Business Licensing & Operations in Brunswick County, NC (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Brunswick County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Brunswick County confines adult and sexually oriented businesses to the I-G Industrial General district, requires a Special Use Permit, and bans locating within 1,500 feet of homes, churches, schools, day cares, parks or other adult businesses, under UDO § 5.3.5.A.
Adult Business Zoning Rules, Brunswick County, NC
Significant RestrictionsBrunswick County Unified Development Ordinance § 5.3.5.A(4)
No adult or sexually oriented business shall be permitted in any building located within 1,500 feet, measured in any direction, from:(a)A building used as a dwelling.(b)A building in which an adult business or a sexually oriented business is located.(c)A building used as a church, synagogue, other house of worship or cemeteries.(d)A building used as a public school or as a state licensed day ca...
Massage Establishments
Brunswick County requires anyone who works as a massagist or operates a massage parlor in the unincorporated county to hold a sheriff-issued license, submit to fingerprinting, and meet age and conduct rules; parlors may only open between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and the sheriff can revoke a license for violations.
Brunswick County Massage Parlor License Law
Significant RestrictionsBrunswick County Code §§ 1-5-16, 1-5-36, 1-5-21
Massage parlor shall mean any place of business where massagists are employed to offer massage for a salary or fee. Massagist, (masseur, masseuse) shall mean one who offers to massage another for a salary or fee. ... A person may not work as a massagist nor operate a massage parlor unless licensed. ... Massage parlors may operate only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Secondhand Dealers
Brunswick County requires every business in the unincorporated county that buys rubber, leather, rubber belting or scrap metal as scrap, salvage or surplus to run an electronic inventory system tied to the sheriff's office and report each purchase within two business days, backed by a Class 3 misdemeanor and up to a $50 fine per offense.
Brunswick County Scrap Metal Buyer Reporting Rule
Some RestrictionsBrunswick County Code § 1-5-4(a), (b), (d)
(a) ... every person, firm, or corporation buying rubber or leather, rubber belts, belting, and scrap metal as scrap, salvage, or surplus doing business in the unincorporated areas of the county shall, within ninety days of the adoption of this section, maintain an electronic inventory tracking system which is capable of delivery and transmission of all statutorily-required information via comp...
Pawnbrokers
Brunswick County requires every pawnshop owner or operator in the unincorporated county to run an electronic inventory system linked to the sheriff's office and upload every pawned or purchased item within two business days, backed by a Class 3 misdemeanor and up to a $200 fine per violation.
Brunswick County Pawnbroker Reporting Rule
Some RestrictionsBrunswick County Code § 1-5-4(a), (b), (c)
(a)Each pawnshop owner or operator ... doing business in the unincorporated areas of the county shall, within ninety days of the adoption of this section, maintain an electronic inventory tracking system which is capable of delivery and transmission of all statutorily-required information via computer to the entity designated by the county sheriffs department.(b)The owner or operator of a pawns...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Unincorporated Brunswick County, North Carolina allows up to two vehicles registered to a resident to be repaired at once on residential property, but bars repair or storage in the required front yard and in the public right-of-way, under UDO Section 5.4.10.
Home Vehicle Repair Limits, Brunswick County
Some RestrictionsBrunswick County Unified Development Ordinance § 5.4.10
Up to two vehicles may be repaired simultaneously on a residential property if the vehicles are registered to an occupant of the residence. Vehicle repair and storage may not be conducted in the required front yard. Other than emergency repairs, vehicle repair shall not be permitted within a public right-of-way.
Towing Companies
When a vehicle is towed without the owner's consent from unincorporated Brunswick County property, Code § 1-7-129 requires notice to the registered owner within 24 hours (72 hours if unregistered or out of state) and gives the owner the right to a probable-cause hearing before the county magistrate.
Brunswick County NC Non-Consent Towing Notice
Some RestrictionsBrunswick County Code § 1-7-129
Sec. 1-7-129. Notification and probable cause hearing. (a)Whenever a vehicle with a valid registration plate or registration is towed, the authorizing person shall immediately notify the last known registered owner of the vehicle of following:(1)A description of the vehicle;(2)The place where the vehicle is stored;(3)The violation with which the owner is charged, if any(4)The procedure the owne...
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