Business Licensing & Operations in Marin County, CA (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Marin County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Unincorporated Marin County treats adult entertainment establishments as a discretionary land use in most commercial districts. Table 2-6 of the Development Code, tied to Section 22.12.030, requires a Use Permit before an adult bookstore, theater, cabaret, or similar business can open in three named commercial districts, and allows it by right only in the Planned Commercial (CP) district.
Marin County Adult Entertainment Use-Permit Zoning Rule
Significant RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 22.12.030, Table 2-6
Adult entertainment establishments U U U P "P" means principally permitted "U" means conditionally permitted subject to Use Permit approval "—" means prohibited
Tattoo & Body Modification
Tattooing, body piercing, and permanent cosmetics in unincorporated Marin County require annual practitioner registration plus a separate annual health permit for the facility, issued by Environmental Health Services under Chapter 7.26. Even mobile and temporary event booths need their own permit.
Marin County Body Art Practitioner & Facility Permits
Significant RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances §§ 7.26.030, 7.26.050
7.26.030 - Body art practitioner-Registration required. It shall be unlawful for any person to perform body art in the County of Marin without a valid and current registration issued by EHS, except as otherwise specified in Health and Safety Code Section 119306(d) as amended from time to time. As a condition of registration, the applicant shall provide to the County of Marin all of the evidence...
Tobacco Retail License
Anyone selling tobacco, tobacco paraphernalia or e-cigarettes in unincorporated Marin County must hold a tobacco retailer's license from the Department of Health and Human Services for each fixed sales location. Sidewalk, foot and vehicle sales are flatly prohibited under Marin County Code of Ordinances Chapter 5.70.
Marin County Tobacco Retailer License Required
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 5.70.050
It is unlawful for any retailer, individual, or entity to sell or offer for sale any tobacco products in the unincorporated area of the county without first obtaining and maintaining a valid tobacco retailer's license from the County of Marin for each location where these sales are conducted. No tobacco retailer's license will be issued that authorizes tobacco retailing at any location other th...
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Marin County
1 cities in Marin County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Marin County ordinances
See every category we cover for Marin County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Marin County Ordinance Hub →