Council adopts ordinances creating special-use permit and rules for tattoo and body-piercing studios

Moore City Council approved two companion ordinances to change how tattooing and body-piercing studios are regulated in the city's development code.

Staff explained the change removes tattoo and body-piercing uses from the retail sales and services restricted classification and adds them as a special-use permit. The special-use permit requires public notification, planning commission review and council hearing, and allows the city to place conditions on an operation. Proposed conditions in the ordinances include: a required 1,000-foot minimum separation from bars, nightclubs, adult-entertainment establishments, pawn shops, plasma-donation centers and surplus stores; a minimum 300-foot separation from residential properties; and a council power to suspend or revoke the special-use permit for cause (for example, lack of required state licensing or public nuisance conduct).

Staff said existing tattoo parlors currently meet the proposed 300-foot residential requirement and that the permit process would give the city tools to manage location and operations while making the business path clearer for prospective operators. Council moved, seconded and approved both ordinances by roll call.

The ordinances create a local regulatory path that preserves public notice while allowing the council to attach conditions or revoke permits when necessary.