Business Licensing & Operations in Gwinnett County, GA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Gwinnett County keeps adult establishments 1,000 feet from other adult businesses, residential zones, schools, churches and parks in the unincorporated county.
Gwinnett County Adult Business Spacing Rules
Significant RestrictionsGwinnett County Code of Ordinances § 74-76(b),(c)
It shall be unlawful to establish, operate, or cause to be operated an adult establishment in unincorporated areas of Gwinnett County within 1,000 feet of another adult establishment. Measurements for this subsection (b) shall be made in a straight line without regard to intervening structures or objects, between the closest parts of the structures occupied by the two adult establishments. Wher...
Massage Establishments
Massage and spa establishments in unincorporated Gwinnett County must get a dedicated county license on top of the standard occupation tax certificate, and owners or therapists with certain criminal convictions in the past ten years are disqualified.
Gwinnett Massage Establishment License
Significant RestrictionsGwinnett County Code of Ordinances § 18-268(a)
In addition to obtaining an occupation tax certificate as referenced in section 18-20, all persons, firms or corporations desiring to engage in the business, trade or profession of a massage establishment shall, before engaging in such trade, business, profession, make application for a license in the form and manner prescribed in this article.
Tattoo & Body Modification
Gwinnett County regulates tattoo and body-piercing studios by adopting the State Board of Public Health's body art rules as county law under County Code § 46-5.
Gwinnett County Body Art Studio Rules
Some RestrictionsGwinnett County Code § 46-5
The regulations of the county board of health, adopted by resolution February 12, 2024, based upon rules of the state's department of public health, as referenced in chapter 511-3-8, as now or hereafter amended, and having been adopted by resolution of the board of commissioners on May 14, 2024, as the health regulations governing body art studios for the county are made a part of this Code as ...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers in unincorporated Gwinnett County skip the precious-metals dealer's tax certificate and work permit, but they must still keep detailed transaction records, buyer ID, fingerprints, and photos, under the same rules that apply to precious metals dealers.
Gwinnett Secondhand Dealer Recordkeeping
Significant RestrictionsGwinnett County Code of Ordinances § 18-317(b)
Sections 18-319 and 18-320 shall not apply to registered pawnbrokers, scrap metal processors, or secondhand dealers. Pawnbrokers, scrap metal processors, and secondhand dealers are not, however, relieved from compliance with section 18-322 when the purchase of precious metals or goods containing precious metals are from persons or sources other than industrial producers, manufacturers, or licen...
Pawnbrokers
Anyone opening a pawnshop in unincorporated Gwinnett County must first get an annual $100 permit from the police department, backed by a criminal-history background check, separate from the standard occupation tax certificate.
Gwinnett Pawnbroker Annual Permit
Significant RestrictionsGwinnett County Code of Ordinances § 18-542
All persons before beginning the business of operating a pawnshop or similar place, and persons pledging, trading, pawning, exchanging, or selling property shall first file an application with the county police department for an annual permit to conduct such business. The issuance of such permit will be based on a criminal history background investigation of the applicant. The cost of the permi...
Towing Companies
Before Gwinnett County issues an occupation tax certificate to a wrecker service, Code § 18-44(b)(37) requires the company to hold an amber-light permit, and any wrecker that contracts to tow for the county must also carry a signed contract and police department approval. Operating without the certificate can bring a fine up to $500.00 or 60 days in jail under § 18-50.
Gwinnett County Wrecker Service Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsGwinnett County Code of Ordinances § 18-44(a), (b)(37); § 18-50
(a)Any business required to obtain health permits, fire inspections, bonds, certificates of qualification, certificates of competency, certificate of occupancy, proof of insurance or otherwise comply with other state or county mandated regulatory requirements shall first, before the issuance of a occupation tax certificate show evidence of such documentation and it shall further be required tha...
All Gwinnett County ordinances
See every category we cover for Gwinnett County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Gwinnett County Ordinance Hub →