Business Licensing & Operations in Kentucky (2026)
27 rules on the books across Kentucky, 6 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Adult Entertainment
Zoning and licensing rules for adult entertainment establishments under LAMC §12.70, including distance buffers from schools, churches, and residential zones.
Boone County
Significant RestrictionsBoone County requires a sexually oriented business license and a separate employee license before anyone may operate or…
Read full rule →Campbell County
Significant RestrictionsCampbell County requires a business privilege license before anyone can operate a sexually oriented business or service…
Read full rule →Daviess County
Significant RestrictionsDaviess County requires a County Clerk license, renewed annually, for any adult entertainment establishment and its…
Read full rule →Kenton County
Significant RestrictionsKenton County requires a business privilege license before anyone may operate a sexually oriented business or service…
Read full rule →Lexington
Significant RestrictionsLexington-Fayette Urban County Government requires every adult cabaret, adult dancing establishment, or sexual…
Read full rule →Louisville
Significant RestrictionsLouisville Metro requires adult entertainment establishments to hold a $1,000 annual Director-issued license and keeps…
Read full rule →Massage Establishments
Licensing requirements for massage businesses under LAMC §103.205 and CAMTC certification, including operator background checks and zoning conditions.
Campbell County
Heavy RestrictionsCampbell County Code of Ordinances § 117.04(E)(4) makes it unlawful anywhere in the county, except inside Newport, to…
Read full rule →Kenton County
Heavy RestrictionsKenton County does not license massage parlors: § 113.15(E)(4) of the county code flatly prohibits any massage parlor…
Read full rule →Louisville
Some RestrictionsMassage facilities in Louisville Metro must hold an annual $200 Department license, and every massage therapist needs a…
Read full rule →Tattoo & Body Modification
Health Department permits and city licensing for tattoo and piercing studios, including bloodborne-pathogen training and inspection requirements.
Tobacco Retail License
The local license required to sell tobacco and vape products, the conduct rules attached to it, flavored-product bans, self-service and age limits, and the zoning that applies to smoke shops.
Kentucky: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsKentucky regulates retail sales of vapor products through state licensing, age verification, and tax requirements…
Read full rule →Louisville
Significant RestrictionsSelling vapes or e-cigarettes in Louisville Metro requires an annual retailer license from the Health Department, and…
Read full rule →Lexington
Light RestrictionsLexington-Fayette's indoor smoking ordinance carves out a narrow exception for dedicated vape shops: a 'retail…
Read full rule →Secondhand Dealers
LAMC §21.12 + CA Bus & Prof Code requirements for secondhand dealers, including item-reporting to law enforcement and 30-day holding periods.
Campbell County
Significant RestrictionsCampbell County requires every pawn shop, jewelry store, exchange, or other used-property dealer to hold a Business or…
Read full rule →Lexington
Significant RestrictionsSecondhand, junk and used auto parts dealers in Lexington-Fayette must register every seller, hold purchased goods ten…
Read full rule →Louisville
Significant RestrictionsSecondhand dealers operating in Louisville Metro must hold a license from the Department of Specialty Permits and…
Read full rule →Boone County
Some RestrictionsBoone County requires anyone buying, selling or trading second-hand or antique jewelry, coins, watches, diamonds…
Read full rule →Daviess County
Some RestrictionsDaviess County requires every dealer in secondhand jewelry, coins, precious metals, and similar items to keep a daily…
Read full rule →Kenton County
Some RestrictionsKenton County requires anyone buying used or pawned goods to hold a business regulatory license under the county's…
Read full rule →Pawnbrokers
State and city pawnbroker licensing, item-holding periods, interest-rate caps, and the LAPD-monitored CalGang/CAPSS reporting system.
Lexington
Significant RestrictionsPawnbrokers in Lexington-Fayette must hold a $250 annual special fee license, file a daily report with the Division of…
Read full rule →Louisville
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro requires every pawnbroker to hold a license from the Department of Specialty Permits and Licenses…
Read full rule →Auto Repair on Residential Property
Whether commercial auto repair is permitted on residential property under LAMC §12.17.3, exemptions for occasional personal repair, and complaint enforcement.
Campbell County
Some RestrictionsHome-based auto detailing is allowed in Campbell County as a general home-based business under § 154.046(C)(3)(b)…
Read full rule →Louisville
Some RestrictionsLouisville Metro lets residents fix their own vehicles at home, but working on someone else's car for pay or repairing…
Read full rule →Towing Companies
Permits, fee caps, and notification requirements for tow companies operating in the city, including official police-rotation tow contracts.
Lexington
Significant RestrictionsLexington-Fayette's private impound (non-consent) tow ordinance caps what a wrecker company can charge to release your…
Read full rule →Boone County
Some RestrictionsBoone County doesn't license towing companies, but County Code § 71.15 sets the rules a towing service must follow when…
Read full rule →Daviess County
Some RestrictionsDaviess County runs non-consent, accident-scene towing through Sheriff-administered wrecker, body-shop, and storage…
Read full rule →Louisville
Some RestrictionsPrivate tow operators in Louisville Metro must be licensed, cap fees by vehicle weight class, post lot signage, and get…
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