Davidson County, NC Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required from
- County Manager, § 113.15
- Annual permit fee
- $500, § 113.18
- Permit term
- one year, renew 30 days before expiry
- Applies in
- unincorporated Davidson County, § 113.03
- Suspension length
- up to 30 days, § 113.20
- Standard revocation length
- one year, three years for sex-crime convictions
Summary
Davidson County requires a permit from the County Manager before anyone can operate an adult establishment in the unincorporated county under § 113.15. The annual permit costs $500 under § 113.18, runs for one year, and can be suspended or revoked for age violations, prostitution, or other misconduct on the premises.
(A) Except as provided in division (B) below, from and after the effective date of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person or entity to operate an adult establishment without first securing and having a valid permit from the County Manager and any person or entity who operates an adult establishment without having a valid permit shall be subject to criminal and civil remedies as provided herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance passed 4-22-2024; and State legislation through 2023 North Carolina Legislative Service, Pamphlet No. 6).
Full Breakdown
03. 15(D) bars transferring a permit to anyone else. 15(B). 18 sets the annual fee at $500 to help cover administration and enforcement. 19(A). 21 for a repeat suspension within 12 months, false application statements, prostitution, controlled-substance activity, or admitting minors. 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.
Violations & Fines
Operating an adult establishment in Davidson County without the § 113.15 permit exposes the operator to criminal and civil remedies under that section and to the general penalty at § 10.99 via § 113.99(A); each additional continuing day of the violation is a separate offense under § 113.99(D). The County Manager can also suspend a permit for up to 30 days under § 113.20 or revoke it for a year, or three years for a sexual-misconduct conviction, under § 113.21.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open an adult establishment in Davidson County without a permit?
How much does the adult establishment permit cost, and how long does it last?
Does the county's adult-business rule apply inside Lexington or Thomasville?
Can the county take away an adult establishment permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davidson County
Compare Davidson County to another location·View the North Carolina business licensing & operations overview
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