Tattoo ordinance could put limits on shops
Joshua Daniels is excited to share his art with the Auburn community. It just so happens that his canvas is other people’s bodies. Daniels’ Beauty Takes Pain tattoo shop on Lincoln Way is set to open soon, but future tattoo artists may have a more difficult time. Auburn police and the city’s planning department are working on wording for an ordinance that would restrict where tattoo shops could go and who could apply them. The effort comes on the heels of a wave of shops in the Downtown district, perhaps reflecting more mainstream attitudes toward getting inked. “Many cities have ordinances that allow them to have oversight over tattoo shops in their jurisdiction,” said Auburn Police Chief Valerie Harris. “Now is the appropriate time. We’re having all these applications just overnight.” Currently, there are three tattoo shops on Lincoln Way. These three shops would not be affected by the new ordinance, Harris said, but future applicants would be. A draft version of the ordinance would: - Restrict tattoo shops to areas zoned Central Business or Regional Commercial District; - Require potential shops to obtain a use permit approved by the city planning commission; - Require shops be at least 250 feet from any residential zone and 1,000 feet from any school, park, church, religious organization or establishments principally used by minors. - Prevent tattoo shops from being located within1,000 feet from any other tattoo shop. - Allow inspecting officers from the city or county health department to enter and inspect the premises; - Limit the permited hours of operation; - Prohibit registered sex offenders from doing tattoos on a client’s private areas. These regulations would prevent a concentration of tattoo shops and prevent any negative secondary effects on neighboring properties, such as blight or public nuisances, according to the draft ordinance. The Auburn City Council held a public hearing on the ordiance last week, but did not adopt it. The council requested more study into how restrictive the ordinance needs to be and clarification on what constitutes a tattoo shop, as many salons offer permanent make-up tattoos, said Auburn Mayor Mike Holmes. “It’s become more acceptable as a business, and I’m not sure we need to overregulate that,” Holmes said. “The more we keep government out of businesses’ business the better we are. There are cases where we might need to have some guidelines, of course.” But Daniels feels the measures may be too stringent on tattoo shops. “I don’t understand why it’s so looked down upon,” he said. “I have a studio and tattooing is one medium I’m doing. I’m an artist and they’re making it look like it’s a nuisance to the community and all I want is to be a part of the community.” He points to a glut of hair salons and gift shops in Downtown that are not being subject to regulations on how close they can be to similar shops. Another shop preparing to open on Lincoln Way is Utopia Tattoo and Body Piercing. Owner Joe Sprawka said a city ordinance may help, but won’t weed out all problem tattoo shops. “I firmly believe the problem will not be fixed within the planning or building department,” he said. “Where (a tattoo shop) goes does not matter if it’s run correctly.” More inspections and more thorough inspections would lead to better tattoo shops, he said. Sprawka said he and other shop owners find it important to hold themselves to high standards. “I’m more concerned with the public having a bad taste in their mouth about tattoo shops,” he said. “As tattoo shop owners we dedicate ourselves to public safety and have their best interests at heart.” Although he’s going “above and beyond” to give Auburn a good tattoo shop, Sprawka believes others may not have the same opportunity. “It’s plain as day to me that the ordinance is specifically trying to stop tattoo shops from this point on, which is pretty sad to me,” he said, adding that the popularity of tattoos is booming, despite the recession. Some don’t see tattoo shops as something to be worried about. “I don’t see it as a problem,” said Pat Parks, 60, who works in Auburn. “Businesses should be allowed to open if there’s demand, and I don’t think it’s an unsavory business.” But Harris said Auburn police have had some complaints about late night activities and noise related to tattoo parlors. An ordinance establishing where tattoo shops could be would eliminate these kind of issues, but it also can’t be too prohibitive, she said. “The council considered (the draft ordinance) too restrictive and said it would impede other tattoo shops from locating here, so we’re working on that and working with the planning department to make sure not it’s overly restrictive but still allows for public safety oversight,” Harris said. Daniels said he’s willing to work with police to deter any negative side effects to his business and wants to be a positive part of the community. He’s already held a fundraising car wash and wants to take part in future Auburn Art Walks. Daniels, 30, was born and raised in Auburn and has been a professional tattooer for five years. “I was driven (to open my own shop) because I just want better things for myself and my children,” he said. With a star inked on his upper left cheek and tattoos wrapping his neck, Daniels said people have walked across the street to avoid crossing paths with him. “I just want people to get to know the tattoo community and know we’re not freaks,” he said. Michelle Miller-Carl can be reached at michellem@goldcountrymedia.com.
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What an asinine bill. Prohibit registered *ex offenders from doing tat work? Then they pass restrictions that even sound like a tat parlor's a sex offender. Maybe we should pass a bill barring politicians from being 1000 feet from a Constitution since they know how to abuse it. Truth @ www.oncefallen.com
Seems like we should have ordinance prohibiting churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious establishments from being with 1000 feet of schools. They can be negative influence too.
"- Require shops be at least 250 feet from any residential zone and 1,000 feet from any school, park, church, religious organization or establishments principally used by minors."
Looks like the puritans at work again...and rolandmc i agree....
The city's planning department should be prohibited from doing anything mean-spirited, wasteful, harmful or stupid.
Josh is a great guy and I'm glad the Journal chose to interview him. Maybe I missed it but Josh also does service for the community.
The proposed bill is one of the more idiotic things I've seen in a long, long time.
Auburn City Council: Do the right thing and put this bill where it belongs... in the trash.
One more thing... I have tattoos and they're all religious. I wonder what percentage of tattoos have religious themes? It's got to be at least half, I would guess. I asked Josh at the coffee shop last weekend and he said that there are "a lot". I'd really be curious to see some numbers on that.
How many other folks out there have a religious tattoo or two?
The city police cheif stereotyping at her best.
Not only would the ordinance impose significant restrictions on the potential location of tatoo shops (show me a business district in downtown or old town not located within 250 feet of a residential zone district or 1,000 feet of a school, park or church - this does not even exist), but the prospect of a Use Permit is a significant financial burden and uncertainty for a business that does not have any unique attributes to consider other than that some people may find its patrons to be "different" than themselves. The City and the APD are clearly looking for a problem that doesn't exist. Not to mention that for the most part these shops are not locating in prime retail spaces but are instead locating in underutilized office and retail spaces that otherwise sit vacant. Holothurion is right, don't let these people within a 1,000 feet of a constitution.
This is a great idea! Let's keep as many people from working as possible and keep the city's tax base as low as we can get it. May I suggest to potential customers that they travel to Roseville for their art work?
1,000' from "churches or religious institutions" Does that make a tattoo studio religious? I mean just because some religious types object to tattoos as being somehow antiGGod, doesn't that afford some sort of protection to the shops. Don't we have freedom from the religion?
Hey what about the sex shop right in old town! When my daughter and I take a walk down there it's sure nice to see. NOT
This is a stupid bill, trash it!
I'd love to see the ACLU get involved in this one. Every now and then, they do something that's right.
Tatoos aren't just for bikers anymore...and neither are Harley Davidsons. It is probably a few who are most narrow-minded who started this ordinance. Like many other laws, they get written when there is no problem. The problem seems to be in a few people's head...
Our local republican voter base should be up in arms.This is more government regulation,leading to bigger government.At a time when our economy is in the toilet a harmless industry is being over regulated.We need a working populous.If a legal business has a demand and that puts Americans to work why would the city want to hinder it?Fear,ignorance,etc......What is the APD doing writting this."Late nite activities and noise",their time would be better spent doing something about the dogs in my neighborhood.I understand that their input may help some,but let our elected officials handle the text.We have some voter power over them.When they get stupid we vote them out,when law enforcement gets stupid we have no recourse.Help local bisiness don't hinder.I live and vote in Auburn and remember a stupid vote by my officials.
If you remember how city office holders vote, you are in a small minority...and that's exactly what they count on. Why anyone would spend a nickel to become part of the city council is beyond me and I'm always amazed at how much they invest in getting elected. There must just be something about wielding power and wasting other people's money that motivates some people.
I spent many years in a similarly sized town in Oregon that had a difficult time getting people to run for council positions.....and, as might be expected, the ones that did so caused far less unhappiness, waste and bad will than this bunch.
I makes you wonder what other businesses have been run out of this town by the same thinking. This is TAX money for services the city desperately needs.
This ordinance is ridiculous. But...on the other hand, how many tattoo shops does a town the size of Auburn need? I think there's five in the general area between the Foresthill exit and downtown.
Cripes, it's like they're the new 'Starbucks'.
I agree MRex21
How many beauty salons, banks or gas stations do we need? If the business is clean let them have their license without all the regulations.
Good for more people trying to make a honest living in these trying times.
They are obviously making money and there is obviously a need if there is that many. I say me have an antique shop ordinance or a beauty salon ordinance.