"It just kind of brings us up to date to match our zoning ordinance," Flowery Branch Mayor Diane Hirling said. The council revamped its zoning ordinance in late 2006 that detailed where specific businesses are allowed to operate within the city. Hirling said the new adult business ordinance was passed to align its zoning requirements with those already existing.

Hirling said no adult businesses have made new requests to move into the city’s limits, but the ordinance was passed in preparation for future requests.

The new adult business ordinance holds few real changes. The ordinance maintains that adult business establishments are limited to operation in areas zoned manufacture industrial.

In addition, the ordinance maintains that adult businesses may not operate between midnight and 8 a.m. each day, and are prohibited from serving alcoholic beverages.

The new ordinance also prohibits adult businesses from being located within 1,000 feet of any place of worship, school building, college campus, religious institution or any governmental building including public parks, hospitals, libraries or children’s day care centers. Also, the ordinance prohibits an adult business from being located within 1,000 feet from another adult entertainment establishment.

"It’s not that we’re trying to keep them out," Hirling said. "We’re just keeping them away from schools and churches."