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Texarkana, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

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

Key Facts

Permit type
Specific use permit (SUP)
Who approves
City council after P&Z hearing
Allowed zones
Commercial & industrial districts only
Zoning fine
$500-$2,000 per day

Summary

Texarkana's zoning code classes tattoo studios as a specific-use-permit business, requiring city council approval before one can open in commercial or industrial zoning districts.

Tattoo studio means an establishment or facility in which the practice of producing an indelible mark or figure on the human body by scarring or inserting a pigment under the skin using needles, scalpels, or other related equipment, including the application of permanent cosmetics, is performed. ... "S" Indicates use may be approved as specific use permit. (See section 140-177.)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).

Full Breakdown

A tattoo studio is defined in the zoning code as an establishment that produces an indelible mark by scarring or inserting pigment under the skin, including permanent cosmetics (Sec. 140-23). The schedule of uses (Sec. 140-81) marks tattoo studios with an "S" in the Neighborhood Service, General Retail, Limited Commercial, Central Business, Commercial, Industrial-1, Industrial-2, and Planned Development districts, meaning the use isn't allowed by right there. Under Sec. 140-177, only the city council can authorize an "S" use, and only after the planning and zoning commission holds a hearing and makes a recommendation; council can attach operating conditions on noise, odor, or other nuisances.

Violations & Fines

General zoning violations under Sec. 140-318 carry a fine of $500-$2,000 per offense, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a tattoo studio in a Texarkana residential zone?
No. The use schedule doesn't list tattoo studios as permitted or SUP-eligible in any residential, parking, or office district.
Does a tattoo studio need a public hearing to open in Texarkana?
Yes. Sec. 140-177 requires a planning and zoning commission hearing and city council approval before an SUP for the site is granted.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Texarkana

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsTowing CompaniesSome RestrictionsSecondhand DealersSignificant RestrictionsTobacco Retail LicenseSome RestrictionsAuto Repair on Residential PropertyHeavy RestrictionsAdult EntertainmentSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet LimitsSome Restrictions

All Texarkana rules

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