When do you need a licence?
A sex establishment can be a:
- sex shop (any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used for business that consists to a significant degree of selling, hiring, exchanging, lending, displaying or demonstrating sex articles)
- sex cinema (any premises used to a significant degree for the showing of films which are concerned primarily with, or relate to, or are intended to stimulate sexual activity)
- sexual entertainment venue (any premises at which a live display of nudity, or live performance which is intended to stimulate sexual activity, is provided before a live audience for the financial gain of the organiser or entertainer)
Before you apply
- read our policy Sex Establishment Licensing Policy - November 2019 (PDF, 229 KB)
- read our terms and conditions Sex establishment standard conditions (PDF, 235 KB)
- you should also contact our planning department, to ensure you have the correct planning permission.
Apply
Sex Establishment Licence application form (DOCX 59.53KB)
Costs
| New licence application fees | |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £2967.00 |
| Licence Grant fee | £1778.00 |
| Total fee | £4745.00 |
| Renewal application fees | |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £1897.00 |
| Licence Grant fee | £1457.00 |
| Total fee | £3354.00 |
Consultation process
All new, renewal and variation applications must be advertised.
- an advertisement (in the form prescribed by us) must be placed in a local newspaper circulating in Barking and Dagenham, not later than seven days after the date of application
- a public notice (in the form approved us) must be displayed for 21 days from with the date of application, on or near the premises and in a place where the notice can conveniently be read by the public
- once the application has been advertised, you must complete and return a public notice certificate, along with a complete copy of the newspaper which contains your advert
Public notices