Adams County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

Rural districts (R-1, R-1.25, R-2.5, R-5, R-20);

Rural settlement district (RS);

Any residential zone hereafter adopted by the county or adjacent city.

A completed application supplied by the Adams County building and planning department which includes a site plan accurately drawn at a scale of one inch equals one hundred feet or larger, showing the following:

A nonrefundable application fee as established by resolution of the board of county commissioners;

Additional information as required by the building and planning director;

If an application is determined to be incomplete the applicant shall submit the additional information requested. Within fourteen days of receipt of the additional information from the applicant, the county shall issue a written determination of completeness or identify what remaining information is required. If the applicant either refuses in writing to submit additional information or does not submit the required information within ninety days, the application shall lapse.

The proposed use conforms with all applicable ordinances and regulations of Adams County which also apply to other permitted uses in the applicable zoning district;

The proposed use complies with the density requirements of the Adams County comprehensive plan;

The building size meets the total square footage and setback requirements for the proposed use and all accessory structures;

The proposed use complies with all applicable requirements of the Adams County health district and any municipality providing water or sewer;

Exterior advertising shall be limited to one two-square-foot, nonilluminated, double-faced sign or its equivalent;

The filing of an adult use business permit application with the Adams County building and planning director;

Off-street parking areas shall be provided as to allow one space for every employee. The adult use business permit application shall also provide for adequate patron parking;

The exterior of any building housing an adult use business shall not permit any public display of performances by nude or seminude entertainers of the adult use business;

The site for the proposed use shall be landscaped in such a manner to be compatible with surrounding uses;

The applicant shall conform to applicable state and local fire standards for fire prevention;

The applicant must comply with applicable building code requirements for the proposed use.

If the building and planning director determines all of the above are satisfied, written notification of the proposed use shall be placed in the legal section of the county’s official newspaper and shall be sent by first class U.S. mail to owners of real property, as shown in the records of the Adams County assessor, located within five hundred feet of any portion of the boundary of the proposed use; provided, if the owner of the property for which the proposed use is requested owns another parcel or parcels adjacent to the property, notification shall be mailed to owners of real property located within five hundred feet of any portion of the boundaries of such adjacent parcels. The notification shall contain a statement that the proposed use shall be approved without holding a public hearing if no objection is submitted to the building and planning director within fourteen calendar days following the date of mailing of notification.

Failure to send notice to a person specified in this section or failure to receive notice shall not invalidate any proceedings or decisions in connection with the proposed use.

Anyone aggrieved by the building and planning director’s decision shall file an appeal pursuant to Chapter 17.94 as a Type I application.

An appeal of the Type III decision shall be filed pursuant to Chapter 17.94.

A prompt judicial review shall be held no more than thirty days from the date of the final administrative decision.

Ensure that all entertainers, employees, and patrons abide by and comply with the standards of conduct and the standards of operation set forth in this chapter;

Verify that all persons who offer or provide live adult entertainment within the premises possess a current and valid entertainer’s license issued by the county for those specific premises;

Ensure that no patron is admitted onto the premises or is served or entertained therein if such patron is obviously under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

Upon the request of any law enforcement officers or the Adams County code enforcement officer for purposes of ensuring compliance with the law, make available for inspection:

Ensure that no sexual conduct is allowed on the premises of an adult use business at any time.

The applicant’s name, home address, home telephone number, date and place of birth, and any other name, including stage names or aliases, used by the applicant;

The name and address of each business at which the applicant intends to work as a manager or entertainer.

A motor vehicle operator’s license issued by any state bearing the applicant’s photograph and date of birth;

A state-issued identification card bearing the applicant’s photograph and date of birth;

An official passport issued by the United States of America;

An immigration card issued by the United States of America;

Any other picture identification issued by a government entity.

Anyone aggrieved by an action, order, or decision of the Adams County building and planning department as to a denial of an application for the issuance of or renewal of a manager or entertainer license, or as to a revocation, suspension or modification of such a license, shall have fourteen days from the date of the written decision to appeal to the board of county commissioners.

A prompt judicial review of no sooner than thirty days shall elapse from the final administrative decision to a court review before the Adams County building and planning department revokes, modifies, or suspends the license of a manager or entertainer.

Refuses to allow an inspection of the adult use business premises as authorized by this chapter;

Has a currently suspended adult use business premises as authorized by this chapter;

Has been found to be in violation of permit or license requirements contained herein in a manner that would be grounds for denial of a permit or license.

Gave false or misleading information in the application or during the application process;

Knowingly operated an adult use business during a time when the individual’s license was suspended;

Knowingly managed an adult use business or entertained in an adult use business during a time when the individual’s license was suspended;

Has had more than one permit or license suspension within the preceding twelve months; or

Knowingly allowed any act defined herein as specified sexual activity to occur in or on the adult use business premises.

That such view remains unobstructed by any doors, walls, merchandise, display racks, or other materials at all times; and

That no patron is permitted access to any area of the premises which has been designated as an area in which patrons will not be permitted.

Appear nude, seminude, or expose specified anatomical areas or depict specified sexual activities as defined in Chapter 17.04, unless the employee or entertainer is upon a stage at least eighteen inches above the immediate floor level and removed at least six feet from the nearest patron;

Wear or use any device or covering exposed to view which simulates specified anatomical areas as defined in this chapter, unless the employee or entertainer is upon a stage at least eighteen inches above the immediate floor level and removed at least six feet from the nearest patron;

Touch, fondle, or caress any patron for the purpose of arousing or exciting the patron’s sexual desires, sit on a patron’s lap or separate a patron’s legs;

Allow a patron to touch an employee or entertainer on the breast, in the pubic area, buttocks or anal area. No patron shall touch, fondle, or caress an employee or entertainer for the purpose of arousing or exciting the sexual desires of either party, or allow sexual conduct between an employee or entertainer and a patron;

Use artificial devices or inanimate objects to depict any of the prohibited activities described;

Solicit, demand or receive any payment or gratuity from any patron for any act prohibited by this chapter; or

Demand or collect any payment or gratuity from any patron for entertainment before its completion.

Admitted onto the premises of an adult use business for any purpose;

Employed as a manager or entertainer for an adult use business.