89-02 O - Sexually Oriented Business •
ORDINANCE NO. 89-2
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PROSPER,
TEXAS, PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSING
AND REGULATION OF ADULT ARCADES, ADULT BOOKSTORES, ADULT
VIDEO STORES; ADULT CABARETS; ADULT MOTELS; ADULT MOTION
PICTURE THEATERS; ESCORT AGENCIES; NUDE MODELING STUDIOS
AND SEXUALLY ENCOUNTER CENTERS; REGULATING THE DISPLAY OF
SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS TO MINORS; PROVIDING A PENALTY
OR FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS
($1,000.00) FOR THE VIOLATION OF SECTION 4-73 OF THIS OR-
DINANCE, AND PROVIDING THAT A SEPARATE OFFENSE SHALL BE
DEEMED COMMI' TED EACH DAY DURING OR ON WHICH AN OFFENSE
OCCURS OR CONTINUES; PROVIDING A PENALTY OR FINE OF TWO
HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) IN A VIOLATION OF ANY SECTION
OF THIS ORDINANCE OTHER THAN SECTION 4-73 AND A SEPARATE
OFFENSE SHALL BE DEEMED CODM'II'1.1'E EACH DAY DURING OR ON
WHICH A VIOLATION OCCURS OR CONTINUES; PROVIDING FOR IN-
JUNCTIVE RELIEF; PROVIDING A GRACE PERIOD; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS WITH REGARD
TO SEXUALLY ORIENTED ESTABLISHMENTS;
(1) VERNON'S TEXAS CODE ANNOTATED LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS
51.001, 211.001 AND 211.003 AUTHORIZES GENERAL LAW CITIES TO LICENSE
ANY LAWFUL BUSINESS, OCCUPATION OR CALLING THAT SUSCEPTIRT,F, TO THE
CONTROL OF THE POLICE POWER.
(2) VERNON'S TEXAS CODE ANNOTATED LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS
51.001, 54.001, 211.001, AND 211.003 AUTHORIZES GENERAL LAW
CITIES TO ENFORCE ALL ORDINANCES NECESSARY TO PROTECT HEALTH, LIFE, AND
PROPERTY, AND TO PRESERVE THE GOOD GOVERNMENT, ORDER AND SECURITY OF
SUCH CITIES AND THEIR INHABITANTS.
(3) SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES REQUIRE SPECIAL SUPERVISION FROM
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES OF THE CITY IN ORDER TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE
THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE PATRONS OF SUCH BUSINESSES AS WELL
AS THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.
(4) THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS THAT SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES ARE
FREQUENTLY USED FOR UNLAWFUL SEXUAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING PROSTITUTION
AND SEXUAL LIAISONS OF A CASUAL NATURE.
(5) THE CONCERN OVER SEXUALLY TRANSMI'1TED DISEASES IS A LEGITIMATE
HEALTH CONCERN OF THE CITY WHICH DEMANDS REASONABLE REGULATION OF SEXUALLY
ORIENTED BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE
CITIZENS.
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(6) Licensing is a legitimate and reasonable means
of accountability to ensure that operators of sexually
oriented businesses comply with reasonable regulations and to
ensure that operators do not knowingly allow their
establishments to be used as places of illegal sexual
activity or solicitation.
(7) There is convincing documented evidence that
sexually oriented businesses , because of their very nature,
have a deleterious effect on both the existing businesses
around them and the surrounding residential areas adjacent to
them, causing increased crime and the downgrading of property
values .
(8) The City Council further finds that the police
in numerous other jurisdictions have made a substantial
number of arrests for sexually related crimes in sexually
oriented business establishments .
(9) It is recognized that sexually oriented
businesses , due to their nature have serious objectionable
operational characteristics particularly when they are
located in close proximity to each other, thereby
contributing to urban blight and downgrading the quality of
live in the adjacent areas .
( 10) The City Council desires to minimize and control
these adverse effects and thereby preserve the property
values and character of surrounding neighborhoods, deter the
spread of urban blight, protect the citizens from increased
crime, preserve the quality of life, and protect the health,
safety, and welfare of the citizenry; and
WHEREAS, the City Council makes the following findings
with regard to the licensing of sexually oriented business
establishments :
( 1) The City Council believes it is in the interest
of the public safety and welfare to prohibit persons
convicted of certain crimes from engaging in the occupation
of operating a sexually oriented business .
(2) The City Council, in accordance with Article
6252-13c of Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, has considered the
following criteria:
(a) the nature and seriousness of the crimes;
(b) the relationship of the crimes to the
purposes for requiring a license to engage in the
occupation;
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(C) THE EXTENT TO WHICH A LICENSE MIGHT OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE IN FURTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF THE SAME TYPE AS THAT IN WHICH
THE PERSON PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN INVOLVED; AND
(D) THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE CRIMES TO THE ABILITY, CAPACITY, OR
FITNESS REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE DUTIES AND DISCHARGE THE RESPONSIBILITIES
OF THE LICENSED OCCUPATION; AND HAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRIMES LISTED IN
SECTION 4-65 (a) (9) ARE SERIOUS CRIMES WHICH ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OCCUPATION OF OPERATING A SEXUALLY
ORIENTED BUSINESS. THE CITY COUNCIL HAD FURTHER DETERMINED THAT THE VERY
NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION OF OPERATING A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS BRINGS
A PERSON INTO CON TACT WITH PERSONS INTERESTED IN SEXUALLY ORIENTED MA1ERIALS
AND ACTIVITIES THEREBY GIVING THE PERSON REPEATED OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMMIT
OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY OR CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC
HEALTH, SAFETY OR MORALS SHOULD HE BE SO INCLINES. THUS, IT IS THE OPINION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE LISTED CRIMES RENDER A PERSON UNABLE, IN-
COMPETENT, AND UNFIT TO PERFORM THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACCOMPANY-
ING THE OPERATION OF A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS IN A MANNER THAT WOULD
PROMOTE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRUST.
(3) THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DETERMINED THAT NO PERSON WHO HAS BEEN CONVICT-
ED OF A CRIME LISTED IN SECTION 4-65 (a) (9) , AS SET FORTH IN THIS ORDINANCE,
IS PRESENTLY FIT TO OPERATE A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS UNTIL THE RESPEC-
TIVE TIME PERIODS DESIGNATED IN THAT SECTION HAVE EXPIRED.
(4) IT IS THE INTENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO DISQUALIFY A PERSON FROM BE-
ING ISSUED A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS LICENSE BY THE CITY OF PROSPER IF
HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED WITHIN THE DESIGNAT'EU TIME PERIOD OF ANY OF THE CRIMES
LISTED IN SECTION 4-65 (a) (9) , AS SET FORTH IN THIS ORDINANCE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PROSPER:
SECTION I
SEC. 4-61. PURPOSE AND INTENT
(A) IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE TO REGULATE SEXUALLY ORIENT-
ED BUSINESSES TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, MORALS, AND GENERAL WELFARE
OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, AND TO ESTABLISH REASONABLE AND UNIFORM
REGULATIONS TO PREVENT THE CONTINUED CONCENTRATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED
BUSINESSES.
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with the city. The provisions of this article have neither
the purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation or
restriction on the content of any communicative materials ,
including sexually oriented materials . Similarly , it is not
the intent nor effect of this article to restrict or deny
access by adults to sexually oriented materials protected by
the First Amendment, or to deny access by the distributors
and exhibitors of sexually oriented entertainment to their
intended market .
(b) It is the intent of the City Council that the
locational regulations of Section 4-73 of this article are
promulgated pursuant to V .T.C.A. local government code
243 . 001 , thru 243 . 009 as they apply to nude model studios
and sexual encounter centers only. It is the intent of the
City Council that all other provisions of this article are
promulgated pursuant to applicable articles of the Revised
Civil Statutes of Texas .
SEC . 4-62 . DEFINITIONS.
In this article :
( 1) ADULT ARCADE means any place to which the public
is permitted or invited wherein coin-operated or slug-
operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically
controlled still or motion picture machines , projectors, or
other image-producing devices are maintained to show images
to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and
where the images so displayed are distinguished or
characterized by the depicting or describing of "specified
sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas . " •
(2) ADULT BOOKSTORE or ADULT VIDEO STORE means a
commercial establishment which as one of its principal
business purposes openly advertises or displays or offers for
sale or rental for any form of consideration any one or more
of the following:
(A) hooks , magazines , periodicals or other
printed matter, or photographs , films , • motion pictures,
video cassettes or video reproductions , slides , or other
visual representations which depict or describe
"specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical
areas" ; or
(B) instruments , devices , paraphernalia
which are designed for use in connection with "specified
sexual activities . "
( 3) ADULT CABARET means a nightclub, bar,
restaurant, or similar commercial establishment which
regularly features :
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(A) PERSONS WHO APPEAR IN A STATE OF NUDITY;
OR
(B) LIVE PERFORMANCES WHICH ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THE EXPOSURE OF
"SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS" OR BY "SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES", OR
(C) FILMS, MOTION PICTURES, VIDEO CASSEI.1'ES, SLIDES, OR OTHER
PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS WHICH ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THE DEPICTION OF
DESCRIPTION OF "SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES" OR "SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL
AREAS. "
(4) ADULT MOTEL MEANS A HOTEL, MOTEL OR SIMILAR COMMERCIAL ES-
TABLISHMENT WHICH:
(A) OFFERS ACCOMMODATIONS TO THE PUBLIC FOR ANY FORM OF CON-
SIDERATION; PROVIDES PATRONS WITH CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION TRANSMISSIONS,
FILLS, MOTION PICTURES, VIDEO CASSETTES, SLIDES, OR OTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC
REPRODUCTIONS WHICH ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THE DEPICTION OR DESCRIPTION OF
"SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES" OR "SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS"; AND HAS A
SIGN VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WHICH ADVERTISES THE AVAILABILITY
OF THIS TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS;
OR (B) OFFERS A SLPEPING ROOM FOR RENT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THAT IS
LESS THAN 10 HOURS; OR
(C) ALLOWS A TENANT OR OCCUPANT OF A STEEPING ROOM TO SUBRENT
THE ROOM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THAT IS LESS THAN 10 HOURS.
(5) ADULT MOTION PICTURE THEATER MEANS A COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT
WHERE, FOR ANY FORM OF CONSIDERATION, FILMS, MOTION PICTURE, VIDEO CASSETTE,
SLIDES, OR SIMILAR PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS ARE REGULARLY SHOWN WHICH ARE
CHARAC:1'1RIZED BY THE DEPICTIONS OR DESCRIPTION OF "SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
OR "SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS. "
(6) ADULT THEATER MEANS A THEATER, CONCERT HALL, AUDITORIUM, OR
SIMILAR COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT WHICH REGULARLY FEATURES PERSONS WHO APPEAR
IN A STATE OF NUDITY OR LIVE PERFORMANCE WHICH ARE CHARAC:1'ERIZED BY THE EX-
POSURE OF "SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS" OR BY "SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES."
(7) THE CITY MAYOR MEANS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PROSPER
OR HIS DESIGNATED AGENT OR ANY OFFICER OR OFFICIAL OF THE CITY APPOINTED
IN THAT CAPACITY ADMINISTRATIVELY.
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(8) ESCORT means a person who, for consideration,
agrees or offers to act as a companion, guide , or date for
another person, or who agrees or offers to privately model
lingerie or to privately„perform a striptease for another
person.
(9 ) ESCORT AGENCY means a person or business
association who furnishes , offers to furnish, or advertises
to furnish escorts as one of its primary business purposes ,
for a fee , tip, or other consideration.
( 10) ESTABLISHMENT means and includes any of the
following:
(A) the opening or commencement of any
sexually oriented business as a new business ;
(B) the conversion of an existing business ,
whether or not a sexually oriented business , to any
sexually oriented business ;
(C) the addition of any sexually oriented
business to any other existing sexually oriented
business ; or
(D) the relocation of any sexually oriented
business .
( 11) LICENSEE means a person in whose name a license
to operate a sexually oriented business has been issued, as
well as the individual listed as an applicant on the
application for a license .
( 12) NUDE MODEL STUDIO means any place where a person
who appears in a state of nudity or displays "specified
anatomical areas" is provided to be observed, sketched,
drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly
depicted by other persons who" pay money or any form of
consideration.
( 13) NUDITY or a STATE OF NUDITY means the
appearance of a human bare buttock, anus , male genitals ,
female genitals , or female breast.
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( 14) PERSON means an individual, proprietorship,
trust, partnership, corporation, association, • or other legal
entity.
( 15) SCHOOL means any public or private nursery ,
preschool , day care center, learning center, elementary or
secondary school .
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( 16) SEMI-NUDE means a state of dress in which
clothing covers no more than the genitals, pubic region, and
areola of the female breast, as well as portions of the body
covered by supporting straps or devices .
( 17) SEXUAL ENCOUNTER CENTER means a business or
commercial enterprise that, as one of its primary business
purposes , offers for any form of consideration:
(A) physical contact in the form of
wrestling or tumbling between persons of the opposite
sex; or
(B) activities between male and female
persons and/or persons of the same sex when one or more
of the persons is in a state of nudity or semi-nude .
( 18) SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS means an adult
arcade, adult bookstore or adult video store, adult cabaret,
adult motel , adult motion picture theater, adult theater,
escort agency, nude model studio, or sexual encounter center.
( 19 ) SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS means human genitals
in a state of sexual arousal .
( 20) SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES means and includes
any of the following:
(A) the fondling or other erotic touching
of human genitals , pubic region, buttocks, anus , or •
female breasts ; or
(B) sex acts , normal or perverted, actual
or simulated, including intercourse, oral copulation, or
sodomy ; or
(C) masturbation, actual or simulated; or
(D) excretory functions as part of or in
connection with any of the activities set forth in (A)
through (C) above .
(21) SUBSTANTIAL ENLARGEMENT of a sexually oriented •
business means the increase in floor area occupied by the
business by more than 20 percent, as- the floor area exists on
the effective date of this ordinance .
(22) TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL of a sexually
oriented business means and includes any of the following:
(A) the sale, lease, or sublease of the
business ;
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(B) THE TRANSFER OF SUCURITIES OR OTHER OWNERSHIP
INTEREST WHICH CONSTITUTE A DIRECT, INDIRECT, LEGAL, EQUITABLE
OR BENEFICIAL CONTROLLING INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS, WHETHER
BY SALE, EXCHANGE, OR SIMILAR MEANS; OR
(C) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRUST, GIFT, OR OTHER
SIMILAR LEGAL DEVICE WHICH TRANSFERS THE DIRECT, INDIRECT, LEGAL
EQUITABLE OR BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL OF THE BUSINESS,
EXCEPT FOR TRANSFER BY BEQUEST OR OTHER OPERATION OF LAW UPON
THE DEATH OF THE PERSON POSSESSING THE OWNERSHIP OF CONTROL TO
A PERSON MEETING ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 4-65 HEREOF,
WHO SHALL HAVE NOTIFIED THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TRANSFER AND
FURNISHED ALL OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED IN AN
APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE, WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE TRANSFER.
SECTION 4-63. CLASSIFICATION.
SEXUALLY ORIIENTED BUSINESS IS DEFINED AND CLASSIFIED AS
ANY COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT OPERATING IN THE CITY, IN WHOLE OR
IN PART, AS ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1) ADULT ARCADE;
(2) ADULT BOOKSTORE OR ADULT VIDEO STORE;
(3) ADULT CABARET;
(4) ADULT MOTEL;
(5) ADULT MOTION PICTURE THEA'1'ER;
(6) ADULT THEA'1'ERS;
(7) ESCORT AGENCY;
(8) NUDE MODEL STUDIO; AND
(9) SEXUAL ENCOUNTER CENTER.
SECTION 4-64/ LICENSE REQUIRED
(a) A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFENSE IF HE OPERATES A SEXUALLY
ORIENTED BUSINESS WITHOUT A VALID LICESE, ISSUED BY THE CITY FOR
THE PARTICULAR TYPE OF BUSINESS.
(b) AN APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE MUST BE MADE ON A FORM
PROVIDED BY THE CITY. THE APPLICATION FORM SHALL BE SWORN TO AND
SHALL: (i) INCLUDE THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE APPLICANT: (ii) STATE
WHETHER OR NOT THE APPLICANT MEETS EACH OF THE REQUIREMENTS SET
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FORTH IN SEC. 4-65 OF THIS ORDINANCE; (iii) THE NAME AND ADDRESS
OF EACH PERSON REQUIRED TO SIGN THE APPLICATION PURSUANT TO SEC.
4-64 (d) OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND THE NAME, ADDRESS AND TYPE OF
ENTITY (IF ANY) OF EACH PERSON OR ENTITY OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY
SUCH PERSON WHICH OWNS OR CONTROLS AN INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS TO
BE LICENSED; AND (iv) SUCH OTHER MA'r1ERS, CONSISTENT WITH THIS
ORDINANCE, AS MAY BE SPEC IFIED IN THE APPLICATION FORM. THE APP-
LICATION MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SKETCH OR DIAGRAM SHOWING THE
CONFIGURATION OF THE PREMISES, INCLUDING A STATEMENT OF TOTAL FLOOR
SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE BUSINESS. THE SKETCH OR DIAGRAM NEED NOT BE
PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED BUT MUST BE DRAWN TO A DESIGNATED SCALE OR
DRAWN WITH MARKED DIMENSIONS OF THE INTERIOR OF THE PREMISES TO AN
ACCURACY OF PLUS OR MINUS SIX INCHES. APPLICATS WHO MUST COMPLY
WITH SECTION 4-79 OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL SUBMIT A DIAGRAM MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 4-79.
(c) THE APPLICANT MUST BE QUALIFIED ACCORDING TO THE PRO-
VISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE AND THE PREMISES MUST BE INSPECTED AND
FOUND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND BUILDING OFFICIAL.
(d) IF A PERSON WHO WISHES TO OPERATE A SEXUALLY ORIENTED
BUSINESS IS AN INDIVIDUAL, HE MUST SIGN AN APPLICATION FOR A LIC-
ENSE AS APPLICANT. IF A PERSON WHO WHISHES TO OPERATE A SEXUALLY
ORIENTED BUSINESS IS OTHER THAN AN INDUVIDUAL, EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTERMEDIARIES, OWNS OR
CONTROLS A 10 PERCENT OR GREATER INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS MUST SIGN
AND SUBMIT, AS AN APPLICANT, A SEPARATE APPLICATION CONTAINING ALL
APPLICABLE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SECTION 4-64 (b) OF THIS ORD-
INANCE. EACH APPLICANT MUST BE QUALIFIED UNDER SECTION 4-65 AND
EACH APPLICANT SHALL BE CONSIDERED A LICENSH:H, IF A LICENSE IS GRANT-
ED.
SECTION 4-65 ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.
(A) THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF A LIC-
ENSE BY THE CITY SECRETARY TO AN APPLICANT OR THE TRANSFER BY
AN APPLICANT OF ALL OR ANY PART OF HIS OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL OF A
SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF AN
APPLICATION UNLESS HE FINDS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING TO BE TRUE:
(1) AN APPLICANT IS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.
(2) AN APPLICANT OR AN APPLICANT'S SPOUSE IS OVER-
DUE IN HIS PAYMENT TO THE CITY OF TAXES, FEES, FINES, OR
PENALTIES ASSESSED AGAINST HIM OR IMPOSED UPON HIM IN RELATION
TO A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS.
(3) AN APPLICANT HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
REASONABLY NECESSARY FOR ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE
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or has falsely answered a question or request for information
on the application form.
(4) An applicant or an applicant's spouse has
been convicted of a violation of a provision of this
article, other than the offense of operating a sexually
oriented business without a license, within two years
immediately preceding the application. The fact that a
conviction is being appealed shall have no effect .
( 5) An applicant is residing with a person who
has been denied a license by the city to operate a
sexually oriented business within the preceding 12
months , or residing with a person whose license to
operate a sexually oriented business has been revoked
within the preceding 12 months .
(6) The premises to be used for the sexually
oriented business are not in compliance with applicable
zoning laws or have not been approved by the health
department, fire department , and the building official
as being in compliance with applicable laws and
ordinances .
(7) The license fee required by this article has
not been paid.
( 8) An applicant or the proposed establishment
is in violation of or is not in compliance with Section
4-67 , 4-72 , 4-73 , 4-75 , 4-76 , 4-77 , 4-78 , 4-79 , or 4-80 .
(9) An applicant or an applicant's spouse has
been convicted of a. crime :
(A) involving:
( i) any of the following
offenses as described in Chapter 43 of the
Texas Penal Code :
(aa) prostitution;
(bb) promotion of prostitution;
(cc) aggravated promotion of
prostitution;
(dd) compelling prostitution;
(ee) obscenity;
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(ff) sale, distribution, or
display of harmful material
to minor;
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(gg) sexual performance by a
child;
(hh) possession of child
pornography;
( ii) any of the following offenses as
described in chapter 21 of the Texas Penal Code :
(aa) public lewdness ;
(bb) indecent exposure
(cc) indecency with a child;
( iii) sexual assault or aggravated sexual
assault as described in Chapter 22 of the Texas
Penal Code;
• ( iv) incest, solicitation of a child, or
harboring a runaway child as described in Chapter 25
of the Texas Penal Code;
(v) criminal attempt, conspiracy , or
solicitation to commit any of the foregoing
offenses ;
(B) for which:
( i) less than two years have elapsed since
the date of conviction or the date of release from
confinement imposed for the conviction, whichever is
the later date, if the conviction is of a
misdemeanor offense;
( ii) less than five years have elapsed since
the date of conviction or the date of release from
confinement for the conviction, whichever is the
later date, if the conviction is of a felony
offense; or •
( iii) less than five years •have elapsed since
the date of the last conviction or the date of
release from confinement for the last conviction,
whichever is the later date, if the convictions are
of two or more misdemeanor offenses or combination
of misdemeanor offenses occurring within any 24-
month period.
(b) The license, if granted, shall state on its face
the name of the person or persons to whom it is granted, the
expiration date, and the address of the sexually oriented
business . The license shall be posted in a conspicuous place
at or near the entrance to the sexually oriented business so
that it may be easily read at any time .
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SEC. 4-66 . FEES.
(a) The annual fee for a sexually oriented business
license is $500 . 00 .
SEC. 4-67 . INSPECTION .
(a) An applicant or licensee shall permit
representatives of the city administration, police
department, health department, fire department, and building
inspection division to inspect the premises of a sexually
oriented business for the purpose of insuring compliance with
the law, at any time it is occupied or open for business .
(b) A person who operates a sexually oriented
business or his agent or employee commits an offense if he
refuses to permit a lawful inspection of the premises by a
representative of the above described departments at any time
it is occupied or open for business .
SEC. 4-68 . EXPIRATION OF LICENSE.
(a) Each license shall expire one year from the date
of issuance and may be renewed only by making application as
provided in Section 4-64 . Application for renewal should be
made at least 30 days before the expiration date , and when
made less than 30 days before the expiration date, the
expiration of the license will not be affected.
(b) When the City Administrator denies renewal of. a
license, the applicant shall not be issued a license for one
year from the date of denial. If subsequent to denial, the
City Administrator finds that the basis for denial of the
renewal license has been corrected or abated, the applicant
may be granted a license if at least 90 days have elapsed
since the date denial became final .
(7) a licensee or an employee has knowingly
allowed any act of sexual intercourse , • sodomy, oral
copulation, masturbation, or sexual contact to occur in
or on the licensed premises . The term "sexual contact"
shall have the same meaning as it is defined in Section
21. 01 , Texas Penal Code; or
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(8) a licensee is delinquent in payment to
the city for hotel occupancy taxes , ad valorem taxes , or
sales taxes related to the sexually oriented business .
(c) The fact that a conviction is being appealed
shall have not effect on the revocation of the license.
(d) Subsection (b) (7 ) does- not apply to adult motels
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AS A GROUND FOR REVOKING THE LICENSE.
(e) WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL REVOKES A LICENSE, THE REVOCATION
SHALL CONTINUE FOR ONE YEAR AND THE LICENSEE SHALL NOT BE ISSUED
A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS LICENSE FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE
REVOCATION BECAME EFFECTIVE. IF, SUBSEQUENT TO REVOCATION, THE
CITY COUNCIL FINDS THAT THE BASIS FOR THE REVOCATION HAS BEEN
CORRECTED OR ABATED, THE APPLICANT MAY BE GRANTED A LICENSE IF AT
LEAST 90 DAYS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE DATE THE REVOCATION BECAME
EFFECTIVE. IF THE LICENSE WAS REVOKED UNDER SUBSECION (b) (5) , AN
APPLICANT MAY NOT BE GRANTED ANOTHER LICENSE UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE
NUMBER OF YEARS REQUIRED UNDER SECION 4-65 (a) (9) (B) HAS ELAPSED
SINCE THE TERMINATION OF ANY SENTENCE, PAROLE, OR PROBATION .
SECTION 4-71. APPEAL.
IF THE MAYOR OR BUILDING INSPECTOR DENIES THE ISSUANCE OF A
LICENSE, OR SUSPENDS OR REVOKES A LICENSE, HE SHALL SEND TO THE
APPLICANT, OR LICENSEE, BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUEST-
ED, WRITEEN NOTICE OF HIS ACTION AND THE RIGHT TO AN APPEAL. THE
AGGRIEVED PARTY MAY APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE MAYOR OR BUILDING
INSPECTOR TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THE FILING OF AN APPEAL STAYS THE
ACTION OF THE MAYOR OR THE BUILDING INSPECTOR IN SUSPENDING OR
REVOKING A LICENSE UNTIL THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES A FINAL DECISION.
SECTION 4-72. TRANSFER OF LICENSE.
A LICENSEE INCLUDING ANY APPLICANT FOR A LICENSE SHALL NOT
TRANSFER HIS LICENSE OR ALL OR ANY PART OF HIS OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL
OF A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS TO ANOTHER, NOR SHALL A LICENSH:H,
OPERATE A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF A
LICENSE AT ANY PLACE OTHER THAN THE ADDRESS DISIGNATED IN THE APP-
LICATION.
SECTION 4-73. LOCATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES.
(A) A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFENSE IF HE OPERATES OR CAUSES
TO BE OPERATED A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS WITHIN 1,000 EEE1' OF:
(1) A CHURCH;
(2) A SCHOOL;
(3) A BOUNDARY OF A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AS DE-
FINED BY THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OR PROSPER;
(4) A PUBLIC PARK; OR
(5) THE PROPERTY LINE OF A LOT DEVOTED TO RESIDEN-
TIAL USE.
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(b) A person commits an offense if he causes or
permits the operation, establishment, substantial
enlargement, or transfer of ownership or control of a
sexually oriented business located within 1 , 000 feet of
another sexually oriented business .
(c) A person commits an offense if he causes or
permits the operation, establishment , or maintenance of more
than one sexually oriented business in the same building,
structure , or portion thereof, or the increase of floor area
of any sexually oriented business in any building, structure,
or portion thereof containing another sexually oriented
business .
(d) For the purposes of Subsection (a) , measurement
shall be made in a straight line, without regard to
intervening ' structures or objects , from the nearest portion
of the building or structure used as a part of the premises
where a sexually oriented business is conducted, to the
nearest property line of the premises of a church or school,
or to the nearest boundary of an affected public park ,
residential district , or residential lot.
(e) For purposes of Subsection (b) of this section,
the distance between any two sexually oriented businesses
shall be measured in a straight line, without regard to
intervening structures or objects , from the closest exterior
wall of the structure in which each business is located.
(f) Any sexually oriented business lawfully
operating on the effective date of this ordinance , that is in
violation of Subsections (a) , (b) , , or (c) of this section
shall be deemed a nonconforming use . The nonconforming use
will be permitted to continue for a period not to exceed one
year, unless 'sooner terminated for any reason or voluntarily
discontinued for a period of 30 days or more . Such
nonconforming uses shall not be increased, enlarged, extended
or altered except that the use may be changed to a conforming
use. If two or more sexually oriented businesses are within
1 , 000 feet of one another and otherwise in a permissible
location, the sexually oriented business which was first
established and continually operating at a particular
location is the conforming use and the later-established
business(es) is nonconforming.
(g) A sexually oriented business lawfully operating
as a conforming use is not rendered a nonconforming use by
the location, subsequent to the grant or renewal of the
sexually oriented business license, of a church, school,
public park , residential district , or residential lot within
1000 feet of the sexually oriented business . This provision
applies only to the renewal of a valid license, and does not
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apply when an application for a license is submitted after a
license has expired or has been revoked.
SEC. 4-74 . EXEMPTION FROM LOCATION RESTRICTIONS.
(a) If the City COUNCIL denies the issuance of
a license to an applicant because the location of the
sexually oriented business establishment is in violation of
Section 4-73 of this article, then the applicant may, not
later than 10 calendar days after receiving notice of the
denial, file with the City Secretary a written request for an
exemption from the locational restrictions of Section 4-73 .
(b) If the written request is filed with the City
Secretary within the 10-day-limit, The City Council, shall
consider the request. The City Secretary shall set a date
for the hearing within 60 days from the date the written
request is received.
(c) ' A hearing by the Council may proceed if a quorum
is present . The council shall hear and consider evidence
offered by any interested person. The formal rules of
evidence do not apply.
(d) The City Council may, in its discretion, grant
an exemption from the locational restrictions of Section 4-73
if it makes the following findings :
( 1) That the location of the proposed
sexually oriented business will not have a detrimental
effect on nearby properties or be contrary to the public
safety or welfare;
(2) That the granting of the exemption will
not violate the spirit and intent of this article of the
city code;
(3) That the location of the proposed
sexually oriented business will not downgrade the
property values or quality of life in the adjacent areas
or encourage the development of urban blight ;
(4) . That the location of an additional
sexually oriented business in the area will not be
contrary to any program of neighborhood conservation nor
will it interfere with any efforts of urban renewal or
restoration; and •
(5) That all other applicable provisions of
this article will be observed.
(e) The council shall grant or deny the exemption by
a majority vote . Failure to reach a majority vote shall
result in denial of the exemption. Disputes of fact shall be
decided on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence. The
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decision of the permit and license appeal council is final .
(f) If the council grants the exemption, the
exemption is valid for one year from the date of the
council's action. Upon the expiration of an exemption, the
sexually oriented business is in violation of the locational
restrictions of Section 4-73 until the applicant applies for
and receives another- exemption.
(g) If the council denies the exemption, the
applicant may not re-apply for an exemption until at least 12
months have elapsed since the date of the council's action.
(h) The grant of an exemption does not exempt the
applicant from any other provisions of this article other
than the locational restrictions of Section 4-73 .
SEC. 4-75 . ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ESCORT AGENCIES.
(a) An escort agency shall not employ any person
under the age of 18 years .
(b) A person commits an offense if he acts as an
escort or agrees to act as an escort for any person under the
age of 18 Years .
SEC. 4-76 . ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR NUDE MODEL
STUDIOS
(a) A nude model studio shall not employ any person
under the age of 18 years .
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(b) A person under the age of 18 years commits an
offense if he appears in a state of nudity in or on the
premises of a nude model studio. It is a defense to
prosecution under this subsection if the person under 18
years was in a restroom not open to public view or persons of
the opposite sex.
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(c) A person commits an offense if he appears in a
state of nudity or knowingly allows another •to appear in a
state of nudity in an area of a nude model studio premises
which can be viewed from the public right of way.
(d) A nude model studio shall not place or permit a
bed, sofa, or mattress in any room on the premises , except
that a sofa may be placed in a reception room open to the
public .
SEC. 4-77 . ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ADULT THEATERS
AND ADULT MOTION PICTURE THEATERS.
(a) The requirements and provisions of Chapter 46 of
this code remain applicable to adult theaters and adult
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motion picture theaters .
(b) A person commits an offense if he knowingly
allows a person under the age of 18 years to appear in a
state of nudity in or on the premises of an adult theater or
adult motion picture theater.
(c) A person under the age of 18 years commits an
offense if he knowingly appears in a state of nudity in or on
the premises of an adult theater or adult motion picture
theater.
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsections
(b) and (c) of this section if the person under 18 years was
in a restroom not open to public view or persons of the
opposite sex.
SEC. 4-78 . ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ADULT MOTELS.
(a) Evidence that a sleeping room in a hotel, motel,
or similar commercial establishment has been rented and
vacated two or more times in a period of time that is less
than 10 hours creates a rebuttable presumption that the
establishment is an adult motel as that term is defined in
this article.
(b) A person commits an offense if, as the person in
control of a sleeping room in a hotel, motel, or similar
commercial establishment that does not have a sexually
oriented business license , he rents or subrents a sleeping
room to a person and, within 10 hours from the time the room
is rented, he rents or subrents the same sleeping room again.
(c) For purposes of subsection (b) of this section,
the terms "rent" or "subrent" mean the act of permitting a
room to be occupied for any form of consideration.
SEC. 4-79 . REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO EXHIBITION OF
SEXUALLY EXPLICIT FILMS OR VIDEOS.
(a) A person who operates or causes to be operated a
sexually oriented business , other than an adult motel, which
exhibits on the premises in a viewing room of less than 150
square feet of floor space, a film, video cassette or other
video reproduction which depicts specified sexual activities
or specified anatomical areas, shall comply with the
following requirements :
( 1) Upon application for a sexually oriented
business license, the application shall be accompanied
by a diagram of the premises showing a plan thereof
specifying the location of one or more manager's
stations and the location of all overhead lighting
fixtures and designating any portion of the premises in
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which patrons will not be permitted. A manager's
station may not exceed thirty-two ( 32) square feet of
floor area. The diagram shall also designate the place
at which the permit will be conspicuously posted, if
granted. A professionally prepared diagram in the
nature of an engineer's or architect 's blueprint shall
not be required; however each diagram should be oriented
to the north or to some designated street or object and
should be drawn to a designated scale or with marked
dimensions sufficient to show the various internal
dimensions of all areas of the interior of the premises
to an accuracy of plus or minus six inches . The City
Council may waive the foregoing diagram for
renewal applications if the applicant adopts a diagram
that was previously submitted and certifies that the
configuration of the premises has not been altered since
it was prepared.
(2) The application shall be sworn to be true
and correct by the applicant .
(3) No alteration in the configuration or
location of a manager's station may be made without the
prior approval of the City " Council or his
designee .
(4) It is the duty of the owners and operator
of the premises to ensure that at least one employee is
on duty and situated in each manager's station at all
times that any patron is present inside the premises .
( 5) The interior of the premises shall be •
configured in such a manner that there is an
unobstructed view from a manager's station of every area
of the premises to which any patron is permitted access
for any purpose excluding restroons . Restrooms may not
contain video reproduction equipment . If the premises
has two or more manager's stations designated then the
interior of the premises shall be configured in such a
manner that there is an unobstructed view of each area
of the premises to which any patron • is• permitted access
for any purpose from at least one of the manager's
stations . The view required in this subsection must be
by direct line of sight from the manager's station.
(6) It shall be the duty of the owners and
operator, and it shall also be the duty of any agents
and employees present in the premises to ensure that the
view area specified in Subsection (5) remains
unobstructed by any doors , walls , merchandise, display
racks or other materials at all times that any patron is
present in the premises and to ensure that no patron is
permitted access to any area of the premises which has
been designated as an area in which patrons will not be
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permitted in the application filed pursuant to
Subsection ( 1) of this section.
(7) The premises shall be equipped with
overhead lighting fixtures of sufficient intensity to
illuminate every place to which patrons are permitted
access at an illumination of not less than one ( 1 . 0)
footcandle as measured at the floor level.
(8) It shall be the duty of the owners and
operator and it shall also be the duty of any agents and
employees present in the premises to ensure that the
illumination described above, is maintained at all times
that any patron is present in the premises .
(b) A person having a duty under Subsections ( 1)
through (8) of Subsection (a) above commits an offense if he
knowingly fails to fulfill that duty.
SEC. 4=80 . DISPLAY OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL TO
MINORS.
(A) A person commits an offense if, in a business
establishment open to persons under the age of 17 years , he
displays a book, pamphlet, newspaper, magazine, film, or
video cassette, the cover of which depicts in a manner
calculated to arouse sexual lust or passion for commercial
gain or to exploit sexual lust or perversion for commercial
gain, any of the following:
( 1) human sexual intercourse, masturbation,
or sodomy;
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(2) fondling or other erotic touching of
human genitals , pubic region, , buttocks , or female
breasts;
(3) less than completely and opaquely covered
human genitals , buttocks, or that portion of the female
breast below the top of the areola; or
(4) human male genitals in a discernably
turgid state, whether covered or uncovered.
(b) In this section "display" means to locate an
item in such a manner that, without obtaining assistance from
an employee of the business establishment:
( 1) it is available to the general public for
handling and inspection; or
(2) the cover, outside packaging, or contents
of the item is visible to members of the general public .
SEC. 4-81 . ENFORCEMENT .
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) , any person
violating Section 4-73 of this article, upon conviction, is
punishable by a fine not to exceed $1 , 000 .
(b) If the sexually oriented business involved is a
nude model studio or sexual encounter center, then violation
of Section 4-64(a) or 4-73 of this article is punishable as a
Class B misdemeanor.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (b) , any person
violating a provision of this article other than Section 4-
73 , upon conviction, is punishable by a fine not to exceed
$200 .
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under Section
4-64(a) , 4-73, or 4-76(d) that a person appearing in a state
of nudity did so in a modeling class operated:
( 1) by a proprietary school licensed by the
state of Texas ; a college , junior college, or university
supported entirely or partly by taxation;
(2) by a private college or university which
maintains and operates educational programs in which
credits are transferable to a college, junior college,
or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;
or
(3) in a structure:
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(A) which has no sign visible from
the exterior of the 6tructure and no other
advertising that indicates a nude person is
available for viewing; and
(B) where in order to participate in
a class a student must enroll at least three
days in advance of the class ; and
(C) where no more than one nude
model is on the premises at any one time.
(e) It is a defense to prosecution under Section 4-
64(a) or Section 4-73 that each item of descriptive, printed,
film, or video material offered for' sale of rental, taken as
a whole , contains serious literary, artistic , political, or
scientific value .
SEC. 4-82 . INJUNCTION.
A person who operates or causes to be operated a
sexually oriented business without a valid license or in
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VIOLATION OF SECTION 4-73 OF THIS ARTICLE IS SUBJECT TO A SUIT
FOR INJUCTION AS WELL AS PROSECUTION FOR CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS.
SECTION 4-83. AMENDMENT OF THIS CHAPTER.
SECTIONS 4-73 AND 4-74 OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE AMENDED ONLY
AFTER COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROCEDURE REQUIRED TO AMEND A ZONING
ORDINANCE. OTHER SECTIONS OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE AMENDED BY A
VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
SECTION 2. THAT ALL PERSONS REQUIRED BY THIS ATTICLE TO
ABTAIN A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS LICENSE BECAUSE SAID BUSINESS
IS IN EXISTENCE ON THE DATE OF OR PRIOR TO THE EP'JECTIVE DATE OF
THIS ORDINANCE, ARE HEREBY GRANTED A GRACE PERIOD, WHICH SHALL BE
FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE.
SECTION 3. THE FACT THAT THE PRESENT ORDINANCES ARE REGULA-
TIONS OF THE CITY OF PROSPER, TEXAS, ARE INADEQUATE TO PROPERLY
SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH, SAFETY, MORALS, PEACE AND GENERAL WELFARE
OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY OF PROSPER, TEXAS, CREATES AN
EMERGENCY FOR THE IMMEDIATE PRESERVATION OF THE PUBLIC BUSINESS,
PROPERTY, HEALTH, SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC WHICH
REQUIRES THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM AND AFTER
THE DATE OF ITS PASSAGE AND IT IS ACCORDINGLY SO ORDAINED.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 14th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1989.
MAYOR, CITY OF PROSPER
ATTEST:
CITY S�, ITY OF PROSPER, TEXAS
(SEAL)
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