Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray

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Legal > Adult Entertainment Establishments

Adult Entertainment Establishments

The Ohio Attorney General provides legal advice to townships and municipal corporations on regulating sexually oriented businesses.

The Model Ordinance Prohibiting Criminal Conduct in Sexually Oriented Businesses provides language defining unlawful activities and penalties.

The Model Ordinance Regulating Sexually Oriented Businesses provides for the potential licensing of both an adult establishment and its employees and for appeals of decisions to deny, suspend or revoke a license. The document also suggests potential regulations to be considered such as lighting, signage and other generally applicable zoning regulations.

Because municipal and township self-government needs may differ, the law leaves it to them to enact any additional enforcement as long as it doesn’t conflict with Ohio’s liquor permit law or other state law.

The model ordinances do not affect existing state obscenity statutes or similar laws.

Relevant Legislation

Model Ordinance Prohibiting Criminal Conduct in Sexually Oriented Businesses

Model Ordinance Regulating Sexually Oriented Businesses