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

Section 41:2-2 of Newark's Zoning and Land Use Ordinance, adopted November 1, 2023 under Ordinance No. C. , the New Jersey body art regulations enforced by the state Department of Health. The definition carves out procedures that the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners classifies as medical, which fall outside the zoning use category entirely. Table 4-2 (Section 41:4-2), covering the Commercial and Mixed-Use Districts, lists Body Art Studio as permitted (P) in the C-2, C-3, MX-2 and MX-3 zones and not permitted (-) in the C-1 and MX-1 zones.

Table 4-1 for the Residential Districts, R-1 through R-6, does not list Body Art Studio among either principal or accessory uses, so under Section 41:4-0 the use is prohibited citywide in residential zones unless the Zoning Officer finds it comparable to a listed use. A studio planning commercial signage or exterior alterations must also confirm compliance with the applicable district's bulk and design standards in Chapter 41:5 in addition to state licensure. Because the state regulation governs health and sanitation while Title XLI governs only where the use may locate, an operator must satisfy both the City's zoning table and the state Health Department's body art rules before opening.