Licence summary
To run a sex shop - ie any premises selling sex toys, books or videos - you may need a licence from South Hams District Council. To run a venue where explicit films are shown to members of the public, you also need a licence from South Hams District Council.

Eligibility criteria

An applicant:

• must be at least 18 years old
• must not be disqualified from holding a licence
• must have been resident in the UK at least six months immediately before the application or, if a body corporate, must be incorporated in the UK
• must not have been refused the grant or renewal of a licence for the premises in question within the last 12 months unless the refusal has been reversed on appeal

Regulation summary
A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Application evaluation process
Fees will be payable for applications and conditions may be attached - please contact us for further information.

Applications must contain any information that the Council requires, as well as the applicant's name, address and, where the applicant is an individual, their age, plus the address of the premises.

Applicants must give public notice of their application by publishing an advertisement in a local newspaper.

Target completion time
Once South Hams District Council have received the completed application and associated supporting documents (if required) from the applicant the target completion time will be 49 days.

Will tacit consent apply?
No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from South Hams District Council within a reasonable period, please contact us. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.

Apply online
Apply for a sex shop and cinema licence
Tell us about a change to your existing sex shop and cinema licence

Apply by post
Telephone or e-mail us to ask for an application form.

Failed application redress
Please contact The Licensing Department at South Hams District Council in the first instance.

Any applicant who is refused a licence, or refused the renewal of a licence, may, within 21 days of being notified of the refusal, appeal to the local magistrates' court.

However, the right to appeal does not apply where the licence was refused on the grounds that:

• the number of sex establishments in the area exceeds the number which the authority consider is appropriate
• the grant of the licence would be inappropriate considering the character of the area, the nature of other premises in the area, or the premises themselves

Fees
Click here to view fees for licence applications.

Contact details

Address
The Licensing Department
South Hams District Council
Follaton House
Plymouth Road
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 5NE
Tel: 01803 861234
Fax: 01803 861294
Email: licensing@southhams.gov.uk

Public register
Click here for information on how to view the public register.

Licence holder redress
Please contact Environmental Health & Licensing at South Hams District Council in the first instance.

Licence holders may at any time apply to the authority for a variation of the terms, conditions or restrictions in their licence.

If an application for a variation is refused, or if the licence is revoked, the licence holder may, within 21 days of being notified of the imposition of, or the refusal to vary, the term, condition or restriction in question, or of the revocation, appeal to the local magistrates' court.

A licence holder may also appeal to the crown court against a decision of a magistrates' court.

Consumer complaint
If you wish to make a complaint of any kind about a pet shop within the South Hams District Council area please contact us on 01803 861234 or write to us at the above address.

If you are not happy with the service the Council has provided with regard to your application, please contact the Licensing Office of the Council in the first instance, and we will try to resolve any concerns you may have.

The Council also has a formal complaints procedure. Please write to the Licensing Office at the contact address above, you may wish to send your letter by recorded delivery.

If your complaint is still not resolved, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Other redress
Any person objecting to an application for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence may give written notice of their objection to the relevant authority, stating the grounds of the objection, within 28 days of the date of the application.