Christmas and New Year closure information
Our council offices and phone lines will close at 4pm on Wednesday 24 December and reopen at 9am on Monday 5 January 2026.
See our service arrangements for customers during this time.
Adult entertainment venues
Licences required for operating adult entertainment premises such as lap dancing clubs.
Sex establishment licensing
You need a licence to operate a sex establishment in Norwich. This includes:
- Sexual entertainment venues (e.g. lap dancing, strip shows)
- Sex shops
- Sex cinemas
Licence fees
- New licence: £2,638
- Renewal: £2,638
- Variation: £1,330
- Transfer: £74
How to apply
- Complete the application form
- Follow the application procedure
- Email a copy to: licensingteam@norfolk.pnn.police.uk within 7 days
- Advertise in a local newspaper and display a notice at the premises
- Provide proof of advertising by completing the certificate of advertising in the application form
Applicant requirements
- Must be 18 or older
- Must not be disqualified from holding a licence
- Must have lived in the UK for at least 6 months (or be a UK-registered company)
- Must not have had a licence refused for the same premises in the last 12 months (unless overturned on appeal)
Processing time
Applications are processed within 56 days of receiving a complete application.
Licence duration and renewal
Licences last 12 months and must be renewed annually.
Appeals
If your application is refused, you can appeal to the local magistrates' court within 21 days.
Note: You cannot appeal if refusal is based on:
- Too many sex establishments in the area
- The location or nature of the premises being unsuitable
