Business Licensing & Operations in San Diego, CA (2026)
5 verified business licensing & operations rules for San Diego, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
San Diego permits adult entertainment businesses only as a limited use in designated zones, and bars them from locating within 1,000 feet of another adult business, a residential zone line, or a church, school, park, or social service institution.
San Diego Adult Business 1,000-Ft Buffer
Significant RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 141.0601(b)(1)
Adult entertainment businesses shall not be established or enlarged if the structure housing the business would be located within 1,000 feet of any of the following: (A) Another structure housing an adult entertainment business; (B) The property line of a residentially zoned property; or (C) The...
Massage Establishments
San Diego bans operating a massage establishment or sole practitioner massage establishment without a police-issued permit, under SDMC § 33.3503.
San Diego Massage Establishment Permit
Significant RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 33.3503
Permit Required for Massage Establishment or Sole Practitioner Massage Establishment. It is unlawful for any person to operate or allow the operation of a massage establishment or a sole practitioner massage establishment without a permit.
Tattoo & Body Modification
San Diego tattoo shops must sterilize needles and instruments before every customer, use metal or stainless-steel operating tables, and can't tattoo anyone under 21 without written parental consent kept on file two years.
San Diego Tattoo Establishment Regulations
Some RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 42.0207
The owners and managers of tattooing establishments...shall conform...to the following regulations: (b) STERILIZING OF INSTRUMENTS. Steam sterilizers, approved by the Director of Public Health, shall be provided and all needles and operating instruments shall be sterilized before using on each customer... (f) MINORS. It shall be unlawful to tattoo any person under the age of twenty-one (21) yea...
Tobacco Retail License
San Diego requires every tobacco and e-cigarette retailer to hold a police permit from the Chief of Police before selling, with a separate permit issued for each fixed sales location under SDMC section 33.4503.
San Diego Tobacco Retailer Police Permit
Significant RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 33.4503
(a) It is unlawful for any person to operate as a tobacco retailer or as an electronic cigarette retailer without a police permit. (c) A tobacco retailer or electronic cigarette retailer shall obtain a separate police permit for each fixed location from which he or she engages in tobacco retailing or electronic cigarette retailing. (d) No police permit shall be issued for any person operating a...
Pawnbrokers
Pawnbrokers in San Diego must hold a police permit before opening, keep detailed loan records open to police inspection, and cannot operate between 9:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m.
San Diego Pawnbroker Permit Required
Significant RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 33.1102
It is unlawful for any person to operate as a secondhand dealer, pawnbroker, or secondhand non-tangible personal property dealer without a police permit. (Amended 2-23-1987 by O-16812 N.S.) (Retitled from "Use of Fictitious Name Prohibited" to "Permit Required" and amended 11-25-2014 by O-20436 N.S.; effective 12-25-2014.)
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Diego city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in San Diego County →