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

Jackson County Code Chapter 6, Article III (Sec. ) requires anyone operating, engaging in, conducting or carrying on an adult entertainment establishment in the unincorporated county to first obtain an annual license from the public development director (Sec. 6-51). The nonrefundable investigative application fee is $300, paid in cash or certified check, and once approved the operator owes an annual regulatory fee of $750, due within ten days of approval or renewal. The director has 30 days to act on a complete application; if no decision issues within that window the license is deemed approved.

No license issues to a premises that also holds an on-premises alcohol license, and county officials and their spouses or minor children may not hold any interest in a licensed establishment (Sec. 6-51(e), (f)). Licenses run the calendar year and expire December 31; renewal applications are due by November 30, with a 20 percent late charge after that date (Sec. 6-58). On the land-use side, the Unified Development Code (Appendix A) Sec. 3-004 confines adult entertainment to the LI, GI and HI industrial zoning districts, and only after the Board of Commissioners grants special use approval.

Beyond the zoning limit, the UDC imposes a hard 1,000-foot spacing buffer, measured by airline distance between the closest points of the parcel property lines, from any residence, church or place of worship, school, government building, library, civic center, public park, hospital, community club, prison, another adult entertainment establishment, or any premises licensed to sell alcohol. Operationally, Sec. , must operate fully enclosed with covered windows and doors, must keep dancers at least four feet from patrons, and may not sell or allow alcohol on the premises.