Business Licensing & Operations in Highlands County, FL (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Highlands County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Highlands County requires a sexually oriented business license from the county administrator before any adult arcade, cabaret, bookstore, motel, theater, escort agency, or nude model studio can operate in the unincorporated area under Code §§ 4-142 and 4-201. New or enlarged sexually oriented businesses must sit at least 1,500 feet from schools, churches, homes, parks and residential zoning, and 500 feet from any alcohol-licensed premises.
Adult Business Licensing in Highlands County, FL
Significant RestrictionsHighlands County Code §§ 4-142, 4-201
(a)Required. No sexually oriented business shall be permitted to operate without having been first granted an adult entertainment license by the county administrator under this article. A person commits a violation of this article if he operates a sexually oriented business without a valid sexually oriented business license ... (a)Distance requirements. ... no person shall cause or permit the o...
Massage Establishments
Highlands County does not run its own massage establishment license. Code § 4-109 states the Board of County Commissioners does not intend to legislate on massage establishments because the state's department of professional regulation, board of massage, already licenses them under Florida Statutes Chapter 480, so unincorporated county operators answer to the state, not a county permit desk.
Massage Business Licensing in Highlands County, FL
Few RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 4-109
It is not the intent of the board to legislate with respect to matters of massage establishments. These matters are regulated by state agency, the department of professional regulation, board of massage, and by state law, F.S. ch. 480.
Secondhand Dealers
In unincorporated Highlands County, anyone displaying used or secondhand merchandise outdoors, other than running motor vehicles, farm machinery, boats, mobile homes or travel trailers, must install a continuous, uniform screening fence at least six feet high around the entire storage or display area. Development Services' Planning and Zoning Division must approve the fence plans before a building permit is issued.
Highlands County Secondhand Merchandise Fence Rule
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 12.05.314
A.Whenever storage or display of used or secondhand merchandise, except motor vehicles, farm machinery, boats, mobile homes and travel trailers in running condition, is located outside of a building, there shall be provided and maintained in good condition a continuous fence at least six feet high around the entire display or storage area. Such fence shall be of similar composition, constructio...
Towing Companies
Article III of the Highlands County traffic code sets a wrecker rotation system for nonconsensual towing, requiring a business office and storage lot in the county, a 30-minute response time, and county-approved maximum fees. The county administrator maintains the rotation list, and the Sheriff's Office calls wrecker services in turn for accident and impound scenes.
Highlands County Nonconsensual Towing Rotation Rules
Significant RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 11-101
It is the intention of the board to regulate and establish a rotation system and maximum fees which may be charged on the towing of vehicles from or immobilization of vehicles on private property, removal and storage of wrecked or disabled vehicles from an accident scene or for the removal and storage of vehicles, in the event the owner or operator is incapacitated, unavailable, leaves the proc...
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