Broward County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Spacing from other adult businesses
- 1,000 feet minimum
- Spacing from worship, child care, schools
- 1,000 feet minimum
- Spacing from residential zoning
- 500 feet minimum
- County license
- Required, unincorporated area only
Summary
Broward requires a county license for adult entertainment businesses in unincorporated areas and bars them within 1,000 feet of another adult business, house of worship, child care center or school, and within 500 feet of residential zoning.
No adult entertainment establishment shall be located or operated nearer to any other adult entertainment establishment nor nearer than one thousand (1,000) feet to any place of worship, child care center or educational center, except vocational and technical schools, colleges and universities...No adult entertainment establishment shall be located or operated nearer than five hundred (500) feet to a residentially zoned district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 39-200 of the Broward County Zoning Code, adult entertainment establishments are barred from locating within 1,000 feet of another adult entertainment establishment, a place of worship, a child care center, or an educational center other than a vocational school, college, or university, and within 500 feet of a residentially zoned district. Operators also need a county adult entertainment license under Chapter 20, Article XVI. Both rules apply only in unincorporated Broward County (Sec. 39-2, Sec. 20-323) - Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and Coral Springs enforce their own municipal codes instead.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required license, or violating the distance limits, is punishable under Sec. 125.69, Florida Statutes, with each day of violation a separate offense; Code and Zoning Enforcement and the Sheriff's Office enforce compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood?
How is the 1,000-foot distance measured?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida business licensing & operations overview
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