Business Licensing & Operations in Aiken County, SC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Aiken County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Aiken County requires anyone operating a sexually oriented business, adult bookstore, cabaret, motel, arcade or escort agency to hold a county permit before opening, and operating without one is a misdemeanor. The planning and development director reviews applications within 30 days, and the use is confined to the UD zoning district with a 1,500-foot buffer from homes, churches, schools and parks.
Aiken County Sexually Oriented Business Permit
Significant RestrictionsAiken County Code §§ 24-3.10.3(a), 24-3.10.11(b)
(a)A person commits a misdemeanor if he operates a sexually oriented business without a valid permit issued by the county for the particular type of business... (b)No such use shall be located within one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet (measured in a straight line) of the nearest property line of:(1)A residential use;(2)A church or religious institution;(3)Public or private schools or educat...
Tobacco Retail License
Aiken County does not license vape shops separately, but Sec. 24-3.27 zones them tightly: a smoke or vape shop must sit at least 2,000 feet from schools, day cares, parks, churches and similar community uses, and at least 2,000 feet from any other smoke or vape shop, measured property line to property line.
Aiken County Smoke And Vape Shop Spacing
Significant RestrictionsAiken County Code of Ordinances § 24-3.27
Without limitation to other regulations in this chapter or other applicable law, smoke or vape shops must meet the following conditions: (1)Smoke or vape shops shall not be located within two thousand (2,000) feet from a public or private K-12 school, post-secondary education institutions, child day care facility, youth center, recreational facility, public park, church or religious institution...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Aiken County limits vehicle work in the RC, RD, RM, and OR residential districts to minor maintenance done in the open, such as fluid changes, spark plugs, and tire rotation. Section 24-8.8 pushes every other repair indoors into a totally enclosed space and restricts it to the owner's own licensed vehicles.
Aiken County Home Auto Repair Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsAiken County Code § 24-8.8
The repair of motor vehicles in the RC, RD, RM or the OR district shall be subject to the following restrictions: (1)Only minor repairs and maintenance may be performed which, for purposes of this section, are defined as the changing and replenishment of fluid levels, such as hydraulic fluid, windshield washer fluid and lubricating oil; the replacement of spark plugs and ignition points; the ro...
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