NJ Town Wants Barbershops and Salons to Shape Up

(Flanders, N.J.) – Hackettstown mayor Jerry DiMaio proposed an ordinace at the town council’s Nov. 13 meeting to mitigate barbershop owners’ dissatisfaction over the enforcement of licensing regulations. The ordinance would impose stricter checks of personal care establishments’ compliance and mercantile licenses and set a minimum distance between shops.

Regulation of the businesses was a topic of discussion during the previous Oct. 9 council meeting. The proposed ordinance would step up enforcement of the N. J. Administrative Code, which requires that barbershops, hair salons, and similar establishments abide by N.J.A.C. 13:28-2.5. The code includes standards like making sure that proper signage is visible from the outside of the establishment, having designated areas for cleaning and disinfecting tools, and using closed containers for clean and soiled linens.

According to the regulations, cosmetology, hairstyling, beauty culture, and other related shops must display a permanent sign on the outside of the building with the name of the business clearly indicated.

“When you drive by some of the current barbershop businesses in town, you can look at the front of their building and they’re clearly already not up to code with the state standards,” a local barbershop owner who asked not to be identified told The Click. “There’s a lot of people that might be cutting hair on Main Street and they didn’t have to do everything I had to do. They didn’t have to pay how I had to pay and they still got to do what I do. No one is doing anything about it.”

Not only would the new ordinance require stricter mandates for these businesses, it would also require that new barbershops, hair salons, or nail salons be located at least 1000 feet from a similar shop. Council members Len Kunz and Scott Sheldon argued that this restriction would stifle free enterprise and diversity of business owners in the town. They said if a business is successful, its location should not face restrictions.

Council members debated whether such businesses already established would be grandfathered in due to the volume of barbershops already present on Main Street, including two that are currently next door to one another. The council decided that pre-existing establishments would be exempt but must comply with the rule if they relocate.

At the Nov. 13 meeting, the ordinance, now known as 2025-13, was introduced. A draft of the proposed ordinance includes the purpose: to “[further] the promotion of public safety, sanitation, and accountability among businesses operating within the Town of Hackettstown, while recognizing that professional licensure and sanitary standards for barbers, cosmetologists, and related occupations are governed by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.” It also states that in addition to state licensure, a mercantile license and business license will be required by the town. These documents must be displayed at the business where customers can see them.

The draft ordinance spells out circumstances under which a mercantile license would be suspended or revoked, mainly if the business is not in compliance with county or state regulations.

During the Oct. 9 council meeting, Council Member Jim Lambo asked how the ordinance would be enforced by the town and if regular licensing checks would be administered. According to the draft, the town’s Code Enforcement Officer will not personally conduct inspections but will contact the Warren County Health Department or State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling for possible infringements.

Other than the introduction of the ordinance, there was no further discussion at the meeting. The draft was uploaded to the town’s website the following day and a public hearing is scheduled for the next council meeting on Dec. 11.