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

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

Key Facts

Licensing authority
Glynn County Licensing Official (Finance Director)
Application fee
$150.00, non-refundable
Annual license fee
$1,500.00
Renewal deadline
November 15 each year
Closed hours
Midnight-8am Mon-Sat, all Sunday, Christmas
Penalty
Up to $1,000 fine and/or 60 days jail

Summary

In unincorporated Glynn County, operating an adult arcade, bookstore, cabaret, motel, theater, escort agency or massage parlor without an adult entertainment license is unlawful. The Public Decency Ordinance requires a $150 application fee, a background investigation, and closes licensed premises overnight and on Sundays and Christmas.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Glynn County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

It shall be unlawful for any person, or legal entity to engage in, conduct or carry on, in or upon any premises within the unincorporated area of Glynn County any of the adult entertainment businesses defined in this ordinance without an adult entertainment license. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an adult entertainment business unless such business shall have a currently valid license, which license shall not be under suspension or permanently or conditionally revoked. ... A person who operates or causes to be operated an adult entertainment business without having a valid permit is subject to a suit for injunction as well as prosecution for the ordinance violation. Such violation shall be punishable by a fine of $1,000.00 and/or 60 days imprisonment, and if an injunction must be sought, attorneys fees and cost may be assessed at the discretion of the Court against the adult entertainment business. Each day or part of a day that the adult entertainment business is operated with knowledge that the necessary permit does not exist shall constitute a separate violation.

Full Breakdown

Chapter 2-24, the Public Decency Ordinance, makes it unlawful to engage in any adult entertainment business in unincorporated Glynn County without a license from the county's Licensing Official (the Finance Director or designee), and unlawful to operate on premises whose license is suspended or revoked. 00, renewed each year with renewal applications due by November 15. The Licensing Official has up to 60 days to investigate and must deny a license if the applicant has a recent conviction for sexual assault, rape, prostitution or a similar offense, has had a similar license revoked elsewhere in the past ten years, or if the premises would not meet applicable distance requirements or qualify for a certificate of occupancy.

Applicants must publish notice of the application for four consecutive weeks and post an 18 by 24 inch sign before the Board of Commissioners hearing. m. Monday through Saturday, and all day Sunday and Christmas Day, may not admit minors, and employees need a separate work permit. The Health Department, Sheriff's Office, Police Department, Fire Department and Licensing Official may inspect the premises at any time the business is open, and refusing inspection is itself unlawful. A license may be suspended for 180 days or revoked for a violation, chronic criminal activity, or admitting a minor, with an appeal to the Board of Commissioners.

Violations & Fines

Operating without a valid license is punishable by a fine of $1,000.00 and/or 60 days imprisonment; a court injunction may also issue, with attorneys' fees assessed against the business at the court's discretion. Each day of unlicensed operation with knowledge the permit is missing is a separate violation, and any ordinance violation carries the same $1,000/60-day penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to run an adult bookstore in unincorporated Glynn County?
Yes. Chapter 2-24 makes it unlawful to engage in, conduct or carry on any adult entertainment business, including an adult bookstore, without a license from the Glynn County Licensing Official, regardless of where the business is physically located.
How much does a Glynn County adult entertainment license cost?
The initial non-refundable application fee is $150.00 to cover the investigation, and the annual license fee is resolved at $1,500.00, due again each year on renewal by November 15.
What hours must an adult entertainment business in Glynn County stay closed?
The business must close between midnight and 8:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and remain closed all day on Sundays and on Christmas Day, per Section 2-24-4(E).
What happens if I operate without the license in Glynn County?
You face a fine of up to $1,000.00 and/or 60 days in jail, plus possible injunction with attorneys' fees, and each day of continued unlicensed operation counts as a separate violation.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Glynn County

All Glynn County rules

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