Commission directs code change to let micropigmentation, small micro‑tattoos operate as low‑impact personal services

Oroville — The Oroville Planning Commission on July 24 voted unanimously to direct staff to prepare amendments to the municipal code so that micropigmentation and small micro‑tattoos performed with the same equipment and techniques as permanent makeup would be classified as low‑impact personal services rather than as moderate‑impact tattooing that currently requires a use permit.

The commission’s action follows a presentation by a citizen Business Advocacy Committee and a public comment from Cheyenne Velasquez, owner of Illusion Studio in downtown Oroville. Velasquez told the commission that micropigmentation and precision pigmenting use the same tools, techniques and health protocols as permanent makeup and that her business is appointment‑only and operates under strict health standards. “My business model is low impact, community oriented, and contributes to Oroville’s positive image,” Velasquez said.

Commissioners and staff discussed the rationale and limits of the change. Staff cautioned that some jurisdictions limit concentrations of tattoo parlors and that county environmental‑health licensing for body‑art practitioners is an important compliance check; moving uses to ‘low impact’ could reduce the city’s ability to require proof of an environmental‑health license before occupancy. Staff also noted the option of a reduced‑fee use permit for lower‑impact activities as an alternative to fully removing a use permit requirement. During the discussion commissioners emphasized the need to preserve the city’s ability to regulate conventional tattoo parlors and to avoid creating unwanted concentrations of body‑art businesses in single locations.

A motion directing staff to draft code language to allow micropigmentation artists and micro‑tattoo artists who use the same equipment and techniques as permanent‑makeup practitioners to be categorized as low‑impact personal services passed unanimously. Commission staff said the change would require an ordinance amendment by the City Council; an ordinance cannot take effect until at least 30 days after adoption under the city’s normal process. Staff also volunteered to research technical distinctions and permitting approaches and return with recommended draft language for council consideration.

Details and implications: micorpigmentation and micro tattoos that staff and the commission find to be materially the same in equipment and technique as permanent makeup would be eligible for the lower‑impact classification, which can remove the need for the existing use permit and its associated fee (staff cited current use‑permit fees in the $3,500 range and noted an upcoming increase toward $4,000). The commission left other use‑table changes for further review and tabled the remaining items to a future meeting. The Commission’s direction is policy guidance to staff; formal code changes will follow the required public hearing and ordinance process at City Council.