Are there legal brothels in Las Vegas?

Q: Are there legal brothels in Las Vegas?

No. Brothels - as well as any other forms of prostitution (NRS 201.354) - are not allowed in Las Vegas or elsewhere in Clark County under NRS 244.345. Prostitutes and customers face misdemeanor charges merely for offering or agreeing to trade sexual favors for money - if even no money ends up changing hands and no sex acts take place. And pimps face more serious charges of pimping (NRS 201.320) and pandering (NRS 201.300(1)).

Q: Where are legal brothels in Nevada?

Legal prostitution may occur only in licensed brothels in the state of Nevada. At this time, the only counties that permit licensed brothels are: Elko (just in the incorporated towns of Elko, Carlin, Wendover and Wells, which includes Bella's Hacienda Ranch); Lander; White Pine (just in the incorporated city of Ely); Nye (home of the Alien Cathouse and Sheri's Ranch); Mineral; Lyon County (just in Mound House, Love Ranch, and Dennis Hof's Moonlite Bunny Ranch); and Storey County (home of Mustang Ranch). Three other counties do not outlaw licensed brothels but do not currently have any. These counties are: Churchill; Esmeralda; and Humbolt (just in the incorporated town of Winnemucca). Brothels are prohibited under state law in any Nevada County with a population of 700,000 or more residents. Therefore, all of Clark County (including the Las Vegas Strip) can never issue brothel licenses. In addition, the local governments of Douglas County, Lincoln, Eureka County, Pershing County, and Washoe County (including Reno and Sparks) as well as Carson City ban brothels.

Q: What are Nevada's brothel rules?

The Nevada brothel sex industry is highly regulated. Some of the prostitution laws that the brothel industry must follow are the following: Brothels must pay their workers fair wages. Brothels may not be located close to a school or place of worship. Brothels may not be located on a principal street. Brothel owners may not advertise in counties which outlaw prostitution. Sex workers must submit to regular HIV and STD (sexually transmitted disease) tests. Sex workers must use condoms for sexual activities. Sex workers must be at least 18 years old. Sex workers must have work cards, which requires background checks. Sex workers cannot be forced to do sex work; they must choose to. Note that brothel workers are typically independent contractors.

Q: What are the prostitution penalties outside of licensed brothels?

Prostitutes face misdemeanor charges in Nevada, which carry up to 6 months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. Customers also carry misdemeanor charges for a first-offense. In addition to up to 6 months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines, the law requires an additional $400 in fines and a $200 civil penalty. Subsequent convictions for customers are prosecuted as gross misdemeanors.

Posted on October 13, 2020

Are brothels legal in Nevada? Las Vegas prostitution laws and penalties

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No. Brothels – as well as any other forms of prostitution (NRS 201.354) – are not allowed in Las Vegas or elsewhere in Clark County under NRS 244.345. Prostitutes and customers face misdemeanor charges merely for offering or agreeing to trade sexual favors for money – if even no money ends up changing hands and no sex acts take place. And pimps face more serious charges of pimping (NRS 201.320) and pandering (NRS 201.300(1)).

Where are legal brothels in Nevada?

Legal prostitution may occur only in licensed brothels in the state of Nevada. At this time, the only counties that permit licensed brothels are:

Elko (just in the incorporated towns of Elko, Carlin, Wendover and Wells, which includes Bella’s Hacienda Ranch)
Lander
White Pine (just in the incorporated city of Ely)
Nye (home of the Alien Cathouse and Sheri’s Ranch)
Mineral
Lyon County (just in Mound House, Love Ranch, and Dennis Hof’s Moonlite Bunny Ranch)
Storey County (home of Mustang Ranch)

Three other counties do not outlaw licensed brothels but do not currently have any. These counties are:

Churchill
Esmeralda
Humbolt (just in the incorporated town of Winnemucca)

Brothels are prohibited under state law in any Nevada County with a population of 700,000 or more residents. Therefore, all of Clark County (including the Las Vegas Strip) can never issue brothel licenses. In addition, the local governments of Douglas County, Lincoln, Eureka County, Pershing County, and Washoe County (including Reno and Sparks) as well as Carson City ban brothels.

At this time, there are about 21 lawful brothels in Nevada, and they are all in rural counties. The closest of Nevada’s legal brothels to Las Vegas are located in Pahrump (in Nye County). (However, brothels are currently closed due to the COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic.)

Nevada is the only state in the United States with some form of legalization of prostitution.

What are Nevada’s brothel rules?

The Nevada brothel sex industry is highly regulated. Some of the prostitution laws that the brothel industry must follow are the following:

Brothels must pay their workers fair wages.
Brothels may not be located close to a school or place of worship.
Brothels may not be located on a principal street.
Brothel owners may not advertise in counties which outlaw prostitution.
Sex workers must submit to regular HIV and STD (sexually transmitted disease) tests.
Sex workers must use condoms for sexual activities.
Sex workers must be at least 18 years old.
Sex workers must have work cards, which requires background checks.
Sex workers cannot be forced to do sex work; they must choose to.

Note that brothel workers are typically independent contractors.

What are the prostitution penalties outside of licensed brothels?

Penalties for violating Nevada laws for prostitution turn on the specific offense:

Prostitution crime

Nevada penalties

Being a prostitute (“hooker”) under NRS 201.354:

Offering or agreeing to sell sexual favors for something of value

Misdemeanor:

Up to $1,000 in fines, and/or
Up to 6 months in jail

Being a customer (“john”) under NRS 201.354:

Offering or agreeing to pay something of value for sexual services

First-time

Misdemeanor:

Up to $1,000 in fines and/or up to 6 months in jail, and
Up to $400 in additional fines, and
A $200 civil penalty (or 20 hours of community service)

Second-time

Gross misdemeanor:

Up to $2,000 in fines and/or up to 364 days in jail, and
Up to $800 in additional fines, and
A $200 civil penalty (or 20 hours of community service)

Subsequent-time

Gross misdemeanor:

Up to $2,000 in fines and/or up to 364 days in jail, and
Up to $1,300 in additional fines, and
A $200 civil penalty (or 20 hours of community service)

Prostitution when the defendant knew he/she had HIV under NRS 201.358

Category B felony:

2 to 10 years in Nevada State Prison, and/or
Up to $10,000 in fines

Pimping under NRS 201.320

Willfully receiving money or other proceeds from prostitution

There is no violence (or immediate threats of violence)

Category D felony:

1 to 4 years in prison, and
Up to $5,000 in fines (at the judge’s discretion), and
Victim restitution (at the judge’s discretion

There is violence (or immediate threats of violence)

Category C felony:

1 to 5 years in prison, and
Up to $10,000 in fines (at the court’s discretion), and
Victim restitution (at the court’s discretion)

If the prostitute is a minor (under 18), then the judge may impose an additional $500,000 fine.

Pandering under NRS 201.300(1)

Enticing or persuading another adult to be a prostitute

Category C felony:

1 to 5 years in prison, and
Up to $10,000 in fines (at the judge’s discretion), and
victim restitution

In short, illegal prostitution – such as through streetwalking, escort service or strip club solicitations – is typically a misdemeanor. Judges usually do not impose jail for a first-time offense.

About the Author

Neil Shouse

A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, Court TV, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.