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Tarrytown Proposes New Tattoo Parlor Law

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — There could be a new tattoo parlor in town if the Board of Trustees adopts a proposed law.

The law would remove sections of the village code that prohibit tattoo parlors and replace it with guidelines for any potential tattoo parlors who wish to set up shop in the village. Tarrytown will hold a public hearing on the proposed law on August 15 at 8 p.m. at Village Hall.

Mayor Drew Fixell said during the board’s July 18 meeting that the proposed law came about because a tattoo shop owner approached the village about opening a shop here. Officials decided to look into changing the law and, according to the public notice, decided “that the rationale for prohibiting tattoo parlors no longer exists.”

The proposed law would place certain restrictions on any potential tattoo parlors about zoning and safety standards. Tattoo parlors would only be permitted in the restricted retail zoning district and any tattoo parlor would not be allowed within 500 feet of another tattoo parlor or school.

The law would allow body piercing, cosmetic tattooing and tattooing, but it would prohibit tongue-splitting (cutting a person’s tongue into two or more parts). The law would limit window displays or signs to words, letters or numbers.

Safety-wise, the law requires tattoo parlors to be in compliance with county and state regulations. It also requires compliance with the Rockland County Sanitary Code that pertains to body art, since Westchester County does not have such a code.

Tarrytown resident Lori Semeraro raised concerns about the drafting of the legislation during the board’s July 18 meeting, saying it looked like the law was designed for the particular vendor who wants to open a tattoo parlor in the village.

The proposed legislation is based on a New Rochelle law, except village officials took out a 500-feet restriction near a park. Semeraro believed this restriction was taken out because the vender had selected a location that was near Neperan Park.

“This isn’t a contract with one person, this affects everybody,” she said. “So I’m concerned we’re going into the negotiations with deliberations of writing the law with the wrong mindset because whether this vender comes or not, he may not be the only vender.”

Fixell replied that the restriction was taken out because the village didn’t see a “particularly compelling reason” to include it. Fixell also emphasized the point that trustees did draft the legislation with the mindset that it would need to apply to future vendors.

Chuk Högnell, the tattoo parlor owner who wants to expand into Tarrytown, said an exact location for the tattoo shop had not been chosen. He also noted the fact that New York State law restricts tattooing to those over the age of 18.

Do you think Tarrytown should allow tattoo parlors in the village? Tell us in the comments or on our Facebook page.

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