The City of Tempe requires an annual license for EACH of the following escort services:

• escort bureau
• introductory services
• escort runners
• escorts

An Escort Bureau is any person or business, who for a fee, furnishes, introduces or refers escorts to patrons. 

An Introductory Service is any person or business, who for a fee, furnishes, introduces or refers escorts to patrons. 

An Escort Runner is any person, not an escort, who for consideration, on behalf of or as the agent for either an escort, escort bureau or a patron, contacts, transports or meets with escort patrons, escorts or escort bureaus at any location other than the established open office, as defined hereunder, whether that person is employed by the escort bureau or any business, or is self-employed.

An Escort is any person who for consideration in any form or for a fee, commission or salary, acts as or is held out to the public as available for hire to consort with or to accompany another or others to social affairs, places of amusement or entertainment, within any place of public resort, or within any private quarters.

Code

Tempe City Code §16A-56 to §16A-70

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, escort runner and escort should be emailed to: license@tempe.gov

• Digital copy of Driver's License for each owner, escort runner and escort

• Certification that the escort service business, escort bureau and introductory service business does not violate the Location Requirements of Section 16A-133 of the city code where an adult-oriented escort 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 Escort Service License is required annually and must include an application for the following to be complete:  

• the escort service or escort bureau business 

• each individual owner of the escort service

• each introductory service

• each individual owner of the introductory service

• each escort runner 

• each escort

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

Escort Service or Escort Bureau Application

BUSINESS APPLICATION 

OWNER APPLICATION

RENEW A LICENSE 

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Introductory Service Application

BUSINESS APPLICATION 

OWNER APPLICATION

RENEW A LICENSE

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Escort Runner Application

INDIVIDUAL ESCORT RUNNER APPLICATION

RENEW A LICENSE

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Escort Application

INDIVIDUAL ESCORT APPLICATION 

RENEW A LICENSE 

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL

Step Three: 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 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: Escort Service or Escort Bureau 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

(*Annual license fee is pro-rated to $100 after June 30)

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: Introductory Service 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

(*Annual license fee is pro-rated to $100 after June 30)

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: Escort Runner 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

(*Annual license fee is pro-rated to $50 after June 30)

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: Escort 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

(*Annual license fee is pro-rated to $50 after June 30)

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 days (from time all documents received)

New license application is forwarded to:

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" escort runner and "new" escort should be emailed to: license@tempe.gov

Step Two: A Tempe Escort Service License is required annually for the business, each escort runner and each escort and must include an application for any "new" owners, "new" escort runners and "new" escorts 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" escort runners and "new" escorts which are submitted to Tempe Police Dept.  Returning owners 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: Escort Service or Escort Bureau 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: Introductory Service 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: Escort Runner 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: Escort 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

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

New owner, new escort runner and new escort applications are forwarded to:

Tempe Police Department

New License Fees: Escort Service or Escort Bureau 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

(*Annual license fee is pro-rated to $100 after June 30)

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: Introductory Service 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

(*Annual license fee is pro-rated to $100 after June 30)

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: Escort Runner 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

(*Annual license fee is pro-rated to $50 after June 30)

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: Escort 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

(*Annual license fee is pro-rated to $50 after June 30)

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 License Fees: Escort Service or Escort Bureau 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 License Fees: Introductory Service 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 License Fees: Escort Runner 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 License Fees: Escort 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 days (from time all documents received)

New Applications, for new license or renewal, require fingerprints and background checks for all owners, escort runners and escorts

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

Escort Service Licenses, Introductory Service Licenses Escort Runner Licenses and Escort Licenses expire annually. It is unlawful to operate any escort 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 owner's information changes, the licensee must contact Tempe Tax & License to make the updates.  If there is a new owner 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.  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."