Barrow County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- required for every sexually oriented establishment
- Zoning approval
- special use approval also required
- Buffer distance
- 1,000 ft from homes, schools, churches, parks, alcohol sellers
- Minimum site
- 3 acres with 100 ft road frontage
- Erotic dance hours
- 8 a.m.-1 a.m. weekdays, closed Dec. 25
- Alcohol
- prohibited on premises
- Dancer-patron distance
- 10 ft minimum, no contact
Summary
Barrow County requires a sexually oriented establishment permit before anyone opens an adult bookstore, cabaret, dancing establishment, arcade, video store, escort bureau or similar business in the unincorporated area, on top of special use zoning approval. The Unified Development Code also keeps these businesses at least 1,000 feet from residential property, churches, schools, parks and other adult businesses, and bars them from parcels under three acres.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct or carry on in or upon any premises within the county any of the sexually oriented establishments defined in this section without a sexually oriented establishment permit so to do. ... (d)Distancing and location requirements. No sexually oriented establishment, business or use restricted under this section shall be located within the following distances as defined and measured as stated herein:(1)Within 1,000 feet of any parcel of land which is either zoned or used for residential uses or purposes.(2)Within 1,000 feet of any parcel of land upon which a church, school, governmental building, library, civic center, public park or playground, community club, or prison is located. ... (6)On less than three acres of land containing at least 100 feet of road frontage.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 89-135 makes it unlawful to engage in, conduct or carry on any sexually oriented establishment in unincorporated Barrow County without a sexually oriented establishment permit, and separately requires special use approval from the Board of Commissioners before the use may begin operating. Distancing rules in subsection (d) keep these businesses at least 1,000 feet from any parcel zoned or used for residential purposes; from a church, school, government building, library, civic center, park or playground, community club or prison; from another regulated sexually oriented establishment; and from any parcel where alcohol is sold.
The site must also carry at least three acres and 100 feet of road frontage. m. to midnight on Saturday going into Sunday, and never on December 25. Dancers must perform on a platform raised at least two feet, stay at least ten feet from patrons, and neither dancers nor patrons may touch or exchange gratuities directly. Permittees must file an annual gross-receipts report by March 1 and keep dancer records for two years.
Violations & Fines
Any adult entertainment establishment operated contrary to Sec. 89-135 is declared an unlawful public nuisance, and a violation is per se grounds for suspension or revocation of the permit. The county may prosecute criminally under the Code's general penalty, seek civil abatement or an injunction, or both. The Planning and Community Development Department can also physically seal all or part of a premises found unsanitary or unsafe on inspection until the violation is corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Barrow County require a special permit for adult businesses?
How far must an adult business stay from homes and schools?
Can an adult business serve alcohol?
What happens if a permitted premises becomes unsanitary?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Barrow County
Compare Barrow County to another location·View the Georgia business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.