Tattoo Shops Have Been Banned In 'Boken For 25 Years, But Council Vote May Change That

HOBOKEN, NJ — After a local police officer opened a tattoo shop on Tenth Street in the late 1990s, Mayor Anthony Russo's administration decided they didn't want any more, and passed a law prohibiting that type of business from opening in the city again.

The 1998 law says that it was meant to protect the "health, safety, and welfare of its citizens from the dangers inherent in tattooing," citing infections and hepatitis.

However, the state of New Jersey has rules governing the health and sterilization procedures at such shops. State law also requires people to be 18 to get a tattoo. (See what a Jersey City tattoo shop says about that.)

Hoboken Body Art closed at the beginning of this year, and some officials don't see why another such shop should be prohibited, within certain guidelines.

A measure is up for a vote at Wednesday night's City Council meeting, allowing tattoo shops in town, including as a conditional use in some neighborhoods. A second ordinance would send the measure to the Planning Board for their review.

Shops must be licensed and follow local health guidelines.

The Hoboken City Council will vote on a pair of ordinances sponsored by Councilman Phil Cohen at their meeting this Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Cohen said Tuesday, "Hoboken Body Art was a valued member of the Hoboken business community and the 5th Ward for more than 20 years, operating in its last decade adjacent to Anthony David’s, one of the premier dining establishments in our community."

He added, "When Hoboken Body Art closed its doors a few months ago, there was an outpouring of tributes from the community to the owners and the business that I saw on social media. So, in response, I worked with the Corporation Counsel’s office to create an ordinance that would permit
tattoo parlors to operate in our community if the business complies with all applicable State regulations governing tattoo parlors."

"I believe the City Council’s 1998 ban on tattoo parlors is a relic of an era when tattoo parlors were stigmatized. The pair of ordinances that I am sponsoring on Wednesday reflect the feedback I have heard from my constituents, as well as our community’s belief, that body art is as an important form of self-expression, and regulated tattoo parlors have a place in our business community."

When Hoboken Body Art closed in January 2023, they said, "We were one of the first to challenge the preconceived stigmas attached to this art form...a lot of great artists came through our door."

You can see the agenda packet for the July 12 council meeting here.

Want to watch? You can head to City Hall, 94 Washington St., at 7 p.m., or watch on the city's Facebook page, or watch on YouTube. To speak at the meeting, you must attend in person.