Business Licensing & Operations in Vanderburgh County, IN (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Adult bookstores, cabarets, theaters, arcades, nude model studios and peep show facilities are zoned Use Group 21 in Vanderburgh County and are permitted only in C-4, M-1, M-2 and M-3 districts. They must sit 1,000 feet from homes or residential zoning and 500 feet from schools, churches, parks and each other before the Area Plan Commission will issue a permit.
Vanderburgh County Adult Business Spacing Rules
Significant RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code § 17.20.240(B)
B. In addition to all other requirements of the zoning code, these businesses shall comply with the following restrictions: 1. Shall not be located within 1,000 feet of any dwelling unit, duplex or other building used for any residential use or any recorded subdivision in the A zoning district; 2. Shall not be located within 1,000 feet of any property zoned for any residential use in t...
Massage Establishments
Vanderburgh County requires every massage business, called a "health club" in the code, to hold a Sheriff-issued permit before operating. Only a physician, an experienced registered or licensed practical nurse, or a registered physical therapist may own or manage one, and each masseur or masseuse needs a separately posted, non-suspended permit.
Vanderburgh County Health Club Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code § 5.04.030(A)-(B)
A. No health club shall operate without first obtaining a permit. No permit shall be issued for any health club except to an owner or manager who is a physician, a registered nurse with at least two years nursing experience, a licensed practical nurse with at least four years nursing experience, or a registered physical therapist. Permit forms are obtainable and are processed in the office o...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Every tattoo parlor and body piercing facility in Vanderburgh County needs a Health Department license, and every tattoo artist or body piercer needs a personal license too. Business licenses cost $300 through 2025, rising to $400 in 2026 and $450 in 2027, and all licenses expire December 31 each year.
Vanderburgh County Tattoo and Piercing License
Some RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code § 5.06.030(A), (C)(4)
A. In Inspection and Approval by Health Department. No license for a tattoo parlor, body piercing facility, tattoo artist, or body piercer license, shall be issued unless, following reasonable investigation by the Department, the applicant has demonstrated compliance with the provisions of this Section and all other provisions of this Chapter. ... The cost of a license shall be Three Hundred...
Towing Companies
A towing service that removes a vehicle under Vanderburgh County's abandoned vehicle chapter must staff a 24-hour callback line, accept cash, cards, or certified checks, and release the vehicle within 24 hours of payment. Skipping the required National Motor Vehicle Title System search cuts off extra storage fees.
Vanderburgh County Non-Consent Towing Requirements
Significant RestrictionsVanderburgh County Code § 10.50.090
A towing service or storage yard may not charge an inspection fee to an owner, a lienholder, or an insurance company representative to inspect a vehicle or retrieve items from the vehicle... A towing service or storage yard must accept payment made by any of the following means from a person seeking to release a vehicle under this section: (1) Cash. (2) Certified check. (3) Insurance check. (4)...
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Vanderburgh County
1 cities in Vanderburgh County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Vanderburgh County ordinances
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