§ 11-7-1. Definitions.  


Latest version.
  • Adult arcade (also known as "peep show") means any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein coin-operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing devices are maintained to show images to persons in booths or viewing rooms where the images so displayed depict or describe "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas."

    Adult bookstore or adult video store means a commercial establishment which as one of its principal business purposes offers for sale or rental for any form of consideration any one (1) or more of the following:

    (1)

    Books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes or video reproductions, slides, or other visual representations that depict or describe "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas"; or

    (2)

    Instruments, devices, or paraphernalia that are designed for use in connection with "specified sexual activities."

    Adult cabaret means a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or other commercial establishment that regularly features, exhibits, or displays as one of its principal business purposes:

    (1)

    Persons who appear nude or semi-nude; or

    (2)

    Live performances which are characterized by the exposure of "specified anatomical areas" or by "specified sexual activities"; or

    (3)

    Films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions which depict or describe "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas."

    Adult motel means a hotel, motel, or similar commercial establishment that:

    (1)

    Offers accommodations to the public for any form of consideration; provides patrons with closed-circuit television transmissions, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions that depict or describe "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas" as one of its principal business purposes; or

    (2)

    Offers a sleeping room for rent for a period of time that is less than 10 hours; or

    (3)

    Allows a tenant or occupant of a sleeping room to subrent the room for a period of time that is less than 10 hours.

    Adult motion picture theater means a commercial establishment where, for any form of consideration, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions are regularly shown as one of its principal business purposes that depict or describe "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas."

    Adult theater means a theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar commercial establishment which regularly features, exhibits, or displays, as one of its principal business purposes, persons who appear in a state of nudity or semi-nude, or live performances that expose or depict "specified anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities."

    Applicant means the person who will operate the sexually oriented business, and shall include each of the following persons associated with that business:

    (1)

    The owner of a sole proprietorship;

    (2)

    Each member of a firm, association, or general partnership;

    (3)

    Each general partner in a limited partnership;

    (4)

    Each officer, director, and owner of more than 10 percent of the stock of a corporation;

    (5)

    The manager of an establishment operated by a corporation;

    (6)

    Any manager who has been empowered as attorney-in-fact for a nonresident individual or partnership.

    Chief of police means the Chief of Police of the City of High Point or the designated agent of the chief of police.

    City clerk means the High Point City Clerk.

    Employ, employee, and employment describe and pertain to any person who performs any service on the premises of a sexually oriented business on a fulltime, parttime, or contract basis, whether or not the person is denominated an employee, independent contractor, agent, or otherwise. Employee does not include a person exclusively on the premises for repair or maintenance of the premises or for the delivery of goods to the premises.

    Escort means a person who, for tips or any other form of consideration, agrees or offers to act as a date for another person, or who agrees or offers to privately model lingerie or to privately perform a striptease for another person.

    Escort agency means a person or business that furnishes, offers to furnish, or advertises to furnish escorts as one of its principal business purposes, for a fee, tip, or other consideration.

    Establishment means and includes any of the following:

    (1)

    The opening or commencement of any sexually oriented business as a new business; or

    (2)

    The conversion of an existing business, whether or not a sexually oriented business, to any sexually oriented business; or

    (3)

    The addition of any sexually oriented business to any other existing sexually oriented business; or

    (4)

    The relocation of any sexually oriented business.

    Licensee means person(s) in whose name a license to operate a sexually oriented business has been issued.

    Nude model studio means any place where a person who appears semi-nude, in a state of nudity, or who displays "specified anatomical areas" is provided to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other persons who pay money or any form of consideration. "Nude model studio" shall not include a proprietary school licensed by the State of North Carolina or a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or in part by public taxation; a private college or university which maintains and operates educational programs in which credits are transferable to a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation; or in a structure:

    (1)

    That has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure and no other advertising that indicates a nude or semi-nude person is available for viewing; and

    (2)

    Where in order to participate in a class a student must enroll at least three (3) days in advance of the class; and

    (3)

    Where no more than one (1) nude or semi-nude model is on the premises at any one (1) time.

    Operates or causes to be operated means to cause to function or to put or keep in operation. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated a sexually oriented business whether or not that person is an owner, part owner, or licensee of the business.

    Nudity or a state of nudity means:

    (1)

    The appearance of a human anus, male genitals, or female genitals; or

    (2)

    A state of dress which fails to opaquely cover a human anus, male genitals, or female genitals.

    Person means an individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity.

    Semi-nude means a state of dress in which clothing covers no more than the genitals, pubic region, and areola of the female breast, as well as portions of the body covered by supporting straps or devices.

    Sexual encounter center means a business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its principal business purposes, offers for any form of consideration physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between persons of the opposite sex, or activities between male and female persons and/or persons of the same sex when one (1) or more of the persons is in a state of nudity or semi-nude.

    Sexually oriented business means an adult arcade, adult bookstore or adult video store, adult cabaret, adult motel, adult motion picture theater, adult theater, escort agency, nude model studio, sexual encounter center, or any combination of the foregoing.

    Specified anatomical areas means human genitals in a state of sexual arousal.

    Specified sexual activities means and includes any of the following:

    (1)

    The fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus, or female breasts; or

    (2)

    Sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including intercourse, oral copulation, or sodomy; or

    (3)

    Masturbation, actual or simulated; or

    (4)

    Excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in (1) through (3) above.

    Transfer of ownership or control of a sexually oriented business means and includes any of the following:

    (1)

    The sale, lease, or sublease of the business;

    (2)

    Persons other than those named as applicants for a license becoming associated with the business, as provided in the definition of applicant; except that a mere substitution of a person as manager of an establishment shall only require filing with the city clerk as provided in section 11-7-6(c);

    (3)

    The establishment of a trust, gift, or other similar legal device which transfers the ownership or control of the business, except for transfer by bequest or other operation of law upon the death of the person possessing the ownership or control.

(Ord. No. 91-56, § 1, 9-19-91)