Hillsborough County, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential/church/park buffer
- 2,000 feet
- School buffer
- 2,500 feet
- Buffer from other adult business
- 500 feet
- License required
- Yes, County Administrator's Office
- Distance measured
- property line to property line
Summary
Hillsborough County bars new sexually oriented businesses within 2,000 feet of residential zoning, churches, schools, or parks, and within 500 feet of another sexually oriented business, under the Land Development Code.
No sexually oriented business may be established within 2,000 feet of any area zoned for residential use, including, but not limited to, residential portions of C-U, PD, or U-C zoning districts, nor within 2,000 feet of any church, child care facility, or public recreation area, nor within 2,500 feet from an public or private school. These distance requirements apply regardless of whether the area zoned for residential use, the church, school, child care facility or public recreation are is within unincorporated Hillsborough County or in an adjacent jurisdiction.
Supp. No. 22, Rev. II-29 § 2.02.06 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE
B. Proximity to Other Sexually Oriented Businesses
No sexually oriented business may be established within 500 feet of any other sexually oriented business.
C. Calculation of Distances
Distances shall be measured from property line to property line, along the shortest distance between property lines, without regard to the route of normal travel. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the operation of any business or the performance of any activity prohibited under any other section of this Code. Additionally, nothing in this Code shall be construed to authorize, allow or permit the establishment of any business, the performance of any activity, or the possession of any item, which is obscene
Full Breakdown
The Land Development Code prohibits establishing a sexually oriented business within 2,000 feet of any residentially zoned area, church, child care facility, or public recreation area, and within 2,500 feet of a public or private school; a separate 500-foot buffer applies between two sexually oriented businesses. Distances are measured property line to property line. Operators must also hold a county sexually oriented business license under Part A of the Code, issued by the County Administrator's Office, before opening.
Violations & Fines
Operating a sexually oriented business without the required county license, or at a location that fails these spacing buffers, is unlawful and subject to code enforcement action, license denial, suspension, or revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a sexually oriented business locate near a school in Hillsborough County?
Do two adult businesses have to keep a distance from each other?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsborough County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hillsborough 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.