Business Licensing & Operations, Cherry Hill

Every city handles business licensing & operations a little differently. In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Tattoo & Body Modification

Tattoo and body piercing shops in Cherry Hill Township need a $50 annual license from the Township Clerk, and individual operators must separately register with the Camden County Health Department. Township Code § 6-15 bars tattooing or piercing anyone under 18 without signed parental consent and requires records of every client to be kept for at least two years.

Key details: Governing section: Township Code § 6-15. Municipal license fee: $50 per year. County requirement: Camden County Health Dept. registration. Minimum age: 18, or parental consent required. Record retention: 2 years minimum.

Operating a tattoo or piercing establishment in Cherry Hill without both the $50 Township license and the operator's Camden County Health Department Certificate of Registration violates § 6-15.2. Tattooing or piercing a minor without signed parental consent, or failing to keep client records for two years, is a separate violation of § 6-15.3, enforced jointly by the Township Clerk's office and the Camden County Health Department.

Massage Establishments

Operating a massage business in Cherry Hill Township requires a $2,000 annual license from the Township Clerk, and every massage and bodywork therapist must separately hold a New Jersey state license. Township Code § 6-8, amended in 2025, lets the Township Clerk deny or refuse renewal based on unpaid taxes, open code violations, or a Police-recommended finding of bad character.

Key details: Governing section: Township Code § 6-8. License issuer: Township Clerk. Annual fee: $2,000. Late fee: $200 after Jan. 31. Therapist requirement: Separate NJ state license.

Operating a massage establishment without a Township Clerk license, or working as a massage or bodywork therapist without the required New Jersey state license, violates § 6-8. The Clerk must refuse or can revoke a license where taxes are unpaid, code violations are open, or the Chief of Police finds evidence of bad character; the section carries no separate fine schedule, so the general penalty at § 1-5.1 (up to $2,000 or 90 days) applies.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Cherry Hill actively enforces its massage establishments requirements.

Secondhand Dealers

Buying scrap gold, jewelry, electronics or other used goods from the public in Cherry Hill Township requires a $300 annual dealer license, fingerprinting, and a Police Department background check under Township Code § 6-19. Every purchase must be logged in an electronic database within 48 hours and precious metals held in public view for 10 days before resale.

Key details: Governing section: Township Code § 6-19. Annual license fee: $300, due Jan. 10. Background check: Fingerprinting + Police investigation. Database entry deadline: Within 48 hours. Precious-metal hold period: 10 business days.

Buying secondhand goods or precious metals without a Township-issued dealer license, skipping the 48-hour database entry, releasing precious metals before the 10-day hold expires, or paying cash beyond the weekly and monthly transaction caps violates § 6-19. Section 6-19.9 sets its own penalty: $100 to $2,000 in fines, up to 90 days' imprisonment or community service, and an additional 10-day license suspension for every violation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Cherry Hill actively enforces its secondhand dealers requirements.

The Bottom Line

Cherry Hill is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Cherry Hill, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Cherry Hill's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.