Business Licensing & Operations in Craven County, NC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Craven County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Craven County requires a sheriff-issued permit before anyone can operate an adult establishment in the unincorporated county, bars entry to anyone under 21, and bans locating within 1,000 feet of churches, schools, parks, day cares, or alcohol-selling businesses. The annual permit fee is $500 and permits are non-transferable.
Craven County Adult Establishment Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsCraven County Code §§ 4-86, 4-89, 4-90, 4-95
Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, from and after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate an adult establishment without a valid permit from the sheriff. ... It shall be unlawful to allow any person younger than 21 years of age to enter or be on the premises of an adult establishment at any time. ....
Massage Establishments
Craven County requires a premises license before any massage parlor, massage establishment or health club may operate, plus a separate individual operator's license for every masseur or masseuse, under Craven County Code § 10-53. Businesses may run only between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and licensing runs through the county manager's office rather than a state or city agency.
Craven County Massage Establishment License
Significant RestrictionsCraven County Code §§ 10-30, 10-53, 10-55
No masseur or masseuse or any person or party engaging in any of the businesses listed by this article shall engage in such business, trade, profession, occupation or calling except within and between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. ... (a)Regulatory license for premises required. No massage parlor or massage establishment or health club shall operate without first obtaining a premises li...
Pawnbrokers
Craven County does not run its own pawnbroker licensing office; instead, Craven County Code § 10-75 forces every pawnbroker, pawnshop, dealer, currency converter, E-buyer and secondhand metals recycler covered by G.S. Chapter 66 to report every transaction electronically to the Craven County Sheriff, tying the county's oversight of pawn businesses to that daily data feed rather than a separate county license.
Craven County Pawnbroker Data Reporting Rule
Significant RestrictionsCraven County Code § 10-75
Any individual, corporation, joint venture, association or other legal entity, however organized, subject to the provisions of G.S. Ch. 66, including, but not limited to, "currency converters," "E-buyers," "pawnbrokers," "pawnshops," "dealers," and "secondary metals recyclers" as defined in G.S. Ch. 66, shall report all transactions through an electronic data transmission system that is compati...
Towing Companies
When Craven County's Solid Waste Director orders a junked vehicle towed without the owner's consent, the tower that hauls it earns a statutory lien for towing and storage fees, enforceable only under North Carolina's general lien statute. The county can contract with one or more towers or junkyards to handle removals, and owners can redeem a towed vehicle by paying the fee or posting a bond.
Tower's Lien Rules in Craven County
Some RestrictionsCraven County Code §§ 38-51, 38-52
Upon towing a junked motor vehicle at the solid waste director's request pursuant to this article, the tower shall have a lien upon the vehicle for towing and storage fees as by law provided. Such lien may be enforced only in accordance with applicable provisions of G.S. Ch. 44A. ... At any time after the junked motor vehicle has been towed, the owner may obtain possession of the vehicle by:(1)...
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