Alamance County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Section 6.2 of the Unified Development Ordinance governs adult establishments and sexually oriented businesses countywide. Under the location restrictions in 6.2.2(a), such a business cannot sit within 1,000 feet of another adult establishment or sexually oriented business, cannot share a building with one, and cannot locate within 1,500 feet of a park, school, house of worship, community center, child day care center, or major residential subdivision. A property owner who wants relief from those distances can petition the Board of Commissioners for a waiver, and the Board may grant it if the use won't harm nearby properties and still serves the ordinance's intent.

Before opening, the operator must obtain a license from the Alamance County Planning Department under Section 6.2.3.A: the application discloses the owner, operator, and agents, includes government-issued photo identification for each, and triggers a criminal background check for drug-related felonies or sexually related crimes, completed within 21 business days. The non-refundable license fee is $500, the license runs for one year or the period of ownership, whichever is shorter, and renewal costs $250 annually. A felony conviction for a sexually oriented or drug-related offense within the past 15 years, or a matching misdemeanor within the past 10 years, requires denial of the license.

Operation restrictions layer on top of licensing: hours are limited to 2:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., no one under 21 may be admitted or employed, entertainers must perform on a platform raised at least 4 feet and stay at least 4 feet from patrons, and operators must comply with the county Noise Ordinance.