting the sale or purchase of any product or service, including but not limited to beverages. (I) "Sexual conduct" means the engaging in or the commission of an act of sexual intercourse, oral-genital contact, or the touching of the sexual organ, pubic region, buttock or female breast of a person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of another person. (J) "Sexual stimulation" means to excite or arouse the prurient interest or to offer or solicit acts of sexual conduct as defined under "offer to provide acts of sexual conduct" as defined in this Section. (Ord. No. 6816, § 12, 8-17-22; Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.040 Exemptions.

6.06B.040 - Exemptions. (A) Establishments which are licensed to sell intoxicating liquor pursuant to LVMC 6.50 are exempt from the requirements of this Chapter due to their existing and conditioned regulations. Businesses licensed pursuant to provisions of Title 6 without specific licensing and activity regulations are not exempt from this Chapter. (B) Establishments properly licensed and operating in compliance with LVMC 19.74, prior to July 19, 1995, may continue to provide adult entertainment activities (dancers, strippers) and are exempt from Section 6.06B.090(P) and 6.35.050(A). However, such establishments must procure all required licenses pursuant to Title 6 and comply with all other license regulations and zoning requirements. (Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.050 Adult nightclub license—Application.

6.06B.050 - Adult nightclub license—Application. (A) Application for an adult nightclub license shall be made to the Director. (B) An application for adult nightclub license shall be verified by the applicant and shall contain or set forth the following information: (1) The name, address, telephone number, principal occupation and age of the applicant; (2) The name, address and principal occupation of the managing agent or agents of the business; (3) The business name, business address and business telephone number of the establishment or proposed establishment together with a description of the nature of the business and magnitude thereof; (4) Whether the business or proposed business is the undertaking of a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation. If a sole proprietorship, the application shall set forth the name, address, telephone number and principal occupation of the sole proprietor. If a partnership, the application shall set forth the names, addresses, telephone numbers, principal occupations and respective ownership shares of each partner, whether general, limited or silent. If a corporation, the application shall set forth the corporate name, a copy of the articles of incorporation, and the names, addresses, telephone numbers and principal occupations of every officer, director and shareholder, and the number of shares held by each; (5) The names, addresses, telephone numbers and principal occupations of every person, partnership or corporation having any interest in the real or personal property utilized or to be utilized by the business or proposed business or having any right or interest to any portion of the profits, or receiving or having the right to receive any payment from the business which is not directly related to utility costs; (6) A description of all other business enterprises (sales or services) which shall occur on the premises; and (7) Whether the applicant, anyone having a ten-percent interest in the business or proposed business, or anyone having an interest in the real property or personal property utilized or to be utilized by the business or proposed business or anyone having a right to ten percent of the proceeds of the business other than utilities has: (a) Ever been convicted of or forfeited bail for any crime, excluding minor traffic offenses and, if so, the application shall state the person involved, the charge, date, court, and disposition of the charges, (b) Ever had a business license denied, revoked or charges filed therefor, and if so, the application shall state the person involved, the name of the business, date, jurisdiction, and outcome of any hearing, or (c) Ever owned, operated, been employed by a swingers club, an escort service, an outcall promoter establishment, a brothel or adult nightclub, and if so, the name of the business, dates involved and position or interest therein. (C) The applicants shall present themselves to Metro for investigation and fingerprinting and shall pay such investigation and fingerprint fee as is required by LVMC 6.86, and shall reveal to Metro such information as is required to properly identify the applicant to enable the investigation of the applicant's arrests and convictions, licensing and litigation record and verify the accuracy and completeness of the application. (1) In all cases where the applicant for a license is a corporation, it shall be necessary for all of the officers of such corporation to present themselves for investigation and fingerprinting. All stockholders with ten percent or more stock, or who exercise management or control of the corporation are required to present themselves for investigation and fingerprinting. (D) An adult nightclub license shall be a semiannual license renewable by payment of semiannual license fees as found in LVMC 6.06B.100. (Ord. 5998 § 42, 2008: Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.060 License issuance or denial and appeal.

6.06B.060 - License issuance or denial and appeal. (A) The Director shall issue or deny the license to the applicant within thirty days from the receipt of a complete application and fees upon compliance with all the requirements and conditions of this Chapter. Failure of the Director to approve or deny the license application within the thirty days shall result in the license being granted. (B) The Director shall consider the application by examination of: (1) The circumstances of the applicant's criminal reputation, associations and business history; (2) The reports of Metro; (3) The proposed business operation of the applicant; and (4) The reports of the building, fire, zoning and health departments. (C) The Director shall not grant the license if: (1) The applicant, whether an individual or any of the stockholders, officers or directors, if a corporation, or any of the partners, if a partnership, including limited partners, or the manager or other person principally in charge of the operation of the business, or any person receiving, or having a right to receive any sum from, or percentage of the profits due to an interest in or sale of the business, has been convicted within a five-year period immediately prior to the date of the application of crimes of embezzlement; or any crime involving fraud, consumer fraud or intent to defraud, or extortion; or has violated the law regarding fraudulent advertising; (2) The operation as proposed by the applicant would not comply with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, this Title and the City's building, zoning, fire and health regulations; or (3) The applicant, whether an individual or any of the ten percent stockholders or officers, if a corporation, or any of the partners, if a partnership, including limited partners, or the manager or other person principally in charge of the operation of the business, or any person receiving, or having a right to receive any sum from, or percentage of the profits due to an interest in or sale of the business, has had a business license revoked pursuant to LVMC 6.35 (Erotic Dance Establishments), 6.36 (Escort Bureau), 6.57 (Outcall Entertainment), and 19.04 (Sexually Oriented Businesses), or this Chapter within a two-year period immediately prior to the date of the application. (D) If the applicant is denied, the Director shall notify the applicant with the reason(s) stated for denial. Notification shall be sent certified, United States mail, return receipt requested, to the address provided on the license application which shall be considered the correct address. Each applicant has the burden to furnish any change of address to the Director, by United States certified mail, return receipt requested. (E) In the event that an application is denied, the applicant may file or cause to be filed in the district court a petition for judicial examination of the validity of the denial or the adult nightclub establishment license as provided by Chapter 34 of NRS. (Ord. 5998 § 43, 2008: Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.070 Attendant and server work cards—Required.

6.06B.070 - Attendant and server work cards—Required. No person shall work as an attendant or server at an adult nightclub without a valid work card issued by Metro. (Ord. 5998 § 44, 2008: Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.080 Attendant and server work cards—Issuance, suspension or revocation.

6.06B.080 - Attendant and server work cards—Issuance, suspension or revocation. (A) Each attendant and server, whether a full- or part-time employee, who works or renders services in a licensed adult nightclub establishment, shall obtain prior to the commencement of work, and keep in force during the term of his/her license or employment, a work card for adult nightclub issued under LVMC 6.86 and 6.06B. The investigation of issuance of a work card will include a fingerprint check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Work cards applied for pursuant to this Chapter shall be granted or denied within ten working days of application subject to the provisions of LVMC 6.86.080. (B) Metro may deny the issuance of or renewal of a work card required by this Chapter for the following reasons: (1) The applicant has made false, misleading or fraudulent statements with respect to any material fact contained in the application for a work card; (2) The applicant has been convicted of any crimes involving fraud, consumer fraud or intent to defraud, prostitution, solicitation of prostitution, or has violated the law regarding fraudulent advertising within two years of application for this specific work card; (3) The applicant has violated code regulations, as set out within LVMC 6.06B.090, or has had a business license revoked pursuant to LVMC 6.35 (Erotic Dance Establishments), 6.36 (Escort Bureau), 6.57 (Outcall Entertainment), 19.04 (Sexually Oriented Businesses), or this Chapter within two years of the application for this specific work card; (4) A work card of the applicant has previously been revoked within one year of the date of application pursuant to LVMC 6.35 (Erotic Dance Establishments), 6.36 (Escort Bureau), 6.57 (Outcall Entertainment), 19.04 (Sexually Oriented Businesses), or this Chapter, or the issuance or renewal thereof has been denied by the City or any other government entity within one year of the date of application for any reason set out in paragraphs (1), (2) or (3) above. (C) Any work card issued for this Chapter may only be suspended or revoked for grounds set forth in Subsections above pursuant to the procedures set forth in LVMC 6.86. (Ord. 5998 § 45, 2008: Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.085 Work cards required.

6.06B.085 - Work cards required. The following persons are required to secure work cards in accordance with LVMC 6.86: (A) Except as provided for in Subsection (C), all security guards working in or employed by an adult nightclub must obtain a work card pursuant to LVMC 6.86. In addition to the grounds stated in LVMC 6.86, a work card may be denied for conviction of assault, battery, fraud or conspiracy to commit any such crime. Security guards in adult nightclubs shall not carry firearms, knives, nightsticks, clubs, or chemical or electronic weapons. (B) All owners if applicants are individual; stockholders owning ten percent or more stock, officers and directors, if applicant is a corporation; and partners, including limited and general partners, if applicant is a partnership; and manager or other person principally in charge of the operation of the business, must obtain a work card from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, as required in LVMC 6.86. A work card may be denied for any grounds set out in LVMC 6.86. A work card may be denied for any grounds set out in LVMC 6.06B.060(C)(1) or (3) or LVMC 6.06B.080(B). (C) Those security employees that are licensed or registered under NRS 648.060 are exempt from the work card requirement, but such persons must have their State-issued registration work card that includes a photo ID on their person during the act of performing security duties at the adult nightclub where employed. The employer is responsible for maintaining, and making available for inspection by the Department or Metro, or both, a list of such employees, including names, registry numbers and registration expiration dates. (Ord. No. 6305, § 2, 3-19-14; Ord. 5998 § 46, 2008: Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.090 Adult nightclub regulations.

6.06B.090 - Adult nightclub regulations. (A) No person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity shall advertise adult entertainment or cause to be advertised, as an adult nightclub without a valid adult nightclub license issued pursuant to this Chapter. (B) No later than the fifteenth day of the month succeeding the semiannual license period the adult nightclub establishment shall file, in conjunction with license fees, a verified report with the Department showing the licensee's gross receipts and amounts paid to attendants and servers for the preceding semiannual period. (C) Licensee shall maintain and retain for a period of three years the names, addresses and ages of all persons employed as attendants or servers by the license. (D) No licensee shall employ as an attendant or server a person under the age of eighteen years, or a person who has not obtained a permit pursuant to this Chapter. (E) No person under the age of eighteen years shall be admitted to an adult nightclub. (F) Licensee shall not serve, sell, distribute or suffer the consumption or possession of any intoxicating liquor, or any beverage represented as containing any alcohol upon the premises of the licensee. (G) Licensee shall conspicuously display all licenses required by this Chapter. (H) All communication, verbal, visual or physical, between attendants and patrons shall take place within an area which is visible immediately upon entrance to the establishment premises. Patrons shall not be allowed in private rooms with attendants. (I) No attendant or server shall fondle or caress any patron and no patron shall fondle or caress any attendant or server. (J) No patron shall directly pay or give any gratuity to any attendant or server for "sexual conduct," "sexual stimulation," or as to "offers to provide sexual conduct." (K) No attendant or server shall solicit any pay or gratuity from any patron. (L) Any adult nightclub, licensed pursuant to this Chapter, which advertises or uses the words in its trade or place name that imply the availability of alcoholic liquor on the premises, such as "bar," "lounge" or "saloon," must state in all such advertisements that alcoholic beverages are not sold on the premises. (M) Adult nightclubs shall post on each entrance door and not more than five inches above each entrance door, and in at least three places behind the bar a sign with letters not less than three inches high stating: "ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR IS NOT SOLD HERE" "PROSTITUTION IS UNLAWFUL" The letters must be black on a yellow background and the sign on each entrance door and behind the bar must be between four and six feet above floor level. Each sign must be located and illuminated sufficient to be visible by a person with normal eyesight corrected to 20/20, thirty feet from the sign. (N) No adult nightclub shall employ a security guard, or allow a security guard to work on the premises unless such security guard has obtained a work identification card pursuant to LVMC 6.86. (O) Any patron evicted from an adult nightclub shall receive a reimbursement of the full admission fee and the cost of any beverage he/she purchased provided it was represented as a drink which contains alcohol when sold. (P) No person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity shall publicly display or expose or suffer the public display or exposure, with less than a full opaque covering, of any portion of the female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola, or any portion of a person's genitals or pubic area or display of such anatomical parts in a lewd and obscene fashion even though opaquely covered. (Q) No adult nightclub licensee, attendant, server or security guard shall allow, permit, encourage, or tolerate any act of masturbation to occur on the premises. (Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.100 Licensee fee and reports.

6.06B.100 - Licensee fee and reports. (A) The license fee for an adult nightclub shall be two hundred dollars per semiannual period, to be paid on or before the fifteenth day succeeding the end of the semiannual license period. (B) Every person licensed pursuant to this Chapter shall file with the Department on or before the fifteenth day succeeding the end of the semiannual period a report signed by the licensee under oath that the report is true to his/her own knowledge. The report shall provide any changes in information submitted pursuant to LVMC 6.06B.050. (1) Each report must be accompanied by the license fee which is due for the semiannual license period. (2) All licenses for which the fees have not been paid and/or complete reports received within thirty days after the due date automatically expire. Any such expired license shall not be reinstated until the total amount due shall be paid, and complete reports received. The applicant for reinstatement shall file complete applications as required in LVMC 6.06B.050 and be found suitable for licensure pursuant to LVMC 6.06B.060. (3) All reports required by this Chapter to be filed with the Director shall be sworn under oath by the licensee of an adult nightclub, that the information contained therein is true to his/her personal knowledge. (Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.110 Revocation of license.

6.06B.110 - Revocation of license. (A) The City Council shall not act to revoke or suspend an adult nightclub license until after: (1) The licensee is given at least ten days written notice of the specific charges; (2) A hearing is held before the City Council at which time the licensee may present such evidence and defense as may bear upon the question. (B) The adult nightclub license shall be revoked or suspended if the licensee maintains or conducts business in any building or structure which is structurally unsafe, or does not provide adequate egress, or which constitutes a fire hazard, or which is otherwise dangerous to human life or safety, or which in relation to existing use constitutes a hazard to safety or health, or public welfare, by reasons of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or obsolescence. (C) The adult nightclub license shall be revoked or suspended if the licensee has knowingly made any false, misleading or fraudulent statement of material fact in the application for a license or in any semiannual report required to be filed with the Department (LVMC 6.06B.100) or record required to be kept for three years (LVMC 6.06B.100) or knowingly caused or suffered another to furnish such false, misleading or fraudulent information or withhold such required information on his, her or its behalf. (D) Any license issued pursuant to this Chapter may be revoked or suspended upon a finding that the licensee, its agent, employee, attendant, server, partner, director, officer, stockholder, manager or person exercising managerial authority of or on behalf of the licensee has: (1) Committed an act for which the licensee is convicted or found guilty or liable in any court subsequent to the filing of an application for a license, of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, deception, false pretenses, misrepresentation, false advertising, prostitution, solicitation of prostitution, aiding and abetting an act of prostitution as defined in LVMC 10.36, violation of NRS 201.255 or 47 U.S.C. 233, pandering, crime related to racketeering, or racketeering activity or racketeering enterprise as defined in NRS 207.360, et seq., or dealing controlled substances; (2) Provided sexual stimulation or offer to provide acts of sexual conduct to a patron of the adult nightclub establishment; (3) Failed to file, or files a false, misleading or incomplete report required by this Chapter to be filed, or files such report thirty or more days after the due date; (4) Violated any regulation set out in this Chapter; (5) That the licensee has conducted or advertised an adult nightclub under a fictitious name which is unlicensed pursuant to this Chapter; (6) Published, uttered, disseminated or conveyed either publicly or privately, to an individual any false, deceptive or misleading statements or advertisements in connection with the operation of the licensed business pursuant to this Chapter; (7) Committed any act constituting dishonesty or fraud, or committed any unlawful, false, fraudulent, deceptive or dangerous act while conducting the licensed business; or (8) Advertised through any publication, dissemination or display whether by hire, contract or otherwise directly or indirectly in any newspaper, magazine or other publication, by any radio, television, telephone or pictorial display, publication, handbill or other advertising media which depicted any person or object or which contained any statement which suggested to a reasonable, prudent person that prostitution or any other illegal act, service or product was offered or provided; (9) Otherwise violated any provision of this Chapter. The fact that the licensee shall post notices disclaiming prostitution and/or alcoholic beverage sales does not excuse any charge of any of the above listed acts if an implication or expression that sexual stimulation is provided or an expression that alcoholic beverage is sold is more convincing than such notice or disclaimer. (E) In the event the adult nightclub establishment license is suspended or revoked, except for building or fire code violation, the license suspension or revocation shall be stayed for five working days from the date of the written notice to the licensee for the licensee to seek judicial review. The licensee may waive the stay provision in writing, or the City may seek sooner to enforce the suspension or revocation by filing in the district court a petition for judicial review as provided by NRS 43.100 or by seeking alternative relief pursuant to Chapter 34 of NRS. (Ord. 5998 § 47, 2008: Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.120 Responsibility of licensee.

6.06B.120 - Responsibility of licensee. The holder of an adult nightclub license is responsible for the acts of its employees and independent or subcontractors, including but not limited to attendants, servers, security guards, telephone receptionists. An adult nightclub license may be revoked for acts of such agent, employee, subcontractor or independent contractor which violates any provision of this Chapter. It is the duty of the licensee to prevent fraud, prostitution and the solicitation of prostitution upon the licensed premises. (Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.06B.130 License/permit required—Violation—Penalty.

6.06B.130 - License/permit required—Violation—Penalty. It is unlawful for any person or business entity to engage in business as an adult nightclub or as attendant and/or server within the City without first obtaining a license or permit therefor as provided in this Chapter. Any person, firm or corporation violating this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and each such person, firm or corporation shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during which the violation is committed, continued or permitted, and upon conviction of any such violation, such person, firm or corporation shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars for the first offense; not less than five hundred dollars for the second offense; not less than nine hundred fifty dollars for the third offense; and a fine of one thousand dollars plus not less than one week imprisonment for the fourth or additional offenses. In no case shall any sentence exceed more than a one thousand dollar fine and/or six months imprisonment; provided, no person shall be deemed guilty of any violation of this Chapter if acting in an investigative capacity pursuant to the request of Metro or the Director. (Ord. 5998 § 48, 2008: Ord. 3917 § 2 (part), 1995)

Source: City of Las Vegas, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BUTALIRE_CH6.06BADNIESFetched: 10/28/2026