Nevada is one of only two U.S. states that allow some legal prostitution; in most of its counties, brothels are legalized and heavily regulated. (In Rhode Island, the act of sex for money is not illegal, but street solicitation, and operation of a brothel, are.)
...[edit] Legal situation
Under Nevada state law, any county with a population under 400,000, as of the last decennial census,[1] is allowed to license brothels if it so chooses.[2] As of the most recent census in 2000, only Clark County (which contains Las Vegas) had a population above 400,000.[3] Incorporated towns and cities in counties that allow prostitution may regulate the trade further or prohibit it altogether.
As of July 2004, brothels are illegal under county or municipal law in Washoe County (which contains Reno), Carson City (an independent city), Douglas County, and Lincoln County. Eureka County neither permits nor prohibits licensed brothels, and has none. The other 11 Nevada counties permit licensed brothels in certain specified areas or cities.[4]
The precise licensing requirements vary by county. License fees for brothels range from an annual $100,000 in Storey County to an annual $200 in Lander County. Licensed prostitutes must be at least 21 years old, except in Storey County and Lyon County (where the minimum age is 18).
Nevada law requires that registered brothel prostitutes be checked weekly for several sexually transmitted diseases, and monthly for HIV; furthermore, condoms are mandatory for all oral sex and sexual intercourse. Brothel owners may be held liable if customers become infected with HIV after a prostitute has tested positive for the virus.[5] Women work a legally mandated minimum of nine days for each work period.[6]
Nevada has laws against engaging in prostitution outside of licensed brothels, against encouraging others to become prostitutes, and against living off the proceeds of a prostitute.
For many years, Nevada brothels were restricted from advertising their services in counties where brothel prostitution is illegal; however, this state law was overturned in 2007.[3] [continued]