Sex establishments

Sex establishment licensing in Watford

Introduction

Watford Borough Council has adopted Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, as amended by section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009, for the licensing and regulation of sex establishments within the borough.

This includes:

  • sex shops;
  • sex cinemas; and
  • sexual entertainment venues.

Sex establishments are lawful businesses. The Council's role as licensing authority is to administer the statutory licensing regime in accordance with the legislation and the Council's adopted policy.

The Council does not determine applications on moral grounds. Each application must be considered on its individual merits in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and the Council's Sex Establishment Licensing Policy (2026 to 2029) (PDF 167kB).

Sex Establishment Licensing Policy 2026–2029

On 5 March 2026, Watford Borough Council's Licensing Committee reviewed the existing Sex Establishment Licensing Policy and resolved to re-adopt the policy for a further three-year period.

The current policy is therefore the:

Sex Establishment Licensing Policy (2026 to 2029) (PDF 167kB)

The policy sets out the Council's approach to:

  • applications for sex establishment licences;
  • renewals, variations and transfers;
  • the appropriate number and location of sex establishments;
  • locality considerations;
  • representations and objections;
  • licence conditions;
  • inspections and compliance; and
  • enforcement.

Current Position

The Council's policy identifies Market Street between its junctions with High Street and Exchange Road as a locality where the appropriate number of Sexual Entertainment Venues is one.

The policy considers the appropriate number of sex establishments in other identified localities to be nil.

This policy position is an important consideration when an application is determined, but it does not remove the Council's statutory discretion.

Each application, renewal, variation or transfer will be considered on its individual merits in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and the Council's adopted policy.

The Council does not consider applications or objections on purely moral grounds.

Current policy

Sex Establishment Licensing Policy (2026 to 2029) (PDF 167kB)

Re-adopted by Watford Borough Council Licensing Committee: 5 March 2026.

Further information

Principal legislation:

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