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

5-63 to include adult bookstores, adult clubs, adult motion picture theaters, adult mini motion picture theaters, and massage establishments (any commercial operation offering manipulation of body tissue by hand or device for compensation). 5-64 sets a 1,500-foot radial spacing buffer between any two sexually oriented businesses and between such a business and a church, a public, private or parochial elementary, middle or high school, a public park, land designated residential on the county's or a municipality's comprehensive plan, or the right-of-way of a named tourism corridor such as Front Beach Road or Thomas Drive.

Distance is measured corner-to-corner for another business or church, and corner-to-nearest-point for schools, parks and residential land. 00. Applicants must be at least 18, submit fingerprints and a photograph, and disclose any 'specified criminal act' conviction (prostitution, obscenity, controlled-substance and similar offenses). The sheriff must issue or deny a permit within 21 days of a complete application; a temporary permit covers the gap. A conviction for a specified criminal act while permitted triggers a 90-day suspension for a first offense and 180 days for a repeat. Denials, suspensions and revocations are reviewed by writ of certiorari.