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Fulton County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

License needed
Adult entertainment establishment license
Issued by
Fulton Dept. of Finance
Employee permit
Fingerprint + background check
Hours
Closed 4 a.m.-9 a.m. daily

Summary

Fulton County requires adult entertainment establishments to hold a separate license from the finance department, on top of the standard occupation tax certificate.

City-specific rules exist: Atlanta, Roswell, and Sandy Springs have their own adult entertainment rules that differ from Fulton County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Any person or business entity desiring to operate an adult entertainment establishment within Fulton County shall be required to obtain, in addition to the occupation tax certificate, an adult entertainment establishment license ("license") issued by the department of finance.(b)It is unlawful for any person or business entity to operate within Fulton County any adult entertainment establishment, as defined in this article, without a valid adult entertainment establishment license. No such license so issued shall condone or make legal any activity thereunder if the same is deemed illegal or unlawful under the laws of the State of Georgia or the United States.(c)A non-refundable processing fee shall accompany the adult entertainment license application to defray, in part, the cost of investigation and report required by this article. Such fee shall be according to a fee schedule adopted by the board of commissioners. The department of finance shall issue a receipt showing that such fee has been paid.(d)The application for license does not authorize the engaging in, operation of, conducting of or carrying on of any adult entertainment activities in such an establishment. (Res. No. 06-0470, Exh. A, 5-3-06; Res. No. 11-0075, 1-19-11)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 57).

Full Breakdown

Beyond the ordinary occupation tax certificate, Fulton County requires every adult entertainment establishment to obtain an adult entertainment establishment license from the Department of Finance before opening; operating without one is unlawful. Employees also need individual permits verified through fingerprinting and a background check. Licensed establishments must close between 4:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. daily (2:55 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Sundays) and bar anyone under 18.

Violations & Fines

Operating an adult entertainment establishment, or advertising one, without a valid license is a code violation that can bring suspension or revocation of the license after a hearing before the board of commissioners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I operate an adult entertainment business in Fulton County on just a business license?
No. Code Section 18-82 requires a separate adult entertainment establishment license from the finance department in addition to the standard occupation tax certificate.
Do employees need their own permit?
Yes. Section 18-81 requires each employee to get an individual permit, which includes a fingerprint-based background check by the police department.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fulton County

All Fulton County rules

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