LOS ANGELES : Appeals Court Rejects Pornography Zoning

A federal appeals court in San Francisco on Monday refused to let Los Angeles enforce its latest “pornography zoning” measures against 22 sex-oriented bookstores, theaters and cabarets.

The 1991 ordinance prohibited adult businesses within 500 feet of a residential zone and banned multiple operations in the same building. Previous ordinances prohibit such businesses within 1,000 feet of each other and within 500 feet of churches, schools or parks.

The city contended that the 1991 measure left many potential relocation sites available. But the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld U.S. District Judge Richard Gabois’ decision that because the availability of relocation sites is questionable, there is a possibility that the ordinance would amount to a ban on legal businesses.