Houston County planning panel recommends interim-use permit for home-based cosmetic tattooing with conditions

The Houston County planning panel on Monday recommended approval of an interim-use permit for a home-based cosmetic-tattooing business owned by Allison Murdoch and attached conditions intended to limit neighborhood impacts.

Allison Murdoch, who identified herself as owner of Snowdrop Inc. in La Crosse, told the panel she plans to relocate her appointment-only cosmetic-tattooing operation to a residence in Crescent Township to provide a more accessible space. "I currently offer cosmetic tattooing, which is permanent makeup," she said, describing services such as eyebrows and eyeliner and saying she generally schedules two to three clients per day and on busy days up to five.

The panel and staff discussed parking, signage and hours of operation. Staff read the public notice for the application and noted the parcel as Part of the Northwest Quarter, Southeast Quarter Section 6, Township 104, Range 4 in Houston County (Parcel ID 080073000) and public hearing logistics. A neighbor, Andrew Nelson, spoke in support and said he shares the driveway and that "there's lots of room up there," adding that the proposed customer parking would not impede access.

After reviewing the county's interim-use criteria, staff proposed conditions that the commission recommended for approval. The conditions the panel approved as part of its recommendation include compliance with all federal, state and local laws; county access for compliance inspections; permit expiration/renewal at approximately five-year intervals; nullification of the permit if the permit holder no longer owns the property or maintains homestead status; and a limit of no more than two employees on-site at any time. The panel also required that customer parking not occur on shared portions of the driveway. Staff had previously noted signage limitations under county rules (house-mounted signage only) and that biohazardous waste must be collected and disposed of properly.

Commissioners discussed and ultimately removed a condition that would have imposed fixed business hours, citing enforceability concerns and the applicant's childcare constraints. The panel approved the findings and conditions by voice votes and will forward its recommendation to the Houston County Board of Commissioners for final action; staff said the board meeting is scheduled for April 15, 2025.

The panel's recommendation is advisory; final approval rests with the Board of Commissioners. The record shows the application was advertised on 03/12/2025 and that written comments were requested by 03/18/2025. The permit, if ultimately approved by the Board of Commissioners, will be subject to the conditions recommended by the panel, including the two-employee limit and the parking restriction on shared driveway areas.