Return to normal view

Exempt Prostitution Service Providers

The  Prostitution Control Act 1994 allows, under strict conditions, you to provide sexual services yourself to or for others for reward or payment without requiring a licence. The strict requirements involve you owning and operating your own business and with no more than one other person providing sexual services yourselves. 

You can only commence operating if you first register with the Business Licensing Authority (BLA) as not requiring a licence and the BLA first issues you with an exemption registration number.

You can be an exempt prostitution service provider operating either:

• An escort agency - a business offering or providing, or facilitating the offer or provision of,  prostitution services to persons at premises not made available by the agency. The premises of an escort agency are only permitted to be used as an office; or
• A brothel - any premises made available for the purpose of prostitution by a  person carrying on the business of offering or providing prostitution services at the business's premises.

Applying for Registration

To register as an exempt prostitution service provider, select the registration form from the Online Applications menu.

Fees

There is no fee to register as an exempt prostitution service provider.

Eligibility

You are exempt if you intend to operate a brothel and/or escort agency where:

• only you will work as a prostitute in that business; or
• you and only one other person will work as prostitutes in that business.

You are not exempt if, for example:

• you have an arrangement with another person who refers clients to your business
• you refer clients to other prostitutes not working in your business
• your brothel/escort agency is associated with another brothel/escort agency.

Exempt Brothels Requirements

Planning Permits

If you intend to operate a small owner-operated brothel business, you must obtain a planning permit from the local council to allow you to operate a brothel from the premises. The BLA cannot register you as an exempt prostitution service provider until it has been given details of the planning permit.

Brothel Landlord

If you are proposing to use a brothel premises to operate a small owner-operated brothel business, you need to provide a conpleted Landlord Consent Form and a copy of the lease agreement.