Davidson County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

Chapter 113, the Davidson County Adult Establishments Ordinance, applies to all of Davidson County outside any municipality unless a town's governing board opts in by resolution, per § 113.03. Section 113.15(A) makes it unlawful to operate an adult establishment, defined by reference to G.S. § 14-202.10 to include adult bookstores, cabarets, arcades, theaters, and massage businesses among others, without first securing a valid permit from the County Manager; § 113.15(C) limits each permit to one fixed location, and § 113.15(D) bars transferring a permit to anyone else.

Existing businesses at the time of adoption had 90 days to apply under § 113.15(B). Applications go to the Clerk of the Board under § 113.16, and § 113.18 sets the annual fee at $500 to help cover administration and enforcement. Each permit expires one year after issuance and must be renewed at least 30 days before expiration under § 113.19(A). The County Manager can suspend a permit for up to 30 days under § 113.20 for chapter violations, refusing an inspection, or knowingly permitting gambling or illegal alcohol use on the premises, and must revoke a permit under § 113.21 for a repeat suspension within 12 months, false application statements, prostitution, controlled-substance activity, or admitting minors.

Section 113.05(A)-(C) separately bars anyone under 18 from the premises and requires an attendant at each entrance to check identification, while § 113.05(H) ties all adult establishments to the county's separate Zoning Ordinance for special-use and location standards, which is not part of this chapter's text.