The Fort Madison Planning and Zoning Commission approved Tuesday an ordinance that bars adult stores from within 2,000 feet of residential areas, schools and other public buildings.
The ordinance now goes to the City Council for approval.
The measure, which is twice the distance limit on many such ordinances around the country, also allows a store to generate up 33 percent of its sales from adult videos before it’s considered an adult entertainment business and subject to the new restrictions.
Councilman Dave Sallen told The Hawkeye, that the city has no regulations for adult stores or to specify where they can operate.
Ed Bash, planning and zoning director, said a lot of stores in the city sell adult videos, but are not considered adult stores.
The proposed measure prohibits adult stores from being open between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday through Saturday and must remain closed on Sundays.
Shops must also monitor the exterior of its property every hour either by physical inspection or through video cameras and must also be subject to city inspections by various city personnel, including City Council members.
Violations could result in fines of up to $500 and a maximum of 30 days in jail.
