Business Licensing & Operations in Lexington County, SC (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Lexington County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Lexington County Code Section 18-31 outright prohibits establishing or operating an adult bookstore anywhere in the unincorporated county. A conviction forces the business to close immediately, violation is a misdemeanor punishable under the general penalty section, and separately, Zoning Ordinance Article 10 requires a Sexually Oriented Business Zoning Permit for other types of sexually oriented businesses the county does allow.
Lexington County Bans Adult Bookstores
Heavy RestrictionsLexington County, SC Code of Ordinances § 18-31
Sec. 18-31. - Prohibited. (a)The establishment and operation of what is commonly known as adult bookstores is hereby prohibited anywhere in the unincorporated areas of the county.(b)Upon conviction of any person, the adult bookstore being established or operated by such person shall immediately cease operation.(c)Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdeme...
Massage Establishments
Lexington County prohibits establishing or operating a massage parlor anywhere in the unincorporated county. Section 18-61 orders any such business to shut down immediately upon a conviction, and running one is a misdemeanor punishable under the county's general penalty section.
Lexington County Bans Massage Parlors Outright
Heavy RestrictionsLexington County, SC Code of Ordinances § 18-61
Sec. 18-61. - Prohibited. (a)The establishment and operation of what is commonly known as massage parlors is hereby prohibited anywhere in the unincorporated areas of the county.(b)Upon conviction of any person, the massage parlor being established or operated by such person shall immediately cease operation.(c)Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemean...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Lexington County doesn't license tattoo artists directly; its zoning ordinance classifies tattoo parlors and body piercing studios under the Personal Convenience Services land use, the same category as barbershops and dry cleaners, requiring a zoning permit and one parking space per 200 square feet of floor area.
Lexington County Zones Tattoo Parlors as Convenience Services
Some RestrictionsLexington County, SC Zoning Ordinance § 21.10 (Ord. No. 23-17, 6-25-2024)
Personal Convenience Services including barbering, laundromats, beauty care, dry cleaning, tattoo parlors, body piercing studios, and the repair of personal apparel, and similar items, but not including motor vehicles, structures, or engines.
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Lexington County flatly excludes vehicle repair from the home occupation permit that covers most small home businesses. Zoning Ordinance Sec. 21.22 states a home occupation cannot include the manufacture or repair of transportation-related equipment, so a residential auto repair shop cannot qualify as a permitted home occupation in the unincorporated county.
Lexington County Bans Home Auto Repair Businesses
Heavy RestrictionsLexington County Zoning Ordinance § 21.22
A home occupation shall not include the manufacture or repair of transportation related equipment; the temporary storage of wrecked, dismantled, unregistered, or other vehicles for sale; sexually oriented businesses; transient habitation activities (i.e., bed and breakfast); or animal impoundment activities (kennel) and shall be subject to the performance standards contained in this Ordinance a...
Towing Companies
In unincorporated Lexington County, Sec. 70-32 bars any wrecker or towing service owner or agent from responding to an accident scene a county officer is investigating unless county dispatch called them. Sec. 70-33 bars monitoring sheriff's or county radio to beat dispatch, and Sec. 70-34 bans street-side solicitation of towing business.
Lexington County Non-Consent Towing Rules
Significant RestrictionsLexington County, SC Code of Ordinances §§ 70-32, 70-33
Sec. 70-32. - Wreckers to respond only when properly called. It shall be unlawful for the owner or agent of any wrecker or towing service to go to any place where an accident has occurred that is investigated by any county officer in any unincorporated section of the county unless called by county dispatch. Sec. 70-33. - Use of sheriff's department radio. It shall be unlawful for the owner, age...
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