Business Licensing & Operations in Cape Coral, FL (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for Cape Coral, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Cape Coral confines sexually oriented businesses to the Industrial (I-1) and Thoroughfare Commercial (C-3) zoning districts under § 12-65, then layers on spacing rules: no closer than 1,000 feet to another such business and no closer than 300 feet to residential zoning districts, places of worship, schools, child care facilities, parks, or bars.
Cape Coral Sexually Oriented Business Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 12-65
(a)Subject to the limitations contained in division (b) hereof, a sexually oriented business may be located only in the Industrial (I-1) and Thoroughfare Commercial (C-3) zoning districts.(b)The location of a sexually oriented business shall be subject to the following limitations.(1)No sexually oriented business shall be located within 1,000 feet of another sexually oriented business.(2)No sex...
Massage Establishments
Cape Coral taxes a massage establishment at $33.00 a year and a self-employed massage therapist at $55.00, with the therapist classification expressly requiring a state license. Before either receipt issues, the applicant must prove compliance with state licensing law and confirm the premises meets zoning requirements.
Cape Coral Massage Establishment Tax & License
Some RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 11-16(472)-(473)
(472) MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT 33.00 (473) MASSAGE THERAPIST, self-employed as such (state license required) 55.00 § 11-13 - Proof of compliance with state laws prior to receipt of receipt. Every person who applies for a local business tax receipt to engage in any business, profession or occupation shall, prior to receiving a local business tax receipt, present evidence satisfactory to the Busine...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Cape Coral has no standalone tax classification for tattooing: the business tax schedule directs tattoo services to be taxed under Physician/Surgeon ($110.00) or Dentist ($77.00), while the city's Land Development Code separately treats a tattoo parlor as a recognized commercial use requiring one parking space per 300 square feet.
Cape Coral Tattoo Business Tax Classification
Some RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 11-16(683); LDC § 6.1.7, Table 6.1.7.A
(683) TATTOOING (see PHYSICIAN and/or SURGEON, or DENTIST) (559) PHYSICIAN and/or SURGEON (state license required) 110.00 (241) DENTIST (state local business tax receipt required) 77.00 Table 6.1.7.A, Amount of Required Parking: Tattoo parlor, body piercing — One space per 300 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Secondhand Dealers
Cape Coral requires anyone buying old, used, or secondhand gold, silver, or platinum to keep a police-approved register of every seller and item, hold purchased items five days before resale, and never buy from anyone under 18. A separate flat $33.00 local business tax covers general junk and scrap metal dealers who are not handling precious metals.
Cape Coral Secondhand Precious Metal Dealer Rules
Significant RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances §§ 11-41—11-48
§ 11-44 - Disposal within five days of receipt prohibited. (a) Except for the exempt transactions hereinafter provided, no articles of personal property made of precious metals shall be sold, melted, altered or otherwise disposed of by any dealer until five days have elapsed from the time the Chief of Police has had made available to him or her a copy or transcript of the register in which such...
Pawnbrokers
Cape Coral charges a pawnbroker a $110.00 annual local business tax, well above the $33-$55 charged for most personal-service trades, and requires proof of state-law compliance before the receipt issues. A pawnshop that also buys gold, silver, or platinum must separately follow the city's precious metal dealer register and five-day hold rules.
Cape Coral Pawnbroker Business Tax License
Some RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 11-16(549)
(549) PAWN BROKER 110.00 § 11-13 - Proof of compliance with state laws prior to receipt of receipt. Every person who applies for a local business tax receipt to engage in any business, profession or occupation shall, prior to receiving a local business tax receipt, present evidence satisfactory to the Business Tax Division Clerk of compliance with all applicable state laws in respect to engagi...
Towing Companies
Cape Coral caps what tow operators can charge for nonconsensual private towing and requires signed property-owner agreements plus posted warning signs before any vehicle can be towed from private property. Section 12-105 sets exact sign specifications; § 12-107 sets maximum rates by wrecker class, storage fees, and gate fees; violators owe the vehicle owner damages plus attorney's fees under § 12-117.
Cape Coral Nonconsensual Towing & Sign Rules
Significant RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 12-105
(c)Prior to towing, removing, or immobilizing any vehicle or vessel from private property without the consent of the owner or other legally authorized person in control of that vehicle or vessel, a sturdy weather resistant sign providing the following notice and meeting the following requirements must be posted on the private property:(1)The notice must be prominently placed at each driveway ac...
Looking for Lee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cape Coral city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Lee County →