Skip to main content

Sex shops

To open a sex shop, you must apply for a licence.

A sex shop is a type of sex establishment that provides sex toys, books, restricted 18 films or anything defined as sex articles under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (1982 Act)

Premises that sell, hire, lend, display or demonstrate sex articles to a significant degree must be licensed by the council under the 1982 Act. 

Sex shops don't have to be shop premises; vessels or stalls can be licensed under the 1982 Act.

Applications are subject to our sex shop licence policy.

We have a limit on the number of sex shop licences we will issue in certain areas of the city.

Published: 20 January 2021

Last updated: 27 January 2021