Business Licensing & Operations in Austin, TX (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for Austin, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Austin City Code Chapter 4-13 licenses sexually oriented businesses, requiring annual permits, distance buffers from schools, churches, parks, and residential zones, no-touch performer rules, and operator background checks; violations are class C misdemeanors enforced by APD vice.
Austin Sexually Oriented Business Licensing Chapter 4-13
Heavy RestrictionsTex. Loc. Gov't Code Sec. 243.006
Sec. 243.006. SCOPE OF REGULATION. (a) The location of sexually oriented businesses may be: (1) restricted to particular areas; or (2) prohibited within a certain distance of a school, regular place of religious worship, residential neighborhood, or other specified land use the governing body of the municipality or county finds to be inconsistent with the operation of a sexually oriented busine...
Massage Establishments
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses massage therapists and establishments statewide under Occupations Code Chapter 455; Austin City Code Chapter 4-9 layers local registration, zoning, and human-trafficking inspections on top of the state license.
Massage Establishment Rules: TDLR Plus Austin Chapter 4-9
Some RestrictionsTex. Occ. Code Sec. 455.151(a)-(b)
Sec. 455.151. LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) Unless the person is exempt from the licensing requirement, a person may not act as a massage therapist, massage school, massage therapy instructor, or massage establishment unless the person holds an appropriate license issued under this chapter. (b) Unless the person is exempt from the licensing requirement, a person may not represent that the person is a m...
Tobacco Retail License
Texas Comptroller issues retail cigarette, e-cigarette, and tobacco permits under Tax Code Chapters 154 and 155; Austin Code Chapter 7-2 layers vendor responsibilities and Smoke-Free Workplace duties, while HB 1771 preempts most local restrictions on flavor or product mix.
Tobacco Retail Licensing in Austin: State Permit Plus Local
Some RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 161.084
Sec. 161.084. WARNING NOTICE. (a) Each person who sells cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco products at retail or by vending machine shall post a sign in a location that is conspicuous to all employees and customers and that is close to the place at which the cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco products may be purchased. (b) The sign must include the statement: PURCHASING OR ATTEMPTING TO PUR...
Secondhand Dealers
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1956 regulates secondhand dealers and crafted-precious-metal dealers, requiring registration with local police, transaction reporting, holding periods, and seller identification; Austin Police Department administers compliance for Austin merchants.
Texas Secondhand Dealer Reporting Rules Apply in Austin
Some RestrictionsTex. Occ. Code Sec. 1956.003 (Local Licensing of Metal Recycling Entities)
Sec. 1956.003. LOCAL LAW; CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A county, municipality, or political subdivision of this state may adopt a rule, charter, or ordinance or issue an order or impose standards that are more stringent than but do not conflict with this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter. (b) A county, municipality, or political subdivision of this state may issue a license or permit to a bu...
Pawnbrokers
Texas Finance Code Chapter 371 licenses pawnbrokers through the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, capping fees, requiring 30-day minimum redemption, and mandating police transaction reports; Austin pawnshops also follow the secondhand-dealer reporting and zoning rules.
Texas Pawnbroker Licensing Through OCCC Governs Austin
Some RestrictionsTexas OCCC - Pawnshops & Pawn Employees; Chapter 371 Texas Finance Code; Title 7 Chapter 85 Texas Administrative Code
Pawnshops & Pawn Employees - Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. [...] Statutes & Rules - These are the primary statutes and rules that apply to pawnshops and pawn employees. This is not a complete list of laws that pawnshops and pawn employees are required to comply with. Primary State Statute: Chapter 371, Texas Finance Code: Pawnshops. OCCC's Rules: Title 7, Chapter 85, Texas Admin...
Towing Companies
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308 licenses tow operators, vehicle storage facilities, and incident-management towers through TDLR; Austin City Code Chapter 12 layers wrecker permits, rotation rosters, and consent-tow disclosures, with maximum nonconsent fees set by TDLR rules.
Texas Towing Licensing Plus Austin Code 12 Wrecker Rules
Heavy RestrictionsTex. Occ. Code Sec. 2308.151
Sec. 2308.151. LICENSE OR LOCAL AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED. (a) Unless the person holds an appropriate license under this subchapter, a person may not: (1) perform towing operations; or (2) operate a towing company. (b) Unless prohibited by a local authority under Section 2308.2085, a person may: (1) perform booting operations; and (2) operate a booting company.
Looking for Travis County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Austin city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Travis County →