Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Bergenfield, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

License
Annual Health Department license required
Fee
$250 per year
Expiration
One year from issue date
State rules adopted
N.J.A.C. 8:27-1 et seq. Body Art Procedures
Banned outright
Branding and scarring, not tattooing or piercing

Summary

A tattoo or permanent-cosmetics establishment in Bergenfield needs an annual $250 license from the Health Department and is subject to its inspection. The Borough separately bans invasive cosmetic procedures like branding and scarring outright, but expressly carves out ear piercing and tattooing from that ban.

§ 344-71. Invasive cosmetic procedures prohibited. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to perform an invasive cosmetic procedure, including but not limited to branding, piercing and scarring, on a human being, excluding the piercing of ears and tattooing. ... § 344-71.1. License required; adoption of regulations. ... A. ... Establishments performing tattooing (including permanent cosmetics) shall obtain a license from the Health Department on an annual basis and shall be subject to inspection by that department. B. Regulations issued by the State of New Jersey regulating body art procedures, commonly known as Chapter 8, New Jersey State Sanitary Code, Body Art Procedures, N.J.A.C. 8:27-1 et seq., are hereby adopted. ... C. The annual licensing fee for an establishment performing tattooing is $250. This license will expire one year from its issue date.

Full Breakdown

Section 344-71 of the Sanitary Code, in the article covering cosmetic procedures, makes it unlawful to perform an invasive cosmetic procedure, including but not limited to branding, piercing and scarring, on a human being, but the section expressly excludes the piercing of ears and tattooing from that prohibition, leaving those two activities to be regulated separately rather than banned. 1, added in 2013: any establishment performing tattooing, including permanent cosmetics, must obtain a license from the Health Department on an annual basis and submit to inspection by that department.

The annual fee for a tattooing establishment license is fixed at $250, and the license expires one year from the date it issues, so an operator has to renew and pay again every twelve months rather than holding a license indefinitely. C. , attaching a copy of those state regulations to the local ordinance without repeating their text. That means a Bergenfield tattoo shop has to satisfy both the local licensing and fee requirement and the full substantive detail of the state body-art code, and the Bergenfield Health Department's annual inspection checks compliance with both.

Violations & Fines

Operating a tattooing or permanent-cosmetics establishment without the annual Health Department license required by Section 344-71.1, or performing a banned invasive cosmetic procedure such as branding or scarring under Section 344-71, is enforceable under the Sanitary Code's general penalty at Section 344-4: $50 to $1,000 per offense, up to 90 days in jail, or both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Borough license to open a tattoo shop in Bergenfield?
Yes. Section 344-71.1A requires any establishment performing tattooing, including permanent cosmetics, to obtain an annual license from the Health Department and submit to its inspection, in addition to whatever the state requires.
How much does the tattoo establishment license cost and how often do I renew?
The annual fee is $250, and the license expires exactly one year from the date it was issued, per Section 344-71.1C, so an operator has to reapply and pay again every year rather than renewing automatically.
Is body branding or scarification legal in Bergenfield?
No. Section 344-71 bans invasive cosmetic procedures on a human being, naming branding, piercing and scarring specifically, though it carves out ear piercing and tattooing from that ban. Branding and scarring remain prohibited outright regardless of licensing.
What sanitation standards does a Bergenfield tattoo shop have to follow?
The state's own rules. Section 344-71.1B adopts the New Jersey Body Art Procedures regulations, N.J.A.C. 8:27-1 et seq., in full, so a licensed establishment must comply with that statewide sanitary code alongside the Borough's licensing and fee requirement.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bergenfield

All Bergenfield rules

Compare Bergenfield to another location·View the New Jersey business licensing & operations overview

Get notified when Tattoo & Body Modification in Bergenfield, NJ changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.