Walton County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected-use buffer
- 1,320 feet from church, park, school, residential
- Between-establishment buffer
- 750 feet, Sec. 7-28(2)
- Road-frontage buffer
- 300 feet from named highways/county roads
- Legal authority
- F.S. § 125.01, adopted Sec. 7-26
- Measurement method
- Straight line, ignoring intervening structures
Summary
Walton County keeps adult entertainment establishments at least 1,320 feet from churches, parks, public buildings, schools and residential lots, and at least 750 feet from any other adult entertainment establishment. A third rule also bars frontage on named highways and county roads within 300 feet.
Adult entertainment establishments shall be subject to the following locational restrictions: (1)An adult entertainment establishment shall not be operated within 1,320 feet of:a.A church;b.A public park or public building;c.A daycare center, daycare educational center, public or private elementary or secondary school; ord.The property line of a lot devoted to residential use.(2)No adult entertainment establishment shall be operated, established, substantially enlarged or transferred in ownership control if within 750 feet of another adult entertainment establishment.
Full Breakdown
01 as stated in Section 7-26. No such establishment may operate within 1,320 feet of a church, a public park or public building, a daycare center or daycare educational center, a public or private elementary or secondary school, or the property line of a lot devoted to residential use. Separately, no adult entertainment establishment may be operated, established, substantially enlarged, or transferred in ownership control within 750 feet of another adult entertainment establishment. S. Highways 98, 90 and 331 and Scenic Gulf Drive. Measurements are taken in a straight line without regard to intervening structures, from the nearest part of the building used for the adult entertainment establishment to the nearest property line of the protected use, and between establishments from the closest exterior walls of each structure.
Section 7-27 defines the covered uses broadly, including adult arcades, adult bookstores or video stores, adult cabarets, adult motels, adult theaters, and unlicensed massage establishments, tying each to the statutory definition of sexually oriented material.
Violations & Fines
Establishing, substantially enlarging, or transferring ownership control of an adult entertainment establishment inside the 1,320-foot buffer around churches, parks, schools, daycares, or residential property, inside the 750-foot buffer from another such establishment, or inside the 300-foot road-frontage buffer set by Section 7-28 puts the use in violation of the article's locational restrictions, measured in a straight line from the nearest property or building line without regard to intervening structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must an adult entertainment business stay from a school or church in Walton County?
Can two adult entertainment businesses operate near each other?
Are there road-frontage restrictions on adult businesses in Walton County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Walton County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Walton County to another location·View the Florida business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.