The City of Tempe requires an annual license for EACH of the following adult-oriented services:

• adult-oriented business
• adult-oriented business manager
• adult-oriented service provider

An Adult-Oriented Business  is any establishment operating as an adult bookstore, an adult retail store, an adult service business, an adult video facility, an adult theater, an adult motel or an adult cabaret. 

An Adult-Oriented Business Manager is a person on the premises of an adult oriented business who has overall supervisory authority over the operation of the business. 

An Adult-Oriented Service Provider is person that provides a dance, performance or other activity, including, but not limited to, service of food or beverages, modeling, posing, wrestling, singing, reading, talking, or listening conducted for any consideration in an adult service business by a person who is nude during all or part of the time that the person is providing the service.

Code

Tempe City Code §16A-112 to §16A-135

Businesses that possess a valid Tempe regulatory license are not required to obtain a separate General Business License.

Step One: :  Have the following documents ready or in process before applying

• A Digital Headshot Photo in .jpg or .png format, to be used for Tempe issued ID badge, for EACH owner, adult-oriented business manager and adult-oriented service provider should be emailed to: license@tempe.gov

• A Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT or sales tax) License is required and must be renewed annually for the business

  Retail activity includes the sale of any tangible personal property, including items such as furniture, appliances, clothing, jewelry, equipment, etc.                                                                                                         Apply, File & Pay Transaction Privilege Tax at AZTaxes.gov                         

• Copy of owners' and manager's driver's license digital photos of all applicant's 

• Management agreement

• An accurate floor plan depicting the interior and layout of the premises

• Certification that the adult oriented business does not violate the Location Requirements of Section 16A-133 of the city code where an adult-oriented business cannot be within 1,320 feet of: 

  • Another Adult-Oriented Business 
  • Church, synagogue or temple
  • Child Care Facility
  • Preschool
  • Nursery
  • Any public school, private school or charter school
  • Library
  • Public Park
  • Public Community Building
  • Any recreational facility where minors are permitted
  • Liquor license premise with a Bar (Series 6) or Beer & Wine Bar (Series 7)
  • Residential District
  • The property line of a lot devoted to a residential use in any zoning district

Step Two: A Tempe Adult-Oriented Service License is required annually and must include an application for the following to be complete:  

• the adult-oriented business 

• each individual owner of the adult-oriented business

• each adult-oriented business manager

• each adult-oriented service provider

If you need a Tempe Regulatory License, you will need to renew before January 1 each year.

Adult-Oriented Business Application

BUSINESS APPLICATION 

OWNER APPLICATION

RENEW A LICENSE

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Adult-Oriented Business Manager Application

BUSINESS MANAGER APPLICATION

RENEW A LICENSE 

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Adult-Oriented Service Provider Application

SERVICE PROVIDER APPLICATION

• Note: the application will ask for your home address and your employer information from the past 5 years

RENEW A LICENSE 

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Step Three: A Tempe Use Permit is required from the Planning Division if the business has a Series Liquor License or has live entertainment.

 APPLY FOR A USE PERMIT

Pursuant to Section 3-302, Permitted Uses in Office/Industrial Districts, and Section 3-202, Permitted Uses in Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts, of the City of Tempe Zoning and Development Code (ZDC), a Use Permit is required to operate an "adult-oriented business” in the GID, General Industrial District. The Use Permit application process is identified in Section 6-308, Use Permits, of the ZDC.

Step Four: Fingerprints are required for all applicants so a background investigation can be completed by Tempe Police Dept.  

Click Here to download City of Tempe Fingerprint Packet

The City of Tempe Code requires that all applicants must submit fingerprints to Tempe Police.

Fingerprints may be obtained at any fingerprinting service company in the United States. Tempe Police Department offers fingerprint services to business license applicants free of charge. To check availability, please call Tempe PD Licensing Unit at 480-350-5300. Please ensure you are following the proper procedure to submit the fingerprints. Refer to the City of Tempe Fingerprint Packet for further information.

Required items are as follows:

USDOJ FBI Fingerprint Card, FD258, blue and white in color.

$22 fingerprint fee (in the form of a cashier’s check or money order, made out to Arizona Dept of Public Safety) must be submitted with each person’s fingerprint card.

Licensing Fingerprint Form (this is on the first page of the fingerprint packet, and needs to be filled out by the fingerprint technician).

Enclose all items into a sealed envelope that can be mailed or dropped off to Tempe Police Department at the below address.

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Licensing Unit

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? Please call 480-350-5300

Fees: Adult-Oriented Business License

$500 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$200 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

Total: $700 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash. 

Fees: Adult-Oriented Business Manager License

$100 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

Total: $200 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Fees: Adult-Oriented Service Provider License

$100 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

Total: $200 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$0

Application Processing Time

90-120 days (from time all documents received)

New license application is forwarded :

Tempe Police Department

 Tempe Fire Department

 Building Safety

 Planning

Step One: :  Confirm the following documents have no changes and, if there are changes, submit documentation to Tempe Tax & License for:

A Digital Headshot Photo in .jpg or .png format, to be used for Tempe issued ID badge,  for EACH "new" owner, "new" adult-oriented business manager and "new" adult-oriented service provider should be emailed to: license@tempe.gov

Step Two: A Tempe Adult-Oriented Service License is required annually for the business, each adult-oriented business manager and each adult-oriented service provider and must include an application for any "new" owners, "new" adult-oriented business managers and "new" adult-oriented service providers to be complete.

If you need a Tempe Regulatory License, you will need to renew before January 1 each year.  Click the button below to reach Tempe Tax & License to renew:

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Step Three: At Renewal, fingerprints and background checks are required for all "new" owners, "new" adult-oriented business manager and "new" adult-oriented service provider which are submitted to Tempe Police Dept.  Returning owners, managers and service providers do not need to resubmit fingerprints and background checks each year.

Suggested Fingerprinting Locations:

AZ Livescan  602-246-3444

SecureOne   480-500-7309

Community Wellness and Safety of Arizona  480-892-4295

$22 fingerprint fee with each fingerprint card per person (by cashier’s check or money order to: Arizona Dept of Public Safety)

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Licensing Unit

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? 480-350-5300

Renewal Fees: Adult-Oriented Business License

$200 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash. 

Renewal Fees: Adult-Oriented Business Manager License

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Renewal Fees: Adult-Oriented Service Provider License

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$0 

Renewal Processing Time

30 days (from time all documents received or if there are no changes)

New owners, new adult-oriented business managers and new adult-oriented service providers applications are forwarded to:

Tempe Police Department

New License Fees: Adult-Oriented Business License

$500 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$200 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

Total: $700 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash. 

New License Fees: Adult-Oriented Business Manager License

$100 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

Total: $200 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

New License Fees: Adult-Oriented Service Provider License

$100 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

Total: $200 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Renewal Fees: Adult-Oriented Business License

$200 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash. 

Renewal Fees: Adult-Oriented Business Manager License

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Renewal Fees: Adult-Oriented Service Provider License

$100 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)*

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$0

Application Processing Time for New Applications

90-120 days (from time all documents received)

New Applications, for new license or renewal, require fingerprints and background checks for all owners, adult-oriented business managers and adult-oriented service providers

Suggested Fingerprinting Locations:

AZ Livescan  602-246-3444

SecureOne   480-500-7309

Community Wellness and Safety of Arizona  480-892-4295

$22 fingerprint fee with each fingerprint card per person (by cashier’s check or money order to: Arizona Dept of Public Safety)

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Licensing Unit

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? 480-350-5300

Requirement to Renew Annually

Adult-Oriented Business Licenses, Adult-Oriented Business Manager Licenses and Adult-Oriented Service Provider Licenses expire annually. It is unlawful to operate any adult-oriented service business in Tempe with an expired license.  Renewal applications must be filed before a license expires by December 31.

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Requirement to Keep Contact Information Up to Date

If an licensee's information changes, the licensee must contact Tempe Tax & License to make the updates.  If there is a new owner, new business manager or new service provider being added to the license, then a new application for that person is required as well as the fingerprint and background check process.  There is no charge for the application for new owners added to an existing license, but a new business manager or new service provider will need to pay  application and license fees.  There will be a fee for submitting new fingerprinting to Tempe Police for the background check.  

"Our mission is to provide quality service to all Tempe taxpayers, and administer the tax code in a fair and equitable manner."