Burke County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Every adult establishment, Sec. 14-127(b)
- Licensing authority
- Sheriff's department, county manager endorsement
- Initial fee
- $1,500.00
- Closing hours
- 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. weekdays/Saturday
- Revocation
- Permanent, for prostitution or drug activity
Summary
Burke County requires a county license before anyone may operate an adult establishment such as an adult bookstore, cabaret, arcade or motion picture theater, or work as an adult live entertainer. Licenses run through the sheriff's department with a background check and site inspection, carry an initial fee of $1,500.00, and are subject to permanent revocation for prostitution, drug activity or public-nudity violations on the premises.
(b)License required.(1)It shall be unlawful for any person to own, directly or indirectly, a legal, equitable or beneficial interest in, to operate or to manage an adult establishment, either as a principal or accessory use, as herein defined, without first acquiring and keeping in full force and effect at all times a license in compliance with the provisions of this article.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14-127(b) makes it unlawful to own an interest in, operate or manage an adult establishment, as either a principal or accessory use, without first acquiring and keeping in force a license under the article; a separate license is required for each location and the license must be issued in the individual applicant's own name. Sec. 14-127(a) separately bans appearing nude in any public place in the county. Applications go to the county manager's approved form and are filed with the sheriff's department under Sec.
14-128 and Sec. 14-129, which require full disclosure of owners, a felony and prostitution conviction history, and a background investigation and premises inspection to be completed within 30 days; Sec. 14-129(d) bars issuing a license to anyone under 18, to a location not zoned for adult establishments, or to an applicant with a disqualifying conviction. 00 under Sec. 14-128(c), with renewals at half that rate, and the license is valid for one year. Sec. on Sundays (adult motels are exempt). A separate adult live entertainment license, required by Sec. 00 annual fee.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 14-133 requires permanent revocation of an adult establishment license for a major violation posing a direct threat to public health or safety, including prostitution on the premises, possessing or selling controlled substances, operating during suspension, or public nudity in violation of Sec. 14-127(a); a revoked license generally cannot be reissued for at least six months. Sec. 14-137 makes any violation of the article a misdemeanor, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Burke County license adult establishments?
What are the required closing hours?
Can an adult establishment license be revoked?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burke County
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