Operation Policy and Procedure Notices #06/98

Date: 

August 13, 1998 

Subject: 

Adult Establishment -- "Substantial Portion" 

Effective: 

Immediately

Reference: 

Zoning Resolution Sections 12-10, 32-01, 32-69, 42-01, 42-55, 52-734, 52-77, 72-40

Purpose: 

To provide guidance as to the meaning of the phrase "substantial portion" as used in the definition of "adult establishment" in Section 12-10 of the Zoning Resolution.

Supercedes: 

OPPN #4/98

Superseded: 

OPPN #1/00

Specifics: 

Section 12-10 of the Zoning Resolution ("ZR") defines an adult establishment as an establishment, a "substantial portion" of which is occupied by an adult book store, adult eating or drinking establishment, adult theater, or "other adult commercial establishment" ("adult use"). The phrase "substantial portion" is again used to define an adult book store as a book store with a substantial portion of its stock-in-trade in materials as defined in ZR §12-10 (a)(1) and (a)(2) ("adult materials"). In order that the provisions relating to adult establishments be properly enforced, this OPPN sets forth guidelines to clarify the meaning of the phrase "substantial portion."

I. Adult Book Store

An establishment shall be deemed a book store if its principal use is selling books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other visual representations, regardless of floor area. If at least 40 percent of the book store's total stock accessible or available ("accessible") for sale or rent to customers is comprised of adult materials, then the book store has a "substantial portion" of its stock in adult materials, and is therefore an "adult book store."

An establishment also includes an adult book store if 40 percent of the establishment's floor area and cellar space accessible to customers contains stock in adult materials.

If 10,000 or more square feet of an establishment is occupied by adult materials, the establishment is deemed to be an "adult book store" regardless of the overall size of the establishment.

General interest stores, including general interest book and video stores, with a section of adult materials that is modest in scale as compared to the overall size or stock of the store, are not intended to be covered by the adult establishment definition in ZR §12-10.

II. Adult Establishment

The determination as to whether a "substantial portion" of a commercial establishment with two or more uses, at least one of which is not a book store, an eating or drinking establishment, a theater, or an "other adult commercial establishment," includes an adult use should include consideration of (1) the amount of floor area and cellar space accessible to customers allocated to adult use and (2) such amount of floor area and cellar space as compared to total combined floor area and cellar space accessible to customers.

Thus, if a commercial establishment with two or more uses, at least one of which is not a book store, an eating or drinking establishment, a theater, or an "other adult commercial establishment," has at least 40 percent of the floor and cellar area that is accessible to customers available for adult use, then a "substantial portion" of the establishment is devoted to an adult use and the commercial establishment is deemed to be an adult establishment.

If 10,000 or more square feet of a commercial establishment with two or more uses, at least one of which is not a book store, an eating or drinking establishment, a theater, or an "other adult commercial establishment," is occupied by an adult use, the commercial establishment is deemed to be an "adult establishment" regardless of the overall size of the establishment.

Section II shall not apply to a commercial establishment that is entirely an eating or drinking establishment, a theater, an "other adult establishment," or any combination thereof.