Sign of the times: City will no longer ban tattoo parlors in downtown Belleville

It’s been 22 years since Belleville City Council members took action to limit the number of tattoo parlors in the city to two and prohibit any from operating in downtown Belleville.

Times have changed, and apparently so has the city’s attitude toward the now-booming industry.

At last week’s City Council meeting, 15 aldermen voted to amend the ordinance that regulates tattoo parlors, doubling the maximum number in the city and allowing two out of four to operate downtown. Ward 4 Alderman Raffi Ovian was the only “no” vote.

Cliff Cross, director of economic development, planning and zoning, had suggested an ordinance change at a recent meeting of the council’s Ordinance and Legal Review Committee.

More people are getting tattoos, and tattoos are widely considered works of art, Cross said in an interview.

“(Tattoo parlors are) destination businesses,” he said. “People travel to go to their tattoo artists, and that brings people to eat in your restaurants and drink at your bars and walk by and shop at some of your stores. It just makes sense to get at least one downtown.”