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

Chapter 4, Article III sets the license regime. Sec. 4-59 makes it unlawful to operate an adult entertainment establishment, as defined in Sec. 4-3, without a valid license issued by the department of development services, in addition to the county's standard business license; a non-refundable processing fee under the board's fee schedule accompanies the application. Location is separately restricted by Sec. 4-34: no covered establishment may sit within 1,000 feet of land zoned or used for residential purposes; within 1,000 feet of a school, college campus, place of worship, government building, library, civic center, park, playground, recreational facility or child daycare; within 2,500 feet of another regulated adult establishment; within 2,500 feet of any other alcohol-selling establishment; or on a parcel under three acres with less than 100 feet of road frontage.

Distances are measured property line to property line. Applicants undergo a sheriff's department fingerprint and GCIC background check (Sec. 4-60), and the board of commissioners has 45 days from a completed application to grant or deny. Sec. 4-61 disqualifies applicants without good moral character, prior revoked licenses, non-citizens/non-permanent-residents, or straw applicants. A denial is a final action appealable only by writ of certiorari to superior court within 30 days (Sec. 4-63). Licenses run one year and are non-transferable (Secs. 4-64, 4-65), and hours are separately restricted under Sec. , closed entirely on Sundays, with alcohol banned on premises under Sec. 4-28.