Planning commission approves rezoning to allow tattoo and piercing parlors in C1; forwards ordinance to council

The Batesburg-Leesville Planning Commission on March 16 voted to amend local zoning to allow tattoo and piercing parlors in the C1 General Commercial District and approved forwarding the ordinance to the town council for further action.

Commissioners discussed whether to preserve wording that referenced “South Carolina legislature section 443410” in the municipal code. One member said she felt “more comfortable still having that verbiage,” while others said explicit citation was redundant because state public-health licensing and statutes would govern tattoo businesses regardless of the town ordinance.

A commissioner noted a prior problem where a state code renumbering had left a local procurement ordinance out of date; members agreed they could add a general clause noting applicable state law if the commission wished, but that local zoning language should focus on where businesses may operate rather than restate licensing rules.

After discussion the commission moved to approve the ordinance amendment changing tattoo and piercing parlors from an Industrial (I1) conditional use to a permitted use in C1 and voted in favor. The chair said the planning commission’s approval will be transmitted to the town council for its review.

The action was procedural: the change amends the town’s zoning map and use table to place tattoo and piercing parlors within the C1 General Commercial District. The commission did not adopt local licensing requirements and repeatedly noted that state licensing and health regulations remain controlling.

Next steps: the ordinance language will go to town council; council review and any public hearings were not scheduled during the meeting.