Williamson County, TN Business Licensing & Operations: Adult Entertainment (2026)

03(D)(1) of the Williamson County Zoning Ordinance (adopted May 14, 2012, effective January 1, 2013) requires adult-oriented establishments in the unincorporated county to set back a minimum of 1,000 feet from day care centers, family and group child care homes, educational facilities, higher educational facilities, parks and general open space, recreational and athletic facilities, residential use types including accessory dwelling units and additional principal dwellings, and religious institutions. The 1,000-foot distance is measured in a straight line in every direction from the nearest point on the adult-oriented establishment's property line to the nearest point on the protected use's property line, without regard to intervening structures, objects, or political boundaries.

An adult-oriented establishment that is a lawful, conforming use is not rendered nonconforming if a protected use listed above later locates within 1,000 feet of it. No parcel or structure containing one adult-oriented establishment may contain a second one; where two such establishments end up within 1,000 feet of each other or in the same building, the one first lawfully established keeps conforming status and the later one becomes nonconforming. Existing adult-oriented establishments cannot expand in a way that would violate the setback standard. to midnight, Monday through Saturday, with mandatory closure on Sundays and on legal holidays designated in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 15-1-101.

The physical facility must also meet all applicable building, electrical, fire and health codes plus Tennessee Code Annotated Section 7-51-1403, the state statute specifically addressing adult-oriented establishments.