Application to licence a sex shop

In 1983 Salford City Council adopted schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, which covers the licensing of sex shops.

Sex shops means any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used for a business that consists to a significant degree of selling, hiring, exchanging, lending, displaying or demonstrating sex articles. There are no licensed sex shops in the city of Salford at the present time.

The main purpose of applications is to enable the sale of videos or DVDs classified as 'R18' by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to be sold. The R18 category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit videos of consenting sex between adults. Such videos may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops, of which there are currently about 90 in the UK.

Certain factors need to be considered when application for a sex shop licence is made. These factors will include whether or not the premises are in an inappropriate location, for example near a school, a place of worship or family shopping area.

All applications must be advertised in the local press. In addition, where the application is in respect of a premise, a notice must be displayed outside the premises. The present application fee is £4,500.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact a member of the licensing team - email licensing@salford.gov.uk.