Franklin County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

5-29 of the Amusements and Entertainments chapter limits where adult cabarets, adult motion picture theaters and adult retail stores may locate. These uses are allowed only in the C-2 zoning district, and even there the code layers on distance rules: no such use may sit within 500 feet of another adult retail store, adult motion picture theater or adult cabaret; within 200 feet of an operating elementary, middle or high school or house of worship; or within 200 feet of land zoned R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3 or the mixed-use C-4 district.

Measurements run from the shortest distance between the site's property line and the nearest property line of the school, house of worship or residentially zoned land, or from the edge of a leased space if the business occupies part of a multi-tenant property. 5-32 makes it unlawful to operate an adult cabaret or adult motion picture theater without a sexually oriented business license, applied for in person at the office of planning services with fingerprints taken by the Franklin County Sheriff's Department. 5-34 sets the fee at $1,000 for the initial license and each annual renewal, plus $100 for each employee license.

Licenses run one calendar year and must be renewed at least 90 days before expiration. , and viewing rooms must be at least 1,000 square feet with unobstructed sightlines.