York County, SC Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Under Subpart 3.36 of the York County Zoning Ordinance, a tattoo and body piercing establishment is not a by-right use anywhere in the unincorporated county. Section 155.595 applies the subpart to every tattoo and body piercing establishment use the Use Table at § 155.271 lists as a conditional use or special exception use, meaning an applicant must win approval from the Zoning Administrator (conditional use) or the Board of Zoning Appeals (special exception) before opening. The Use Table marks the 'Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishments' entry as a conditional use in the county's general and neighborhood commercial columns and prohibits it outright everywhere else, so confirming the parcel's zoning district is the first step for any operator.

Once a district allows the use, § 155.596 layers on a spacing rule: a tattoo and body piercing establishment 'shall be located at least 300 feet from any other tattoo and body piercing establishment,' which caps how many studios can cluster along the same commercial corridor. The code's definitions describe TATTOO as 'the process of applying an indelible mark or color to the skin by subcutaneous introduction of nontoxic dyes or pigments,' expressly excluding tattoo removal, branding, cutting, scarification and skin braiding, while BODY PIERCING covers creating a permanent opening in the body to insert jewelry. Because this sits in the zoning chapter, it governs location and use, not sanitation; studios still need the separate state health permits that apply statewide. Approvals run through the Planning and Development Services Department, and a conditional-use or special-exception decision can be appealed to the York County Board of Zoning Appeals.