Long Beach, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)
Key Facts
- Spacing from other tattoo parlors
- 700 ft
- Spacing from schools
- 700 ft
- Hours of operation
- 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Age notice required
- "No service under 18" sign
- Camera retention
- 30 days minimum
Summary
Long Beach requires new tattoo parlors to sit at least 700 feet from another tattoo parlor and 700 feet from any K-12 school under Municipal Code § 21.45.166, unless a business wins an Administrative Use Permit. Parlors can only operate between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and must post an 18-and-over notice at the front door.
A. No new tattoo parlor use shall be located within seven hundred feet (700') of another tattoo parlor, unless granted through an Administrative Use Permit... B. No new tattoo parlor use shall be located within seven hundred feet (700') of any public or private primary or secondary school, unless granted through an Administrative Use Permit... C. Tattoo parlors shall operate only between the hours of seven (7:00) a.m. and ten (10:00) p.m., unless granted through an Administrative Use Permit... H. A sign stating, "No tattoo service will be provided for anyone under the age of 18," shall be visible at all times on the door of the front entrance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
166 treats tattoo parlors as a special-standards use whether they operate as a primary business or an accessory activity. B. unless that hour restriction is likewise relaxed by AUP. 15, anywhere visible from the public right-of-way. Operators must post a sign at the front door stating no tattoo service will be provided to anyone under 18, install exterior lighting with white-light bulbs over every door, run an audible burglar alarm with door and window contacts, and maintain color security cameras at 480-line resolution or better covering every entrance, exit, public right-of-way frontage and parking area, with footage retained at least 30 days and login credentials shared with the Long Beach Police Department. Parlors must also comply with all State, County and City health regulations, including the State's Safe Body Art Act.
Violations & Fines
Violating the 700-foot spacing, curfew or storefront-glazing rules is enforceable citywide under LBMC § 1.32.060: a 10-day notice to cure, then escalating $100 and $250 infraction citations, and a $1,000 misdemeanor fine for a violation that recurs within six months. Standards A through P may be appealed to the City's Zoning Administrator under § 21.10.045 before enforcement proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close can a tattoo parlor be to a school in Long Beach?
Can a Long Beach tattoo shop stay open past 10 p.m.?
What security measures does the code require inside a tattoo parlor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
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