Beauty and Wellness Space in Tustin

What to diligence before LOI

1. 01

   Use: Tustin City Code Section 9232(a)(2) lists barber shops, beauty parlors, body art facilities and massage establishments as permitted service businesses in the C1 Retail Commercial District when conducted inside a building, and C2, C3 and CG carry forward the C1 permitted uses (Sections 9233(a)(1), 9234(a)(1), 9235(b)(1)). Confirm the zoning of your parcel first, since the large centers may be governed by their own planning documents.

2. 02

   Massage rules outside the zoning chapter: the zoning code defines a massage establishment by reference to Tustin City Code Section 3662, and Section 9231(c)(2) points to separate massage regulations in Article 3, Chapter 6, Part 4 (with exempt professionals listed in Section 3665). We did not read those sections, so ask the City what business permit, background checks and technician certification a massage or spa operator needs before you sign.

3. 03

   Body art: Section 9232(a)(2)(d) permits body art facilities in C1 as defined in Section 3141 and subject to Part 4 of Chapter 1 of Article 4 of the City Code. Tattoo, piercing and permanent makeup operators should get those Article 4 standards from the City, since they were not read here.

4. 04

   Chiropractic with massage: in the Professional (Pr) district, a chiropractic office where someone other than a licensed chiropractor or other exempt professional provides massage needs a conditional use permit (Section 9231(c)(2)). Wellness concepts that mix chiropractic and massage may find C1 retail space simpler to entitle than Pr office space.

5. 05

   Parking under Section 9263 Table 1: barber and beauty shops and other personal services (including tanning salons) are parked at 1 space per 250 sq ft, body art facilities at 1 per 250 sq ft, and centers of 30,000 sq ft or more at 4.5 per 1,000 sq ft overall. In a center under 30,000 sq ft, where parking is the sum of each use, a 1,200 sq ft salon needs about 5 stalls of its own.

6. 06

   State licensing: the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology requires an establishment license that is valid only for the address and suite number on it, a new license for a new owner, partner or location, a licensee in charge at all times, and toilets, hot and cold running water, handwashing facilities and accessible drinking water before opening. The owner is cited for violations by booth renters. CAMTC certification is voluntary under state law and lets a certified therapist practice in any city without a local massage permit, but some cities require it; confirm Tustin's rule.