Westminster, CO Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Section 11-4-8(A) makes it unlawful to establish, maintain, operate, or conduct a Tattoo or Body Piercing Parlor, one of the special uses listed in (B)(8), without first obtaining a special use permit from the Planning Commission after a public hearing that meets the notice requirements of Section 11-5-13. The applicant carries the burden of proving the use serves the public good and public interest. Applications require a completed form, fees, a written description of the operation's likely impact on the neighborhood, a detailed site plan, and a list of property owners within 500 feet, plus one requirement unique to this use: (C)(10) requires a scaled map showing the location of any other Tattoo or Body Piercing Parlor within 1,000 feet, measured under Section 11-4-13.

That distance isn't just informational. Under the Standards of Review in (G)(3)(c), the presence of another Tattoo or Body Piercing Parlor within 1,000 feet of the proposed site precludes approval outright, a hard bar rather than a factor the Commission weighs. The Planning Commission must decide within 30 days of its hearing and can attach conditions such as buffers, screening, or limited hours under (E). A denied or approved application can be appealed to City Council by the applicant or the City Manager within 10 days under (H), triggering a de novo hearing, and four or more Council members can independently call up a Planning Commission decision for de novo review within 14 days under (I).

A special use permit cannot be transferred to a new owner or a new location under (J), and it terminates automatically if the parlor sits inactive for a year or more, or can be revoked for cause after notice and hearing under (K). Finally, (L) blocks the City from issuing a business license or building permit until both the special use permit and any required State license are in hand.