Sex Establishments
A licence is required from the council to use any premises,
vehicle, vessel or stall as a Sex Establishment in the Rochford
District Council area.
Sex Establishments are licensed under the Local Government
(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
Under the terms of that legislation:
- A sex establishment can either be a Sex Shop or a Sex
Cinema.
- A sex shop is a premises used for business which consists to a
significant degree of selling sex articles. This may include
businesses selling via the Internet.
- A sex cinema is any premises used to a significant degree for
showing of films, which are concerned primarily with, or relate to,
or are intended to stimulate sexual activity.
Application forms, advice and guidance are available from the
Licensing Unit, Environmental Services, Rochford District Council,
3 – 19 South Street, Rochford, SS4 1BW
It should be noted that the application process requires that an
application fee has to be paid together a fee to cover the cost of
a potential hearing. If no hearing is required this fee is
refunded.
In the event of any objections to the application being
received, you will be sent details of these objections and offered
the opportunity to make written and oral representations before the
Appeals Committee, which consists of Elected Council Members.
Where an application is refused, the licence fee will be
returned.
Any person using any premises as a Sex Establishment without a
Licence or contravening Sex Establishment conditions shall be
liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding
£20,000.00.
If you need any further information, please email licensing@rochford.gov.uk or
telephone 01702 318036/58
Our Aims
Although there are no Sex Establishments within the Rochford
District Council area, we would ensure that all applications for
Sex Establishments are dealt with in a sensitive and efficient
manner, and once licenced, adhere to any conditions attached to
their licence.
How We Do This:
- Licensing Sex Establishments.
- Investigating complaints about Sex Establishments.
- Providing advice and guidance to Sex Establishment
businesses.
Tacit consent will apply to these applications. This means that
you will be able to act as though your application is granted if
you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the
target completion period which is 60 days.