Hanceville council schedules public hearing considering tattoo studios

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Local tattoo artist Kourtney Quick is nearing the end of her journey to opening a tattoo studio in her hometown of Hanceville. The Hanceville City Council will hold a public hearing to amend the City’s current zoning ordinance on Sept. 12, 2024. (Cheyenne Sharp)

HANCEVILLE, Ala. – At the last meeting of the Hanceville City Council on July 11, the council tabled discussions on updating the City’s current zoning ordinance to allow consideration for verbiage for a tattoo studio to be operated legally within city limits.

At its meeting on July 25, the council set a public hearing to amend the ordinance for Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Hanceville City Hall. The new discussion on the outdated ordinance revolved around operating hours, license fees, visible signage, location parameters and distance from schools, churches and any place where children frequent. At the last meeting, the majority of the council voiced in favor of a 400-foot distance requirement.

“A tattoo facility may be located within the 400-foot boundary if within the confines of an office suite-type building, such that any signage or advertising of services is not visible from the street and the tattoo facility itself has a separate door to the suite from the street. No tattoo or body piercing facility shall be allowed on Commercial Street between the Hanceville Public Library and Highway 31 intersection,” Mayor Jimmy Sawyer read from the proposed draft ordinance, adding, “In other words, that eliminates anything downtown on Highway 31 between Blountsville (Street) and Commercial (Street).”

The council then discussed additional limitations, such as operating hours and local business fees. The City’s business licenses are renewed each year, with fees determined by a schedule sheet. City Clerk Tania Wilcox informed the council that license fees in the city begin at $106 for businesses and increase depending on anticipated gross revenue. The council agreed to include tattoo facilities in the same schedule as beauty salons, allowing studios a $106 base license to operate in Hanceville city limits.

No operations are to be held on Sundays, which the council unanimously approved.

The Hanceville City Council will hold a public hearing to amend the current zoning ordinance on Sept. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Hanceville City Hall. The public is welcome to attend.

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