Florida County Pushes for Ban on Adult Businesses

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – The Public Safety Committee is close to getting approval on a six-month moratorium on all types of adult businesses, making it impossible for adult operations to find a home in High Springs.

In a unanimous vote Sept. 28, the committee approved resolution 2006-X, which could make High Springs one of the few counties in Florida that have successfully prevented new adult companies from setting up shop.

The final vote is now in the hands of City Commissioner Jim Gabriel

City Attorney Jim Pendland told the High Springs Herald that the city has been trying to create an ordinance against adult companies for several decades. The challenge, Pendland said, is in making sure the wording of the ordinance successfully blocks out adult companies while at the same time avoids any infringement on constitutional rights.

The committee has reportedly modeled the ordinance after others counties in Florida that have aimed to accomplish the same ban on adult. If the moratorium passes, it would be in effect just long enough for the city to come up with a permanent rule.

Previous attempts to ban adult companies failed to make the proper submission timeline to the City Commissioner.

“I feel that [the committee] is very close to bringing a recommendation to us,” Gabriel told the local press. “It would be a shame to have an adult entertainment business come in under the wire. I can’t imagine anything that would be more out of character for High Springs.”

In a similar move, Albuquerque, N.M., is considering a ban on adult companies in its downtown area. Earlier this week, the city council reviewed a proposal to place a moratorium on any new adult entertainment businesses opening in its central core.

The zoning law would reenact a ban the city upheld 30 years ago, which over the years became lax. Albuquerque is in the midst of a revitalization plan, and the City Attorney Bob White has stated that adult companies are “inconsistent with that goal.”

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

Corey Silverstein to Host Webinar on 'SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling'

Where Does Age Verification Go From Here," to livestream July 10 at 4 p.m. (EDT).

FSC Publishes Guidance on Google Analytics Lawsuits

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published guidance on how adult websites can protect themselves in the wake of several consumer class action lawsuits filed against sites for using Google Analytics.

Ofcom Investigates FTV Sites for Possible AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom is investigating First Time Videos, which operates the sites FTVGirls.com and FTVMilfs.com, for possible failure to comply with age assurance requirements under the Online Safety Act.

FSC Publishes Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Aylo Releases Statement on Suspending Access to Pornhub in France

Technology and media company Aylo, which operates adult sites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, has released a public statement regarding its decision to block access to its sites in France.

Pornhub Blocks Access in France in Response to SREN Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo has opted to block access to its sites in France rather than comply with age verification requirements under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

Canadian Senator Revives Push for National AV Law

Sen. Julie Miville-Dechêne, whose previous multiple attempts to legislate national age verification requirements all failed, has introduced a new bill that would impose fines of up to $500,000 on adult sites that do not implement age verification for Canadian viewers.

FSC Submits Statement to House Committee in Support of FIRM Act

Free Speech Coalition has announced that it submitted a statement to the House Financial Services Committee in support of the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act.The announcement follows:

Show More