Sex establishment licences
No person may keep a sex establishment without a licence under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
A sex establishment can either be a sex shop or a sex cinema. A sex shop is any premises used for business which consists to a significant degree of selling sex articles. A sex cinema is any premises used to a significant degree for showing films which are concerned primarily with or related to, or are intended to stimulate sexual activity.
The applicant for a licence must place a notice of the application in the local press and display a notice outside the premises for a period of 28 days.
Any person may object to the application, and if any objection is received the application will be determined by a panel of elected councillors.
Download a Sex Establishment Licence application form 
(PDF 76 KB).
Your right of appeal
You can appeal a licence refusal or any conditions to which a licence is subject through a Magistrates' Court.
Further information
For an application form, further information about applying for a licence or to make a complaint about an establishment, contact the Licensing Team:
Tel: 020 8359 7995
Fax: 0870 889 6793
E-mail: licensingadmin@barnet.gov.uk
The Licensing Team deals with many of the licences that may be issued by the council. We can provide information and advice about applications, fees, how to apply, whether a licence is needed and how to advertise an application.
We can:
- provide application forms and printed advice.
- provide information about existing licences and current applications.
- receive representations either in favour of or against a licence application.
- deal with requests for a review of a licence in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.
- respond to complaints about licensed premises or premises trading without a licence.
