Business Licensing & Operations in Monroe County, FL (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Monroe County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Sexually oriented businesses in unincorporated Monroe County must sit at least 500 feet from homes, churches, parks, schools and other adult businesses. Section 134-23 of the Land Development Code confines them to commercial zoning districts and bars anatomical signage.
Monroe County Adult Business Spacing Rules
Significant RestrictionsMonroe County Land Development Code § 134-23(a)
(a)Sexually oriented businesses shall be allowed in land use (zoning) districts that permit commercial development per Chapter 130, Article III, with the following restrictions:(1)No sexually oriented business shall be located within 500 feet of the property line of any property used for residential purposes.(2)No sexually oriented business shall be located within 500 feet of any property used ...
Massage Establishments
Monroe County does not run its own massage establishment license; the state licenses massage therapists. The county's own rule requires every massage or bodywork business in the unincorporated Keys to post a human-trafficking awareness sign, in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.
Massage Establishment Rules in Monroe County
Light RestrictionsMonroe County Code § 7-1(b)
(b)Awareness signs.(1)Required sign location. The employer at each of the following establishments shall display public awareness signs in a conspicuous location that is clearly visible to the public and employees of the establishment:a.A strip club or other adult entertainment establishment.b.A business or establishment that offers massage or bodywork services for compensation that is not owne...
Secondhand Dealers
Monroe County taxes junk dealers, scrap metal processors and traveling junk dealers as separate business classifications, and conditions their receipt on more than payment. Monroe County Code § 23-96 sets a $150.00 tax for scrap metal processors and $100.00 for junk dealers, § 23-97 sets $30.00 for traveling junk dealers, and § 23-76(a) requires every traveling junk dealer to prove it has a current commercial solid waste collection agreement before the county will issue or renew the receipt.
Junk Dealer and Scrap Metal Licensing
Some RestrictionsMonroe County Code §§ 23-76(a), 23-96, 23-97
All mobile traveling junk dealer businesses operating in unincorporated Monroe County obtaining a business tax for the first time must complete the tax form prepared by the county tax collector and shall provide proof of a current commercial collection service agreement pursuant to subsection 21-74(2) of the Monroe County Code. Thereafter, all mobile traveling junk dealer businesses operating i...
Pawnbrokers
In the unincorporated Florida Keys (Monroe County), every pawnbroker must pay a $337.50 local business tax for each place of business before operating. The county tax collector will not issue the business tax receipt until the pawnbroker first shows the current-year state pawnbroker license issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, layering a county revenue requirement on top of the state licensing regime.
Monroe County Pawnbroker Business Tax
Some RestrictionsMonroe County Code § 23-102
Every person engaged in the business of pawnbroker must pay a business tax of $337.50 for each place of business. Every person engaged in the business of pawnbroker must display and exhibit to the tax collector the license for the current year issued to the pawnbroker by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services prior to the tax collector accepting the business tax payment and...
Towing Companies
Tow companies that remove vehicles or vessels from private or public property in the unincorporated Florida Keys without the owner's consent operate under Monroe County's Nonconsensual Private Towing Services Ordinance. Monroe County Code § 25-7 caps rates at the wrecker fee schedule, sets equipment, insurance, and notice rules, and lets the county attorney sue in circuit court to stop violations.
Monroe County Nonconsensual Towing Rules
Significant RestrictionsMonroe County Code § 25-7
(c)Purpose. The purpose of this section is to regulate nonconsensual tows consistent with federal and state laws and to create a mechanism for the establishment of maximum permissible rates which may be charged for the towing and storage of motor vehicles/vessels by private persons not acting at the behest of local, county, state, or federal government and without the consent of the owner when ...
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