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

Putnam County's Board of County Commissioners regulates adult entertainment establishments, escort services and physical contact parlors under Chapter 10, Article II of the Putnam County Code. Before opening in unincorporated Putnam County, an operator must obtain a license from the county zoning administrator, who also oversees license transfers, name changes and relocations. Section 10-81 bars a new or enlarged establishment from locating within 2,500 feet of another preexisting adult entertainment establishment, religious institution or educational institution; within 1,000 feet of land zoned residential, land designated rural residential on the comprehensive plan's future land use map, or a preexisting park; or within 300 feet of a preexisting establishment that sells alcohol for on-premises consumption.

Distances under Section 10-82 are measured by a straight line drawn between the closest property lines of the two uses. Section 10-84 further confines these establishments to the C-3 General Commercial, C-4 Intense Commercial and IL Light Industrial zoning districts, where they are an expressly permitted use, on top of the distance rules in Section 10-81(a). An establishment that was already lawfully operating before these distance rules took effect keeps operating as a nonconforming use under Section 10-83, though it cannot expand onto additional land or into buildings outside its existing footprint. The zoning administrator inspects for compliance alongside the county's building, fire and health departments, and coordinates with the sheriff's office on licensing enforcement.