Hopewell, Virginia · General provision

Sec. 24-37(b)

Dimensional standards

Servicing

Applies near
religious institutions, schools, public parks, residential districts, other sexually oriented businesses, licensed day cares
Applies within
1,000 ft
Geographic extent
Sexually oriented businesses must be located in a zoning districtZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2. that expressly permits that type of commercial use, and must not be within 1,000 feet of religious institutions, schools, public parks, residential districtZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2. boundaries, other sexually oriented businesses, or licensed day cares.

Extracted standards

10 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.

Lighting

  • Exterior lighting for parking and pedestrian areas

    During hours of darkness when a sexually oriented business is in operation, the operator shall maintain all parking and pedestrian areas of the premises equipped and illuminated by overhead lighting fixtures of sufficient illumination to provide reasonably safe lighting conditions for persons or vehicles traveling into, on and out of the property. Said lighting fixtures shall be directed onto the property as much as is possible so as to avoid being directed onto neighboring properties.

  • Interior lighting

    The operator shall maintain every portion of the premises where customers are permitted access equipped throughout and illuminated at all times with overhead lighting fixtures of sufficient illumination to provide reasonably safe lighting conditions for patrons, employees or city enforcement personnel walking throughout the premises.

Other

  • Cooperation with inspections

    The operator of a sexually oriented business shall permit and cooperate with the appropriate city enforcement personnel to inspect the entire premises as well as all activity being conducted therein.

  • Only one sexually oriented business per property

    A person commits a violation if he/she causes or permits the establishment or operation of more than one (1) sexually oriented business on the same property, in the same building or structure, or any portion thereof.

  • Restrooms not for sexually oriented business purposes

    The operator shall not utilize or allow restrooms or employee dressing rooms for sexually oriented business purposes, video equipment or for the offering of any sexually oriented merchandise to customers.

  • Unobstructed view into all customer areas

    The operator shall maintain the interior of the premises in such a manner that there is an unobstructed view into every area of the premises to which any customer is permitted access for any purpose, excluding restrooms.

  • Window size for separate rooms

    If the premises contain two (2) or more separate rooms, the operator shall maintain each room with at least one (1) wall or door equipped with clear windows or openings of at least three (3) feet in width and two (2) feet in height located no less than three (3) feet above the floor but no less than two (2) feet below the ceiling for viewing into the entire area and all activity therein.

Signage

  • at least eighteen (18) inches in height and twenty-four (24) inches in width

  • Minimum sign width24 in

    at least eighteen (18) inches in height and twenty-four (24) inches in width

  • Required sign text

    The operator shall maintain at least one (1) conspicuous sign at each public entrance, in accordance with the city's sign codes, of a size of at least eighteen (18) inches in height and twenty-four (24) inches in width, easily visible and legible to all persons prior to entry into the establishment, which contains a statement to the effect: 'THIS IS A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT...'

From the ordinance

An operator of a sexually oriented business commits a violation if he/she operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business in a zoning district which does not expressly permit that type of commercial use in said zoning district. In addition... within one thousand (1,000) feet of an existing: a. Religious institution; b. School; c. Public park; d. Boundary of a residential district; e. Another sexually oriented business; f. Licensed day care;
Sec. 24-37(b)