Business Licensing & Operations in Pinellas County, FL (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Pinellas County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Unincorporated Pinellas requires a license and permit for every adult use establishment and bars locating one within 400 feet of residential zoning, churches, schools, child care facilities, parks or another adult use.
Pinellas County Adult Use 400-Foot Buffer
Significant RestrictionsPinellas County Code § 42-121(a)-(b)
(a)No adult use establishment, including an adult bookstore operating only as an adult bookstore, may be located within 400 feet of any residential zoned property, or any portion of a mixed use zoning district developed and utilized as residential, nor within 400 feet of any church, school, child care facility or public recreation area which is validly located or has previously received legal a...
Massage Establishments
Unincorporated Pinellas County does not license or regulate massage establishments locally. The county code defers entirely to Florida's Board of Massage Therapy and Chapter 480 of the Florida Statutes.
Pinellas County Defers Massage Licensing To State
Few RestrictionsPinellas County Code § 42-59
It is not the intent of the board of county commissioners 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 F.S. ch. 480.
Pawnbrokers
Pinellas County pawnbrokers must hold every item they buy or take in pledge for 15 calendar days, log each transaction in a sheriff-issued register and check government photo ID on every seller.
Pinellas County 15-Day Pawnbroker Hold Rule
Some RestrictionsPinellas County Code § 26-208
Any property obtained by purchase by any of the businesses covered by this article shall be retained in its original condition for a minimum of 15 calendar days, in the possession of the purchaser, provided that nothing in this section shall prevent the sale of such property as long as possession is retained for the 15-day period. This holding period shall not apply to: (1)A repurchase or re...
Towing Companies
Before booting or trespass-towing a vehicle from private property in Pinellas County, a towing service must have a written agreement with the property owner covering fees, hours and a storage site within 10 miles, then notify police within 30 minutes of each tow. Towing services must post consumer-complaint contacts, keep three years of records, and face fines plus civil liability for violations.
Pinellas County Nonconsent Towing Rules
Significant RestrictionsPinellas County Code § 122-40(a), (d), (l)
Prior to the immobilization or private property trespass towing of any vehicle, the property owner of the real property from which such immobilization or tow is made and the immobilization or towing service shall have executed a written agreement which, at a minimum, shall contain the following provisions: ...(7)The address and description of the location where the vehicle will be towed/stored....
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Pinellas County
4 cities in Pinellas County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
7 verified rules • Adult Entertainment, Auto Repair on Residential Property
3 verified rules • Pawnbrokers, Secondhand Dealers
3 verified rules • Adult Entertainment, Auto Repair on Residential Property
2 verified rules • Massage Establishments, Pawnbrokers
All Pinellas County ordinances
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