Business Licensing & Operations in Broward County, FL (2026)

7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 6 cities in Broward County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Broward County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Adult Entertainment

Broward requires a county license for adult entertainment businesses in unincorporated areas and bars them within 1,000 feet of another adult business, house of worship, child care center or school, and within 500 feet of residential zoning.

Broward County Adult Entertainment Distance Rules

Significant Restrictions

Broward County Code § 39-200

No adult entertainment establishment shall be located or operated nearer to any other adult entertainment establishment nor nearer than one thousand (1,000) feet to any place of worship, child care center or educational center, except vocational and technical schools, colleges and universities...No adult entertainment establishment shall be located or operated nearer than five hundred (500) fee...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Massage Establishments

Broward requires every massage establishment to keep a state-licensed masseur or masseuse on duty full-time whenever open, and bars opposite-sex contact or clothing-removal requests unless the provider holds that license.

Broward County Massage Establishment License

Some Restrictions

Broward County Code § 20-214

It shall be unlawful to operate any of the establishments described in sections 20-211(b) and 20-211(e) hereof, as defined in this article, unless there shall be in its employ and on duty full-time during the hours open for business, at least one licensed masseur or licensed masseuse.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Tattoo & Body Modification

Broward County's zoning code permits tattoo shops only in B-4 Commercial Redevelopment Overlay and C-1 Commercial Warehouse districts, and only in the unincorporated area: the rule doesn't reach Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines or Coral Springs.

Broward County Tattoo Shop Zoning Rules

Some Restrictions

Broward County Code § 39-295

Sec. 39-295. - Permitted uses. ...P = Permitted C = Conditional A = Accessory use only... Use B-1 B-2 B-3 B-4 C-1 CR OP ...Tattoo shop P P... Sec. 39-2. - Short title; scope. This chapter shall be known and cited as the Broward County Zoning Code and shall apply in the unincorporated area of Broward County.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Secondhand Dealers

Broward County adopts Florida's secondhand dealer law countywide and adds stricter local rules: a 30-working-day resale holding period and mandatory buyer ID recording, enforced against dealers in both unincorporated areas and municipalities.

Broward County Secondhand Dealer Licensing Rules

Some Restrictions

Broward County Code § 20-124

A secondhand dealer shall not sell, barter, exchange, alter, adulterate, or in any way dispose of any secondhand goods within thirty (30) working days of the date of acquisition of the goods. Such holding periods are not applicable when the person known by the secondhand dealer to be the person from whom the goods were acquired desires to redeem, repurchase, or recover the goods, provided the d...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Pawnbrokers

Broward County requires every pawnbroker to hold a $150 annual business tax receipt for each place of business before operating under Code Sec. 20-43.

Broward County Pawnbroker Business Tax

Some Restrictions

Broward County Code § 20-43

Pawnbrokers shall pay one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for each place of business. As used in this section, any person who loans money on the security of tangible personal property pledged in his/her keeping, or who purchases tangible personal property with an obligation to return same to the seller upon payment of the original purchase price together with an additional fee, shall be deemed ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Auto Repair on Residential Property

Broward's zoning code confines vehicle repair on residential property to a garage, bars body work and painting outright, and caps carport or driveway work to tire, battery, spark plug, and oil changes.

Broward County Home Auto Repair Limits

Significant Restrictions

Broward County Code § 39-275(10)

(10)Repair and maintenance of vehicles.(a)Mechanical repairs to private passenger vehicles belonging to occupants of a dwelling shall be permitted inside a residential garage.(b)Only minor repairs limited to tire, battery, sparkplug, or oil replacement may be performed in a carport or in the open air.(c)No storage of parts or equipment shall be permitted at any time outside of a garage.(d)Auto ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Towing Companies

Broward County requires every towing and vehicle immobilization company operating countywide to hold a current operating license from the Environmental Licensing and Building Permitting Division before towing, storing, or advertising nonconsent tow services.

Broward County Nonconsent Towing Operating License Rules

Significant Restrictions

Broward County Code § 20-176.13(a)

Except as provided in paragraph (b), below, no person shall immobilize or tow a vehicle in Broward County, store a towed vehicle in Broward County, or advertise such services, regardless of whether that person's primary place of business is inside or outside Broward County, without first obtaining and maintaining a current and valid operating license for the applicable service and providing a c...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗