OREM — City residents will no longer have to leave town in order to add a little body art to their exteriors.

The City Council approved a city code amendment Tuesday night that will allow tattoo and body piercing businesses to again operate within city boundaries. The businesses will be allowed in the city's C2 — the designation for its general commercial zone — areas that are mostly found along State Street and University Parkway.

"My mommy and daddy created me as a beautiful person as you can all see," said Councilman Les Campbell during the unanimous vote. "I won't need your services, but I'll vote aye."

It will not be the first time tattoo parlors and body piercing establishments have been allowed in the city. Prior to a 2006 reworking of the city's zoning ordinances, such businesses were allowed to operate under a provision called "all personal services," which was a catchall category for uses that were not specifically listed in other parts of the city code.

In 2006, the city modified the "nowhere else coded" land uses, changing them to "not permitted," effectively eliminating tattoo and body piercing businesses, along with several others.

A recent application for a business that would fall under the tattoo and body piercing category prompted the council to revisit the issue and led to Tuesday's code amendment, which drew no public comment and generated no controversy.

Councilwoman Karen McCandless said she believes the general commercial zone is an appropriate place for these businesses, "especially because it was (allowed) historically" in the C2 zone.

The Utah County Health Department regulates tattoo and body piercing businesses as "body art facilities," with requirements and regulations that include site inspections.

The health department requires a minimum age of 18 to get a tattoo, even with parental permission, except in cases recommended by a physician. Sixteen-year-olds are allowed to get body piercings if accompanied by a parent; they must also present a birth certificate and identification.

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