Business Licensing & Operations in Clayton County, GA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Clayton County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Clayton County requires a county license before anyone can operate a sexually oriented business in the unincorporated county, and the business must sit at least 1,000 feet from another sexually oriented business, a residentially zoned parcel, a church, school, park, library or an alcohol retailer. The community development department's business license division administers licensing and enforces the distance rule.
Clayton County Adult Business License and Spacing Rule
Significant RestrictionsClayton County Code § 22-403
Sexually oriented businesses, businesses, or uses shall be located within the following distances as defined and measured as stated herein: (1)A sexually oriented business shall be located no closer than 1,000 feet to another sexually oriented business. The measurement of distances for purposes of this subsection shall be from structure to structure along the shortest possible course, regardles...
Massage Establishments
Anyone who wants to work as a massage therapist or operate a massage establishment in unincorporated Clayton County must first get a license from the county department of community development. Therapists need at least 500 hours of accredited training or two years of supervised apprenticeship plus a passed national certification exam.
Massage Establishment Licensing in Clayton County
Significant RestrictionsClayton County Code §§ 22-136, 22-137(a)(1)
Any person desiring to engage in the practice as a massage therapist, or any person desiring to operate the business of a massage establishment, shall apply for and obtain a license from the county department of community development prior to commencing operations. ... A license to provide massage services shall be issued to any person who is at least 18 years of age and: (1)Is a graduate of an...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Tattoo and body-piercing shops in unincorporated Clayton County must follow the county Board of Health's Body Art Rules and Regulations, adopted September 5, 2024 and enforceable under Sec. 50-2 of the Code of Ordinances. Shops pay a $300 plan review fee before opening, then a $400 annual shop permit and a $100 annual artist license.
Clayton County Tattoo and Body Art Rules
Significant RestrictionsClayton County Code § 50-2(a),(b)(6),(e); § 50-3 (fee schedule)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any natural person or persons or any legal entity ... to violate any rule or regulation of the county board of health adopted in accordance with state law and which has been accepted and approved for enforcement by the governing authority.(b)Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 31-3-5, the rules and regulations, as described and entitled as set out below ... are hereby declared to...
Secondhand Dealers
Anyone who buys, sells or trades used jewelry, gold or silver items, guns, musical instruments or bicycles in unincorporated Clayton County as a secondhand dealer falls under the same article that governs pawnbrokers. Secondhand dealers must keep the same purchase records, hold goods 15 days, and close between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Secondhand Dealer Rules in Clayton County, Georgia
Significant RestrictionsClayton County Code §§ 22-161, 22-163(b)
Secondhand dealer means any person or business which is not a pawnbroker, but does, exclusively or as incidental to or in connection with other business, purchases, sells or acquires in trade used or secondhand jewelry, flat silver, gold, and silver objects of every kind and description, including watches and clocks, any of which is made in whole or in part of gold, silver, platinum, or other p...
Pawnbrokers
Clayton County caps pawnbroker permits at 11 for the entire unincorporated county, and no pawnshop may open without both a current occupation tax certificate and a pawnshop permit issued by the county police department. Additional permits open only once unincorporated population passes 300,000 residents.
Pawnbroker Permit Cap in Clayton County, Georgia
Significant RestrictionsClayton County Code § 22-168(a), (c)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to engage, conduct or carry on within the County any pawnshop without a currently valid occupation tax certificate, pertaining to business and occupation taxes, and a currently valid pawnshop permit as required by this article. ... (c)The County shall issue a maximum of 11 permits for pawnbrokers. No additional permits shall be issued unless the population...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Clayton County will not issue a home occupation license for automotive repair, auto sales, or any mobile oil-change business anywhere in unincorporated territory, per Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6.10 (HO-02)(A)(21). The ban covers wrecker and towing services too, so residential-district shops that fix cars from the driveway operate without a license and are subject to zoning enforcement.
Clayton County Bars Home Auto Repair Business
Heavy RestrictionsClayton County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6.10 (HO-02)(A)(21)(a)
21.Due to incompatibility with the residential character and qualities of residential zoning districts, no license shall be issued for a home occupation in any of the following trades or businesses:a.Automotive repair.b.Auto sales.c.Firearms and firearms' supplies dealers/sales/service (including gunsmithing).d.Group assembly or instruction involving more than four (4) persons.e.Dancing or band...
Towing Companies
Wrecker and towing service operators in unincorporated Clayton County cannot get a business license until the county police department completes a criminal records investigation of the applicant. Code of Clayton County Sec. 22-53 puts towing companies in the same screened category as private detectives, security guard agencies and burglar alarm installers, and the police department's recommendation drives whether the licensing department approves or denies the license.
Clayton County Wrecker Service License Background Check
Some RestrictionsCode of Clayton County, GA Sec. 22-53
Applicants for polygraph examiner, private detective, private detective agencies, security guards, security guard agencies, wrecker services, ice cream vendors, passenger transportation, burglar or security system installers, and locksmiths shall be subject to a criminal records' investigation by the county police department. Upon completing its investigation, the police department shall make a...
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