All 50 States + DC · Plain English · Updated 2026
Know the rules
before you walk in.
The definitive plain-English guide to adult entertainment laws across every U.S. state. What's allowed, what's not, and what to expect — at a glance.
4
Permissive states
27
Moderate states
10
Restrictive states
10
Very restrictive
Pick your state
Color shows how permissive each state is at a glance.
AL
Alabama
AK
Alaska
AZ
Arizona
AR
Arkansas
CA
California
CO
Colorado
CT
Connecticut
DE
Delaware
DC
District of Columbia
FL
Florida
GA
Georgia
HI
Hawaii
ID
Idaho
IL
Illinois
IN
Indiana
IA
Iowa
KS
Kansas
KY
Kentucky
LA
Louisiana
ME
Maine
MD
Maryland
MA
Massachusetts
MI
Michigan
MN
Minnesota
MS
Mississippi
MO
Missouri
MT
Montana
NE
Nebraska
NV
Nevada
NH
New Hampshire
NJ
New Jersey
NM
New Mexico
NY
New York
NC
North Carolina
ND
North Dakota
OH
Ohio
OK
Oklahoma
OR
Oregon
PA
Pennsylvania
RI
Rhode Island
SC
South Carolina
SD
South Dakota
TN
Tennessee
TX
Texas
UT
Utah
VT
Vermont
VA
Virginia
WA
Washington
WV
West Virginia
WI
Wisconsin
WY
Wyoming
Permissiveness:
Permissive
Moderate
Restrictive
Very Restrictive
New
Compare Two States
Pick any two states and see their rules side by side — alcohol, nudity, age limits, lap dances and more.
At-a-glance scorecards
Every state shows what's allowed, what's not, and what varies — in plain English, no legal background required.
Official sources only
We link directly to state legislature portals and alcohol control boards — no aggregators or secondhand info.
Local ordinance guidance
Most day-to-day rules are set by cities. We show you exactly how to find your local code.
Not legal advice
Laws change. Use this as a starting point, then verify with official sources or an attorney.