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Inglewood, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

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

Key Facts

Allowed zone
C-1 Limited Commercial Zone only, with SUP
Permit type
Special Use Permit (discretionary), Sec. 12-23.0(A)(22)
Prohibited zone
R-M zone bans tattoo parlors outright
Scope
Includes body piercing establishments
Enforcing department
Planning and Building Department

Summary

Tattoo parlors, including body piercing shops, may only operate in Inglewood's C-1 Limited Commercial Zone with a Special Use Permit under Section 12-23.0(A)(22); the same use is flatly prohibited in the R-M Residential and Medical Zone under Section 12-22.20.1. The Special Use Permit route means discretionary city review before any tattoo studio can open its doors.

(22) Tattoo parlors, (including body piercing), subject to Special Use Permit approval.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954608; v8 updated 2026-05-19).

Full Breakdown

0(A)(22), the same discretionary track the code applies to bars and nightclubs, specialty merchandise marts, and automobile service stations in that zone. A Special Use Permit requires a formal application and public hearing process rather than a routine over-the-counter business license, giving the review authority the chance to impose siting or operating conditions before the shop can open. 6, layers on outdoor-use standards that can apply to sidewalk-facing storefronts in the district. 1 of the R-M Residential and Medical Zone article expressly lists tattoo parlors among prohibited uses, alongside tanning salons, arcades, pawn shops, and adult businesses, meaning no application will be accepted or permit issued for a tattoo studio in that zone regardless of the operator's qualifications.

A prospective operator has to confirm the parcel's zoning designation before applying: C-1 zoning opens the door to a Special Use Permit application, while R-M zoning closes it outright. The Business Tax Certificate required of any Inglewood business under Chapter 8 is separate from, and issued only after, the zoning-level Special Use Permit clears in a zone where the use is allowed.

Violations & Fines

Operating a tattoo or body-piercing shop in the C-1 zone without first securing Special Use Permit approval under Section 12-23.0(A)(22), or opening one anywhere in the R-M zone where Section 12-22.20.1 prohibits the use outright, is operating without the required zoning entitlement and can be cited by the Planning and Building Department, which can shut the business down until the permit is obtained or the use is relocated to an eligible zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a tattoo shop anywhere in Inglewood?
Only in zones where it is a permitted use with the right approval. In the C-1 Limited Commercial Zone, tattoo parlors, including body piercing, are allowed only with a Special Use Permit under Section 12-23.0(A)(22). In the R-M Residential and Medical Zone, Section 12-22.20.1 prohibits tattoo parlors outright.
What is a Special Use Permit and why does a tattoo parlor need one?
It is a discretionary zoning entitlement that requires an application and city review before the use can operate, unlike a routine business license. Inglewood requires it for tattoo parlors and body piercing shops in the C-1 zone under Section 12-23.0(A)(22) so the city can review siting and impose conditions.
Is a Business Tax Certificate enough to open a tattoo studio?
No. The Business Tax Certificate under Chapter 8 is separate from zoning approval. A tattoo or piercing business also needs Special Use Permit approval under Section 12-23.0(A)(22) in an eligible zone like C-1 before the city will allow it to operate, and it cannot operate in the R-M zone at all.

Sources & Official References

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