Business Licensing & Operations in Johns Creek, GA (2026)
6 verified business licensing & operations rules for Johns Creek, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Johns Creek requires a sexually oriented business license from the city clerk and confines such businesses to the M-1 and M-1A industrial districts, at least 1,000 feet from residential zoning and 1,500 feet from any other sexually oriented business.
Johns Creek Sexually Oriented Business License
Significant RestrictionsJohns Creek Code of Ordinances § 22-235(a) (Ord. No. 2006-12-33, § 4, 12-4-2006)
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a sexually oriented business in the city without a valid sexually oriented business license.
Massage Establishments
Operating a massage or spa establishment in Johns Creek requires a city license separate from the occupation tax certificate, with a criminal background check, a $15,000 surety bond, restricted hours, and a 300-foot buffer from schools and parks.
Johns Creek Massage Establishment License
Significant RestrictionsJohns Creek Code of Ordinances § 22-50
It shall be unlawful for any person or legal entity to operate a massage establishment or a spa establishment in the city without a valid massage establishment/spa establishment license. This license requirement is in addition to obtaining an occupation tax certificate pursuant to chapter 50, article V, pertaining to taxation.
Tobacco Retail License
Johns Creek's zoning code defines smoke shops covering cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, hookahs and vapes, and confines them to retail shopping centers at least 200 yards from churches, schools, daycares and government buildings, and 500 yards from another smoke shop.
Johns Creek Smoke Shop Location Rules
Some RestrictionsJohns Creek Code of Ordinances, App. A (Zoning), Art. III, § 3.3.19.S (Smoke Shop)
Smoke Shop. Any business establishment dedicated to the display, sale, distribution, delivery, offering, furnishing, marketing or use of tobacco, tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products/instruments... Such businesses shall be located within a retail shopping center and shall not be allowed within 200 yards of any Church, Temple or Place of Worship, Daycare, School, College, Universit...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers, pawnbrokers, and their employees in Johns Creek must obtain an annual city permit, submit to fingerprinting, and keep photographed transaction records for four years, with pawnshops kept at least 2,500 feet apart.
Johns Creek Secondhand Dealer Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsJohns Creek Code of Ordinances § 22-88
No person shall acquire any regulated secondhand items or transfer any previously acquired regulated secondhand items as a secondhand dealer, or become an employee of a secondhand dealer, without a permit. It shall be unlawful for any secondhand dealer or employee to: (1)Make any false statement in an application for a permit required by this article; or(2)Make a false entry in any record bo...
Pawnbrokers
Johns Creek requires pawnbrokers to hold a city-issued permit through its secondhand-dealer licensing article, with fingerprinting, a 45-day background review, and a 2,500-foot spacing rule between shops in Fulton County.
Johns Creek Pawnbroker Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsJohns Creek Code of Ordinances § 22-92(a) (Ord. No. 2011-06-12, § 1, 6-6-2011)
Any person, including any association, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, joint venture or other legal entity, desiring to obtain a permit to operate as a secondhand dealer as required by this article shall make application to the city through its designated representative. Additionally, if such person desires to operate as a pawnbroker, they must specifically provide f...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Johns Creek's home occupation ordinance flatly excludes auto repair, maintenance, and similar operations: you cannot run a car repair business out of a residential home under any home occupation permit.
Johns Creek Home-Based Auto Repair Ban
Heavy RestrictionsJohns Creek Code of Ordinances, App. A (Zoning), § 4.12.D (Ord. No. 2015-12-42, Exh. A, 1-25-2016)
D. Said uses are excluded: auto repair, maintenance or similar operations, auto sales, restaurants, keeping of animals, funeral homes, retail or wholesale shops, motel type establishments, taxi services, or any other occupation found incompatible with the intent of this ordinance.
Looking for Fulton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Johns Creek city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Fulton County →