LICENSE

Atlanta City Code pt. II, ch. 14, art. VIII, div. 2

in effect

Atlanta City Code § 14-321 Required.

Sec. 14-321. - Required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a lingerie modeling studio as defined in section 14-301 without having first complied with the provisions of this article, including the obtaining of a license for the operation of a lingerie modeling studio. (Code 1977, § 14-6611)

Atlanta City Code § 14-322 Application.

Sec. 14-322. - Application. (a) Required, contents. All persons desiring to obtain a license to operate a lingerie modeling studio under this article shall make written application to the license and permits unit of the city police department upon forms to be prepared and approved by the unit. Each applicant shall submit the following information and certificates: (1) The name and address of the applicant. (2) The location of the proposed lingerie modeling studio. (3) The nature and character of the business. (4) If a partnership, the name of the partnership and the names and addresses of the partners. (5) If a corporation, the name of the corporation and the names and addresses of the officers and members of the board of directors and stockholders. (6) Any bank accounts listed in the name of the applicant, or maintained by the applicant, whether an individual, partnership or corporation. (7) Whether the applicant, or any partners, or any corporation officers or board members, or any principal shareholders, have, within the preceding five years, a record for any conviction for the violation of any statute of the several states, or the United States, or of any ordinance of any city in the United States. "Conviction" as used in this section shall include an adjudication of guilt, a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere, or the forfeiture of a bond. (8) A listing of all real property which the applicant, partnership or corporation is presently leasing, and names and addresses of all lessees and lessors of such property. (9) A certified copy of the applicant's financial statement for the 12-month period ending one week before the filing of the application for license, and state of incorporation of such corporation, as well as the names and addresses of the agents and employees of such corporation for a period of two years immediately prior to the filing of such application. (10) Documentation of oral agreements and copies of all written agreements among any persons or stockholders of corporations or partners of partnerships applying for licenses to engage in adult entertainment, which agreements reflect or control ownership or division of profits, sharing of revenues or payment of rents, or which agreements reflect any other arrangements in connection with ownership, rents, profit sharing or income application of use. (b) Fee. All new and renewal applicants shall be charged a nonrefundable application fee in the amount of $100.00, which shall be paid to the department of police at the time of filing of such application. (Code 1977, §§ 14-6612(a), 19-14.035; Ord. No. 1999-27, § 1, 2-9-99)

Atlanta City Code § 14-323 Investigation, granting or denial.

Sec. 14-323. - Investigation, granting or denial. (a) Investigation. All applicants shall be investigated by the department of police and its findings shall be presented to the license review board at a public hearing on the application as provided in this division. (b) Granting or denial. The license review board shall conduct the hearing and report its conclusions and recommendations to the mayor. The mayor, upon receiving the recommendation of the license review board, may, within 60 calendar days of receipt of said recommendation, deny or grant an application for a new license. In addition, within said 60-day period, if the mayor determines there is a need to correct a clear error or prevent a manifest injustice, the mayor may remand the application or matter back to the license review board for further hearing. If the mayor fails to take action within the 60-day period, the recommendation of the license review board shall become the final decision of the mayor. (Code 1977, §§ 14-6612(b), 19-14.036; Ord. No. 1996-03, § 1, 1-8-96; Ord. No. 1997-73, § 2, 12-8-97; Ord. No. 1999-27, § 2, 2-9-99; Ord. No. 2008-79(08-O-1677), § 6, 11-6-08)

Atlanta City Code § 14-324 Grounds for nonissuance.

Sec. 14-324. - Grounds for nonissuance. (a) No license or renewal for the operation of an adult entertainment establishment shall be issued to any person where any individual, having an interest either as owner, partner, officer, or principal shareholder, directly beneficial or absolute, shall have been convicted within five years immediately prior to the filing of such application for any felony or misdemeanor of any state or of the United States or any municipal ordinance involving a crime of moral turpitude or relating to sexual offenses and related matters, to alcohol or drug offenses and related matters or to gambling offenses and related matters. (b) No license shall be issued under this article if the application contains a material omission, untrue or misleading information, or if the application fails to indicate the true ownership of the proposed establishment. (c) No license shall be issued under this article if the applicant fails to furnish any and all data, information, and records related to the operation of licensed establishments, when the same has been requested by the department of police or the license review board. (d) No license shall be issued under this article if the proposed premises do not comply with the zoning ordinances, the fire code or the building code of the city. (e) No license shall be issued under this article where the person applying has had a permit to conduct a similar type business denied or revoked within a period of five years. (Code 1977, § 14-6613)

Atlanta City Code § 14-325 Renewal.

Sec. 14-325. - Renewal. Licenses to operate a lingerie modeling studio establishment shall be renewed annually as of the date of the original issuance of the license for a fee of $3,000.00. All applications for renewal licenses shall furnish all data, information and records requested by the license review board or the department of police. The chief of police or designee shall have the authority to renew the license, and such decision may be appealed to the license review board for a hearing and recommendation to the mayor for final action. (Code 1977, § 19-14.036; Ord. No. 1999-27, § 3, 2-9-99)

Atlanta City Code § 14-326 Revocation; hearing.

Sec. 14-326. - Revocation; hearing. (a) Any license issued under this article shall be subject to revocation for: (1) The violation of any of the prohibitions contained in this article or in this Code. (2) The violation of any other law, ordinance or regulation governing the operation of establishments licensed as lingerie modeling studios or which are reasonably related to the operation of such business. (3) The violation of any occurrence which would have barred issuance of the original license. (4) Permitting the solicitation of patrons on the licensed premises for prostitution or any other illegal act where the licensee, the licensee's employee or agent knew or should have known of such conduct. (5) The failure to obtain prior approval of the mayor after hearing by the license review board for changing the type of establishment operated pursuant to this section. (6) Failure by the licensee to adequately supervise and monitor the conduct of the employees, patrons and others on the licensed premises, or on any property owned or leased by the licensee, including but not limited to the parking lots and parking areas, or on any parking lots or areas which may be lawfully used by patrons of a licensed establishment, in order to protect the safety and wellbeing of the general public and of those utilizing the premises. (7) The violation of the human relations ordinance of the city, which violation shall be evidenced by receipt of an order by the human relations commission which shall contain findings of discrimination pursuant to chapter 94, article III of this Code. (b) No application for new license or for transfer of location or transfer of ownership shall be denied, and no license which has been issued or which may hereafter be issued by the city or any licensee hereunder shall be revoked, suspended or refused renewal except upon a finding of due cause as defined in this article, and after a hearing and upon a five-day written notice to the licensee, stating the place, date, time and purpose of such hearing and setting forth the charge or charges upon which the hearing shall be held. (c) Sworn officers of the department of police shall have the authority to inspect all areas of lingerie modeling studio establishments licensed under this article during the hours in which the premises are open for business. These inspections shall be made for the purpose of verifying compliance with the requirements of this chapter. (d) No locking devices of any type shall be used by establishments to prevent or hinder the inspection of the licensed premises by the police department. (e) The license review board shall conduct the hearings pursuant to this section and report its conclusions and recommendations to the mayor. The mayor, upon receiving such conclusions, may deny applications for new licenses or for transfer of location or transfer of ownership, and may revoke, suspend or refuse to renew any existing license. In lieu of suspension, revocation or the failure to renew under this article, the mayor may impose a fine upon any licensee, such fine not to exceed $1,000.00 for each violation occurring on the licensed premises. (Code 1977, § 14-6614; Ord. No. 1996-03, § 2, 1-8-96; Ord. No. 1997-73, § 2, 12-8-97)

Atlanta City Code § 14-327 Regulations.

Sec. 14-327. - Regulations. (a) All modeling or dancing shall occur on a platform intended for that purpose which is raised at least 18 inches from the level of the floor. (b) No modeling or dancing shall occur closer than four feet to any patron. (c) No model or dancer shall fondle or caress any patron, and no patron shall fondle or caress any dancer. (d) No patron shall directly pay or give any gratuity to any dancer. (e) No dancer shall solicit any pay or gratuity from any patron. (f) All areas of the establishment licensed hereunder shall be fully lighted at all times patrons are present. Full lighting shall mean illumination equal to three and five tenths foot candles per square foot. (Ord. No. 1997-73, § 2, 12-8-97)

Atlanta City Code § 14-328 Physical layout of establishment.

Sec. 14-328. - Physical layout of establishment. Any lingerie modeling studio having available for customers, patrons, or members, any booth, room, or cubicle for the private viewing of any adult entertainment must comply with the following requirements: (1) Access. Each booth, room or cubicle shall be totally accessible to and from aisles and public areas of the establishment, and shall be unobstructed by any curtain, door, lock, or other control-type or view-obstructing devices or materials. (2) Construction. Every booth, room or cubicle shall meet the following construction requirements: a. Each booth, room or cubicle shall be separated from adjacent booths, rooms and cubicles and any nonpublic areas by a wall. b. Have at least one side totally open to a public lighted aisle so that there is an unobstructed view at all times of anyone occupying same. c. All walls shall be solid and without openings, extended from the floor to a height of not less than six feet and be light colored, nonabsorbent, smooth-textured and easily cleanable. d. The floor must be light colored, nonabsorbent, smooth-textured and easily cleaned. e. The lighting level of each booth, room or cubicle when not in use shall be a minimum of ten candles at all times, as measured from the floor. (3) Occupants. Only one individual shall occupy a booth, room or cubicle at any time. No occupant of same shall engage in any type of sexual activity, cause any bodily discharge or litter while in the booth, room or cubicle. No individual shall damage or deface any portion of the booth, room or cubicle. (Ord. No. 1997-73, § 2, 12-8-97)

Source: City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances (Charter and Related Laws, General Ordinances, Land Development Code) (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOORENOR_CH14AMEN_ARTVIIILIMOST_DIV2LIFetched: 10/28/2026