Board streamlines county code, approves companion updates to ‘adult establishments’ definitions and licensing

DeKalb County planning staff told the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 11 that two companion amendments would modernize and harmonize county rules for adult‑use businesses by replacing older language and aligning the zoning code with business‑licensing standards.

The staff presentation said the changes are primarily a “cleanup and coordination effort” and are not intended to change the county’s existing supplemental regulations. The amendments replace the term “adult entertainment establishments” with “adult establishments,” standardize definitions across chapters, update licensing procedures (including application, suspension and appeal processes), and retain the county’s 1,000‑foot separation requirement from residences, schools, parks and churches.

Planning staff recommended approval of both items. The board voted to approve item 2026‑0885 (business license updates) and item 2026‑0886 (zoning code updates) separately after the public‑hearing calls produced no speakers in favor and no substantive opposition.

The staff presentation also noted a legal foundation for county regulation of adult uses based on documented secondary effects and cited outside counsel’s review of precedent and related studies recorded in the public record. Staff emphasized the amendments do not resolve broader policy questions about adult establishments; rather, they focus on internal consistency across the code.

The approval means the code wording will be updated to the new terminology and the county will proceed with the aligned licensing and zoning framework described by staff. Questions about any substantive policy changes are expected to be raised in future code‑update work rather than in this narrow cleanup package.