Game Room
Game Room Ordinance
The approved and amended December 23, 2024 Lubbock County Game Room Ordinance is here.
Permit Office
The Lubbock County Tax Assessor-Collector's office, hereafter referred to as Permit Office, will oversee the permitting of all Lubbock County game rooms. You may send your questions to gameroom@lubbockcounty.gov and allow ample time for a response. We will respond as quickly as possible.
* Physical Address: 916 Main Street, Suite 102, Lubbock, TX 79401 (get directions here)
* Email: gameroom@lubbockcounty.gov
* Hours of Operation: Monday thru Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm, 1:00pm-5:00pm, except holidays
Permit Office
The Lubbock County Tax Assessor-Collector's office, hereafter referred to as Permit Office, will oversee the permitting of all Lubbock County game rooms. You may send your questions to gameroom@lubbockcounty.gov and allow ample time for a response. We will respond as quickly as possible.
* Physical Address: 916 Main Street, Suite 102, Lubbock, TX 79401 (get directions here)
* Email: gameroom@lubbockcounty.gov
* Hours of Operation: Monday thru Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm, 1:00pm-5:00pm, except holidays
I am an Owner, Corporation Partnership or other Business Entity. What do I need to do?
1. Go to the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, 801 Main Street, Lubbock, TX to the Sheriff's Work Release & Inmate Property Office (located on the north side of the building), Monday-Friday 8:30am-11:30am and 1:00-3:30pm. Take one valid government issued photo identification (driver's license, passport, citizenship card, etc.) and $10.00 cash (they will not accept checks, credit cards or make change). Contact 806-775-1400 if you have fingerprinting questions. You'll bring one copy to the Permit Office for your appointment.
2. Make an appointment with the Permit Office. There are no walk-ins, applicants will be seen by appointment only. When you arrive for your appointment bring documents that have been typed with original signatures. There are no walk-ins, applicants will be seen by appointment only.
* Bring a typed GFR001 with original signatures. This form requires a notary, the Permit Office does not provide this service.
* One copy of the fingerprint
* A color photo of the building where the business is physically located
* Allow one hour for the appointment
* Valid US or state issued photo identification and social security card(s)
* Bring a $1000.00 form of payment (cash, check or credit card are accepted)
* Assumed name certificate
* Incomplete applications will not be accepted
* What precinct is my business? County Commissioner Maps
* We do not provide printing services
* Other documents as required
3. A background investigation will be accomplished through IDS after your application is received by the Permit Office. You will receive a link via email and cell phone text to give you detailed information and payment options. (Sections 2.1b5 and 2.1b3vi).
4. You will be notified regarding the outcome of the investigation. If you are approved, you can make an appointment here to pick up your badge (allow 5 minutes for this appointment). Bring in a typed, and signed, GRF005 Authorized Employees with the names of all the employees who will be working for your company.
5. At the conclusion of a successful application process a one-year permit will be issued to the game room. This permit must be prominently displayed. It shall be the duty of any owner or employee of a game room to keep posted or displayed within the game room in plain sight in a common area accessible to the public without having to enter a controlled area of the business a current game room permit. (Section 3.3a).
I am an Employee Applicant. What do I need to do?
1. Go to the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, 801 Main Street, Lubbock, TX to the Sheriff's Work Release & Inmate Property Office (located on the north side of the building), Monday-Friday 8:30am-11:30am and 1:00-3:30pm. Take one valid government issued photo identification (driver's license, passport, citizenship card, etc.) and $10.00 cash (they will not accept checks, credit cards or make change). Contact 806-775-1400 if you have fingerprinting questions. You'll bring one copy to the Permit Office for your appointment.
2. Make an appointment with the Permit Office AFTER the Owner has completed their paperwork with the Permit Office. There are no walk-ins, applicants will be seen by appointment only.
* Bring a typed GFR002 with original signatures
* One copy of the fingerprint
* Allow 30 minutes for the appointment
* Valid US or state issued photo identification and social security card
* Bring a $50.00 form of payment (cash, check or credit card are accepted)
* Incomplete applications will not be accepted
* We do not provide printing services
3. A background investigation will be accomplished through IDS after your application is received by the Permit Office. You will receive a link via email and cell phone text to give you detailed information and payment options. (Sections 2.1b5 and 2.1b3vi).
4. You will be notified regarding the outcome of the investigation. If you are approved, you can make an appointment here to pick up your badge (allow 5 minutes for this appointment).
Who is subject to a background investigation and fingerprinting? (Sections 1.4b, 1.4d and 1.4h)
The applicants include a corporation, partnership, other business entities, employees and owners. Non-licensed TxDPS officers are also subject to a background investigation and fingerprinting.
Game Room Hours of Operations (Section 3.2a)
A game room may operate between the hours of 10:00am to 11:00pm, Sunday through Thursday, and between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00am, Friday through Sunday morning.
Fees and Forms of Payment (Sections 2.6a and 2.6b)
The Permit Office will accept cash, check (made payable to Ronnie Keister) or credit card.
New, or renewal, permit per game room - $1000.00
Employee application - $50.00 each
Grounds for Applicant Denial, Revocation or Suspension
The Permit Office shall have the authority and power to initiate a proceeding to deny, remove or suspend a game room employee application, and/or badge, if one or more of the following events or conditions have occurred. See Sections 2.2d, 2.2e and 2.3 of the Ordinance for details (available at the top of this page).
Grounds for Game Room Denial, Revocation or Suspension
The Permit Office shall have the authority and power to initiate a proceeding to deny, remove or suspend a game room application, and/or certificate, if one or more of the following events or conditions have occurred. See Sections 2.2a, 2.2b, 2.2c and 2.3 of the Ordinance for details (available at the top of this page).
Important Dates (Section 4.4)
February 28, 2025 - The Permit Office began processing appointments.
May 1, 2025 - Ordinance enforcement begins, and all approved permits are to be in place. This is the last date to submit an application for a pre-existing business.
May 2, 2025 - Only one new application can be accepted in Precinct 2. Section 3.4 of the Ordinance clarifies distancing and location restrictions.
Legal Advice
Lubbock County will not provide legal advice. Consult your own attorney for more information.
Pre-existing Businesses (Section 3.4d)
Game rooms in operation since before March 1, 2025, are exempted from the requirements imposed by subparagraphs (a) and (b) of Section 3.4 of the Ordinance, so long as the game room remains in continuous operation at the same location. Additionally, a game room in operation at a particular location before the establishment of a residence, school, public or private youth center, or a playground, public swimming pool or video arcade facility, general residential operation operating as a residential treatment center at a nearby location are exempted from the requirements imposed by Section 3.4(b) of this ordinance so long as the game room remains in continuous operation at the same location.
Still have a question?
You may send your questions to gameroom@lubbockcounty.gov and allow ample time for a response. We will respond as quickly as possible.
Game Room Complaints
Address game room complaints to trafficsupervisor@lubbockcounty.gov
February 25, 2025
Grounds for Applicant Denial, Revocation or Suspension
The Permit Office shall have the authority and power to initiate a proceeding to deny, remove or suspend a game room employee application, and/or badge, if one or more of the following events or conditions have occurred. See Sections 2.2d, 2.2e and 2.3 of the Ordinance for details (available at the top of this page).
Grounds for Game Room Denial, Revocation or Suspension
The Permit Office shall have the authority and power to initiate a proceeding to deny, remove or suspend a game room application, and/or certificate, if one or more of the following events or conditions have occurred. See Sections 2.2a, 2.2b, 2.2c and 2.3 of the Ordinance for details (available at the top of this page).
Important Dates (Section 4.4)
February 28, 2025 - The Permit Office began processing appointments.
May 1, 2025 - Ordinance enforcement begins, and all approved permits are to be in place. This is the last date to submit an application for a pre-existing business.
May 2, 2025 - Only one new application can be accepted in Precinct 2. Section 3.4 of the Ordinance clarifies distancing and location restrictions.
Legal Advice
Lubbock County will not provide legal advice. Consult your own attorney for more information.
Pre-existing Businesses (Section 3.4d)
Game rooms in operation since before March 1, 2025, are exempted from the requirements imposed by subparagraphs (a) and (b) of Section 3.4 of the Ordinance, so long as the game room remains in continuous operation at the same location. Additionally, a game room in operation at a particular location before the establishment of a residence, school, public or private youth center, or a playground, public swimming pool or video arcade facility, general residential operation operating as a residential treatment center at a nearby location are exempted from the requirements imposed by Section 3.4(b) of this ordinance so long as the game room remains in continuous operation at the same location.
Still have a question?
You may send your questions to gameroom@lubbockcounty.gov and allow ample time for a response. We will respond as quickly as possible.
Game Room Complaints
Address game room complaints to trafficsupervisor@lubbockcounty.gov
February 25, 2025
