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Commission recommends permitting tattoo studios in Norwalk’s C2 zoning district
Summary
Planning staff told the commission tattoo studios have repeatedly been approved via special‑use permits in C2; commissioners voted to recommend adding tattoo studios to the C2 allowed‑use list while home‑based tattooing remains regulated by home‑occupation rules.
The Norwalk Planning & Zoning Commission on Dec. 9 recommended adding tattoo studios to the list of allowed uses in the C2 commercial district, a change staff said would streamline permitting for businesses that have repeatedly applied as unclassified uses.
Elliot, a community‑development staff member, explained that tattoo studios have been treated as "unclassified uses" in the code, requiring applicants to seek special‑use permits through the Board of Adjustment. "We felt that it was appropriate to consider adding it as an approved use within the C2 district," Elliot said, noting that most recent tattoo‑studio special‑use applications were located in C2 and were approved.
Commissioners asked whether approving tattoo studios in C2 would implicitly permit them in C3, M1 and M2 where those districts reference uses allowed in other districts. Staff confirmed adding tattoo studios to C2 could carry over to those districts by cross‑reference and emphasized that tattoo studios are not listed as an approved home‑occupation; therefore, operating a tattoo parlor from a residence still would require a separate code amendment or a special use path.
After closing the hearing with no applicant or public comment, the commission moved and voted to recommend the amendment (motion seconded by Eaton); roll call votes were recorded as 'aye.' The Board of Adjustment process and licensing requirements remain separate from zoning use lists and from state licensing for tattoo and body‑piercing businesses.
The recommended change is intended to simplify permitting for tattoo studios that fit the city’s commercial, retail and service‑oriented C2 district. The item will be forwarded to the city council for consideration.
