Salem Debates Legality of Adult Entertainment

SALEM, Mass. — Salem City Council announced Tuesday that the city’s licensing board will host a public hearing to discuss newly proposed regulations regarding the legality of adult entertainment businesses.

At the hearing, scheduled for Monday night, the licensing board will accept public comments regarding the board’s “set of rules and standards for the applications for adult entertainment license,” according to the notice issued by city council.

Since the attempt by Salem officials to create an “adult zone” two years ago met with public protest, the city currently has no strip clubs or novelty shops within its limits, according to the Salem News. City officials, such as Licensing Board Chairman Dave Shea, have stressed the importance of finalizing the regulations.

“I think it’s prudent you come up with something,” Shea said. “Now the entire city is vulnerable to having one of these establishments open. There is no zoning to regulate it, and [there are] no rules to prevent it.”

Following the hearing, the licensing board will submit its recommendations to city council, according to the Salem News.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

AV Bulletin: Arizona's About-Face, What New Laws Mean for Adult

Industry stakeholders and free speech advocates have anxiously been awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could significantly impact state age verification laws around the United States. In the meantime, state legislatures continue to weigh and pass AV bills, the U.K. and the EU are moving ahead with their own AV mandates and strategies, and legal challenges continue to play out in U.S. courts — with some cases on hold pending the SCOTUS ruling in Paxton.

FSC Addresses UK Age Verification Guidelines

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an article offering guidance on the U.K.'s Online Safety Act and the various guidelines put forward by the country's telecommunications regulator Ofcom.The article follows:

European Commission Posts AV Guidelines, Seeks Feedback

The European Commission has made public its draft guidelines on protecting minors online under the Digital Services Act, including age verification requirements covering adult sites and platforms.

Sex Workers' Group Fights Proposed Swedish Ban on 'Remote' Sexual Services

The European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA) has launched a campaign against a Swedish government proposal to expand current laws against purchasing sexual services to apply to acts performed remotely by cammers, streamers and custom content creators.

FSC: Arizona Governor Signs Controversial Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition has released a statement regarding Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signing the state's age verification bill into law.

NCOSE Sues 4 Adult Websites Under Kansas Age Verification Law

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), a conservative anti-pornography organization, has sued four adult websites in Kansas under the state's age verification law.

2025 XBIZ Miami Show Schedule Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the release of the full show schedule for XBIZ Miami, the adult industry's biggest summer conference, set to take place May 19-22 at the Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach hotel.

Ofcom Investigates 2 Adult Sites for AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom is investigating two adult sites for failure to comply with age assurance requirements under the Online Safety Act, which Ofcom is charged with enforcing.

German Court Upholds Ban on PornHub, YouPorn

Germany’s Berlin Administrative Court has upheld a “network ban” on adult sites Pornhub and YouPorn for failing to comply with that country’s age verification regulations.

AV Bulletin: Age Verification Hits the Mainstream, Ofcom Sets a Date

Industry stakeholders and free speech advocates have anxiously been awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could significantly impact state age verification laws around the country. In the meantime, state legislatures continue to weigh and pass AV bills, AV tech providers continue to tout their services, and legal challenges continue to play out in the courts — with some cases on hold pending the SCOTUS ruling in Paxton.

Show More