Council approves textual amendment to zoning ordinance for tattoo studios
- Charity Fitch
- Aug 23, 2023
- 2 min read
During its May 1 meeting, Waxahachie City Council unanimously approved a textual amendment to the zoning ordinance No. 3020, changing the definitions of tattoo studios and cosmetic and restorative tattoo studios in the city’s ordinance. The amendment also changes which zoning districts allow tattoo studios and now requires studios to get a specific use permit (SUP).
The amendment was approved by the Waxahachie Planning and Zoning Commission during its April 26 meeting.
Previously, tattoo studios were allowed by right in a commercial zoning district. Now, tattoo studios, including cosmetic restorative tattoo studios, are allowed in general retail, central area and commercial zoning with planning and zoning and city council’s approval of a specific use permit.
The change comes after “a number of tattoo use zoning district change requests,” prompting council to ask city staff “to evaluate the tattoo use process of comparable cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,” according to the city staff report.
During a council work session Feb. 24, Jennifer Pruitt, senior director of planning, shared that out of 11 “comparable cities,” eight allowed tattoo use with an SUP (Burleson, Cleburne, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Grand Prairie, Lancaster, Midlothian and Red Oak), one allowed it with a planned development (Mansfield), one did not have the use listed in its zoning code (Glenn Heights) and one allowed it by right in commercial zoning (Duncanville).
The amendment slightly changes the definition of tattoo or body piercing studios and adds a definition for cosmetic and restorative tattoo studios as both an accessory and permanent use.
“(A cosmetic and restorative tattoo studio) provides permanent or semi-permanent pigmentation into the skin for eyebrows, eyeliner, lip liner/color/blend, blush, beauty marks, hair imitation, microblading or restorative tattoo services … ,” the city staff report reads. “Restorative tattoo services aim to restore the natural appearance of a certain area of the body or skin, such as areola repigmentation or scar camouflaging. Restorative tattoo services exclude traditional tattoo services, which are provided solely for artistic purposes.”
Cosmetic and restorative tattoo studios can be an accessory use to “a tattoo and body piercing shop, barber, hairdresser or beauty shop,” according to the city staff report.
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