Business Licensing & Operations in Bowling Green, KY (2026)
4 verified business licensing & operations rules for Bowling Green, Kentucky, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
In the City of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Chapter 24 requires anyone operating a sexually explicit entertainment establishment, bookstore, arcade, escort service or cabaret to obtain a license from the City's Director (Chief Financial Officer) and pay a $50 investigation fee. Sec. 24-3.07 through 24-3.09 keep such businesses 750 feet from schools, churches, parks and residential zones, and 500 feet from each other.
Bowling Green Sexually Oriented Business Rules
Significant RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Secs. 24-3.07 to 24-3.09, 24-4.01 and 24-8.01
24-3.07 The public entrance to a sexually explicit entertainment establishment shall not be located nearer than seven hundred fifty (750') feet from any church, synagogue or other permanent place of worship, licensed day care center, ... elementary, middle or secondary school ... or any park, mall or park-like area of open space under the control of a governmental agency. ... 24-3.08 The pu...
Massage Establishments
Operating a Massage Facility in Bowling Green requires an annual license from the Department of Finance, plus zoning sign-off from the City-County Planning Commission. State-licensed massage therapists working solo can instead file for an exemption certificate rather than a full facility license.
Bowling Green Massage Facility License Rules
Significant RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 15-10.02
No person or business entity shall engage in, conduct, or permit to be engaged in or conducted a Massage Facility in or on any premises within the City of Bowling Green unless an annual license for the operation of a Massage Facility has been applied for and issued by the Department of Finance for the premises and the license remains in effect in conformity with the provisions of this subchapte...
Secondhand Dealers
Bowling Green Code Sec. 9-1.07 requires every secondhand or antique dealer in precious metals, jewelry, coins and diamonds to keep a daily police register of each item and seller, hold articles three days before resale, and never buy from anyone under 18.
Bowling Green KY Secondhand Dealer Reporting
Some RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 9-1.07
It shall be the duty of all persons dealing in the purchase, sale or exchange of secondhand or antique jewelry, coins, watches, diamonds or other precious stones, cutlery, old gold, silver, platinum or other precious metals ... to keep a daily register on a form provided by the Bowling Green Police Department of every article received by them in the course of their business and the persons from...
Towing Companies
In the City of Bowling Green, Kentucky, private tow operators cannot boot, tow or remove a vehicle from a private parking lot without properly posted signage and either police direction, the vehicle owner's consent, or a written lot-owner agreement. The City caps towing at $125, storage at $35 a day, and booting at $50.
Bowling Green Private Lot Towing Rules
Some RestrictionsBowling Green Code of Ordinances Sec. 15-6.05(a)-(b)
The maximum charge which may be collected by a private impound tow truck service or operator or storage yard for towing or removing a vehicle from a private parking lot meeting the requirements of this Subchapter is one hundred twenty-five ($125) dollars, which shall include the first twenty-four (24) hours of storage. If the owner of the vehicle arrives while the private impound tow truck serv...