What Zoning Does a Barbershop Need?

Barbershops as a Personal Service Use

Zoning codes usually list barbershops under "personal services," the same line that covers hair salons, nail salons and similar shops. That line is permitted in most commercial and mixed-use districts, and many codes also allow it in office districts. It's one of the easier uses to place.

The building code treats it as an ordinary shop space too. The International Building Code lists barber and beauty shops in business Group B, the same class as offices. Moving into a former office or store often needs only a tenant improvement permit for plumbing and electrical work. Our commercial zoning guide covers the district types.

Common Barbershop Restrictions

Even where a barbershop is permitted by right, a few rules come up often:

• Parking counted per chair, per employee or per square foot
• Sign limits on size, lighting and placement
• Closing hours in districts next to homes
• Limits on outdoor waiting areas or sidewalk signs

The parking calculator gives a rough count. Shops that add a lounge with alcohol, live music or late-night hours can move into a different use category, so check those lines separately.

Running a Barbershop From Home

Two sets of rules apply to a home barbershop, and you need to pass both. The city's home occupation rules decide whether a business can run from the house at all. Common limits include a cap on customer visits, no outside employees, no signs and no change to how the house looks. Our home business zoning guide explains how those rules usually work.

Your state barber board sets the second set of rules, and these often shape the floor plan. Minnesota law, for example, says a barber shop in a residence must have its own outside entrance, separate from any entrance to the home. Other states have similar rules, and some also require a separate restroom. Check your state board's shop rules before you remodel a garage or spare room.

Opening in a Shopping Center or Office Building

In a strip center or office building, the lease can matter as much as the zoning. Shopping centers often have recorded restrictions or exclusive clauses that block a second barbershop or salon. Ask the landlord for any use restrictions in writing.

Also check the plumbing. Shampoo bowls and hand sinks need water and drain lines, and an office suite may not have them where you want chairs. An accessible entrance and restroom are usually required too.

Steps to Check a Barbershop Location

1. Search for your city's zoning map and find the property's district.
2. Look for the personal services line in the use table. Some codes list barbershops by name.
3. Ask the landlord about lease restrictions and exclusive clauses.
4. Confirm the plumbing can serve your stations.
5. Apply for your state shop license once you have the address, since boards usually inspect the space.

Similar personal service guides: zoning for a tattoo shop and for a small office space.