Barber Shop

A shop is located in any premises, building, or part of a building (including a residence) in which a person is authorized to engage in the professions of cosmetology, barbering, manicuring, aesthetics, skin care, or natural hair styling.  All individuals who practice in the barbering and cosmetology professions are required to perform all services within a licensed shop.

Shops must submit an application, pay the appropriate fee, and receive a passing inspection before opening for business. The application and fees are only valid for ninety (90) days. If your shop is not ready for inspection within that time, it will be necessary to reapply and pay a new application fee.

All full-service shops must have a licensed master barber acting in the role of manager at all times the shop is open. The owner may occupy the role of manager if properly licensed.
 

Important Information for Shops

1. The current inspection sheet and shop license must be conspicuously posted for the public to see.

2. The shop and individual licenses must be current in order to provide service to the public.

3. All licenses must be posted by each workstation.

4. The Board has authorization to write violations to the shop, owner, manager on duty, and individual licensees, if applicable. Violations could result in civil penalties and possible revocation or suspension of your license.
 

Application & Fees

Complete the “Initial Barber Shop Application” online at core.tn.gov at least three (3) weeks before you wish to open your shop for business. The fee for the application is $150.
 

Required Attachments:

1. Business license obtained through your local county or city tax agent.

2. Complete the Eligibility for Entitlements Verification form for each owner(s). This form can be found on the Forms and Downloads page.

a. If the business is an LLC or incorporated through the Secretary of State, you only need to mark the box on the first page of the form.

3. Provide proof of identity for each owner(s) in the form of a valid driver's license or social security card. This is not required if the business is an LLC or incorporated through the Secretary of State.
 

Inspection Information

The initial inspection will be made within ten (10) days upon receipt of the online application. The Inspector will call you directly to schedule an inspection. Please provide a valid telephone number at which the inspector can contact you. The Board office does not schedule or coordinate shop inspections.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All new shops or changes of location must be inspected and approved by an inspector of the Board before opening business.
 

Required Before Inspection:

1.       One (1) shampoo bowl with hot and cold running water and a chair.

2.       One (1) enclosed and labeled storage area for clean towels.

3.       One (1) covered and labeled container for soiled towels.

4.       One (1) dry sanitary compartment per station.

5.       One (1) workstation and a mirror for each operator.

6.       One (1) covered container for trash, maintained in a sanitary condition.

7.       One (1) working restroom.

8.       One (1) wet disinfectant solution container per barber chair.

9.       One (1) ultraviolet sanitizer.

Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 0200-03-.17 allows shops offering limited services to request a waiver of certain equipment, subject to approval by the Executive Director. The Limited Service Shop Waiver Request form can be found here:  https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/commerce/documents/regboards/cosmo/forms/Barber-Shop_waiver.pdf.  
 

Residential Shops

Residential shops must maintain a separate entrance without requiring passage through any portion of a private residence. Separate restroom facilities must be provided apart from the living quarters. A barber shop located in a residential building must be located on the first floor (street level or one (1) level below) and display a sign of sufficient size as to be clearly visible from the street, indicating that it is a shop. Check with local zoning/codes enforcement and HOA, if applicable, to determine if residential shops are permitted.
 

Sanitation Information

No Methel Methacrylate (MMA) is to be used in a shop.

Tennessee neither requires nor prohibits the use of formalin as a disinfectant.

All tools and implements which have come in contact with blood or body fluids must be cleaned in soap and water and disinfected by complete immersion in an EPA registered bactericidal, virucidal or fungicidal disinfectant that is effective against HIV-1 and human Hepatitis B Virus and is mixed according to the manufacturer’s direction, then rinsed, dried, and stored in clean closed containers or UV sanitizer.

New Construction and Alterations

The following information is provided on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Office of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Title II, U.S. Code).

Public Entities must ensure that newly constructed buildings and facilities are free of architectural and communication barriers that restrict access or use by individuals with disabilities.

When a public entity undertakes alterations to an existing building, it must also ensure that the altered portions are accessible.

The ADA does not require retrofitting of existing buildings to eliminate barriers, but does establish a high standard of accessibility for new buildings.

Public entities may choose between two (2) technical standards for accessible design: The Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard (UFAS), established under the Architectural Barriers Act, or the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines, adopted by the Department of Justice for places of public accommodation and commercial facilities covered by Title III of the ADA.

The elevator exemption for small buildings under the ADA Accessibility Guidelines would not apply to public entities covered by Title II.

For information concerning the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact your local building codes office.