[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Verona 11-10-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-18. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
MASSAGE AND BODYWORK ESTABLISHMENT
Any establishment wherein massage and/or bodywork are administered or are permitted to be administered, when such therapies are administered by a massage therapist licensed by the State of New Jersey for any legal form of consideration.
MASSAGE AND BODYWORK THERAPIES
Touching, including, but not limited to, holding, applying pressure, positioning and mobilizing soft tissue of the body by manual technique and use of visual, kinesthetic, auditory and palpating skills to assess the body for purposes of applying therapeutic massage or bodywork principles; including the use of therapies such as heliotherapy or hydrotherapy, the use of moist hot and cold external applications, external applications of herbal or topical preparations not classified as prescription drugs, movement and neuromyofascial education and education in self-care and stress management. Massage and bodywork do not include the diagnosis or treatment of illness, disease, impairment or disability.
MASSAGE AND BODYWORK THERAPIST
Any person licensed by the State of New Jersey who administers massage or bodywork therapies for any form of legal consideration.
No person, firm, or corporation shall perform massage and/or bodywork therapies in the Township of Verona unless or until there has been obtained all necessary permits for such establishment or premises and therapist from the Township of Verona Board of Health in accordance with the terms and provisions of this article and Chapter A565 of the Township of Verona.
Any person requesting a massage and bodywork therapy establishment license from the Board of Health shall file a written application with the Health Officer upon a form to be furnished by the Health Officer.
A. 
No person shall maintain or operate any Massage or Bodywork establishment without having a valid license issued by the Township's Health Officer. The license for a Massage or Bodywork establishment shall be issued by the Verona Health Department upon the filing of an application on forms supplied by the Verona Health Department and upon payment of the licensing fee required by Chapter A565.
B. 
All licenses shall be posted in the Massage or Bodywork establishment in a location visible to persons patronizing the establishment.
C. 
Every establishment must comply with local planning and zoning regulations and all other applicable ordinances before being issued a license.
D. 
Licenses will be valid for a period of one year and shall expire on December 31 of each year unless the license is suspended by the Health Officer or until such time as the facility changes owners, closes, or goes out of business.
E. 
No license shall be renewed until a completed application has been submitted, the license fee has been paid and the applicant's establishment meets the requirements set forth in this article and all other applicable state and local regulations.
F. 
All licenses are renewable on January 1 of each year and the license fee, set forth in Chapter A565, shall be due and payable on or before the first day of February of each year. Any applicant whose check is returned unpaid to the Board of Health shall be required to pay a returned check fee of $20.
G. 
Licenses shall not be transferable from person to person or from location to location. Any planned change in ownership of a facility must be reported promptly to the Board of Health and such changes must be approved by the Board of Health prior to the issuance of an operating license.
H. 
The renewal fee for Massage and Bodywork establishments shall be set forth in Chapter A565 of the Code of the Township of Verona.
Each establishment must comply with each of the following minimum requirements:
A. 
All massage tables, bathtubs, shower stalls, steam or bath areas and floors mush have surfaces which may be readily disinfected and shall be maintained in a sanitary condition and regularly cleaned and disinfected.
B. 
Adequate bathing, dressing and locker facilities shall be provided for the patrons to be served at any given time. In the event that male and female patrons have concurrent or overlapping appointments for massage or bodywork therapies, then separate bathing, dressing, locker and massage room facilities shall be provided.
C. 
The premises shall have adequate equipment for disinfecting and sterilizing non-disposable instruments and materials used in administering massage. Such non-disposable instruments and materials shall be disinfected after use on each patron.
D. 
All employees, including massage and/or body work therapists, shall be clean and wear clean nontransparent outer garments.
E. 
All massage and/or bodywork therapy establishments shall be provided with clean laundered sheets and towels in sufficient quantity, which shall be laundered after each use thereof and stored in a sanitary manner.
F. 
All walls, ceiling, floors, pools, showers, bathtubs, steam rooms and all other physical facilities and surfaces shall be in good repair and maintained a clean and sanitary manner. Wet and dry heat rooms, steam or vapor rooms or steam or vapor cabinets and shower compartments and toilet rooms shall be thoroughly cleaned each day the business is in operation. Bathtubs and showers shall be kept dry, clean, and sanitary.
G. 
Oils, creams, lotions, and other preparations used in administering massage and/or bodywork therapies shall be kept in clean, closed containers or cabinets.
H. 
Animals, except for Seeing Eye dogs, service animals such as guide dogs that are trained to assist an employee or other person who is handicapped and are controlled by the handicapped employee or person shall not be permitted in the massage work area.
I. 
All employees and each massage and/or bodywork therapist shall wash their hands in hot running water, using proper soap or disinfectant, before administering a massage or bodywork therapy to a patron.
The Department of Health may, from time to time, make inspections of each massage and/or bodywork therapy establishment granted a license under the provisions of this article for the purposes of determining whether the provisions of this article are being complied with. Such inspections shall be made at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner. It shall be unlawful for any licensee to fail to allow such inspection officer access to the premises or to hinder such officer in any manner.
The massage and/or body work therapy establishment shall display its license and inspection placard as well as the license of each and every massage and/or body work therapist employee in the establishment in an open and conspicuous place on the premises. The massage and/or bodywork therapy establishment shall make available, at the request of any client, their most recent Health Department inspection results.
A. 
A license issued under this article may be immediately suspended for a period of not more than 30 days pending a hearing to revoke the license for any of the following causes:
(1) 
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement in the application for the license or any violation of this article.
(2) 
Conducting the permitted business in the Township in an unlawful manner or in such a manner as to constitute a menace to the health, safety, or general welfare of the public.
B. 
Notice of the hearing for the revocation of a license shall be given in writing, setting forth specifically the grounds of the complaint and the time and place of the hearing. Such notice shall be given personally or mailed to the licensee at their last-known address, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at least five days prior to the date set for the hearing. Such notice shall contain a brief statement of the grounds to be relied upon for revoking the license. At the hearing, the licensee shall have an opportunity to answer and be heard, and after due consideration, the license may be revoked or the complaint may be dismissed. The Health Officer or Board of Health shall serve as the hearing officer or body for any hearings pursuant to this subsection.
Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500, and each violation of any of the provisions of this article and each day the same is violated shall be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.
Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this article be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the remainder of said article shall not be affected thereby.
This article shall become effective on January 1, 2026. All Massage and/or Bodywork establishments operating prior to January 1, 2026, shall come into compliance with the provisions of this article no later than the effective date. For 2026, no late fees will be applied to existing establishments.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BARBER
Any person who is licensed to engage in any of the practices encompassed in barbering.
BARBERING
Any one or combination of the following practices when done on the human body for cosmetic purposes and not for the treatment of disease or physical or mental ailments and when done for payment either directly or indirectly or when done without payment for the general public:
A. 
Shaving or trimming of the beard, mustache or other facial hair;
B. 
Shampooing, cutting, arranging, relaxing or styling of the hair;
C. 
Singeing or dyeing of the hair;
D. 
Applying cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions or creams to the hair, scalp, face or neck;
E. 
Massaging, cleansing or stimulating the face, neck or scalp with or without cosmetic preparations, either by hand, mechanical or electrical appliances; or
F. 
Cutting, fitting, coloring or styling of hairpieces or wigs, to the extent that the services are performed while the wig is being worn by a person.
BARBERSHOP
Any establishment engaged in the practice of barbering for the public.
DESIGNEE
Any person designated by the Health Officer to act for them in the performance of their duties.
DISINFECTANT
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection registered product with demonstrated bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal activity used in accordance with manufacturer's instruction.
HAIRDRESSER/COSMETICIAN or COSMETOLOGIST-HAIRSTYLIST
Any person who is licensed to engage in the practices encompassed in cosmetology and hairstyling.
HAIRDRESSING AND COSMETOLOGY
Any one or combination or the practices as outlined in N.J.S.A. 45:5B-3j when done on the human body for cosmetic purposes and not for the treatment of disease or physical or mental ailments and when done for payment either directly or indirectly or when done without payment for the general public.
HAIRSTYLING or COSMETOLOGY SHOP/SALON
Any establishment engaged in the practice of hairstyling, cosmetology or barbering for the public.
HEALTH OFFICER
The Health Officer of the Township of Verona or their duly authorized representative.
NAIL SALON/SHOP
Any establishment engaged in the practice of cutting, shaping, polishing or enhancing the appearance of the nails of the hands or feet, including, but not limited to, the application and removal of sculptured or artificial nails licensed by the Board of Cosmetology.
NAIL TECHNICIAN
A person who, for compensation, cuts, shapes, polishes or enhances the appearance of the nails of the hands or feet, including, but not limited to, the application and removal of sculptured or artificial nails licensed by the Board of Cosmetology.
OPERATOR
A person who owns, leases, or manages a shop/salon, or any licensed person performing barbering, hairstyling, cosmetology or manicuring.
OWNER
A person who owns a shop/salon establishment and is responsible for upholding the regulations of this article in all areas of the establishment.
PERSON
An individual, firm, partnership, company, corporation, trustee, association or any public or private entity.
PERSON IN CHARGE
The individual present in a barbershop or hairstyling and/or cosmetology salon/shop or nail salon/shop that is the apparent supervisor of the barbershop or hairstyling and/or cosmetology salon/shop or nail salon/shop at the time of the inspection. If no individual claims to be the supervisor, then any employee present is deemed to be the person in charge for the purposes of this article.
SANITARY CONDITIONS
Safe and clean shop/salon conditions that prevent the spread of communicable diseases and protect the public health and welfare.
WORK STATION
A chair, countertop, and floor space set aside for the purpose of serving a customer, including floor space for the operator to stand while serving the customer.
WORKING AREA
A separate room with more than one work station or a private room set aside to serve one customer at a time.
A. 
No person shall maintain or operate any barbershop, hairstyling, cosmetology salon/shop or nail salon/shop without having a valid license issued by the Township's Health Officer. The license for a barbershop, hairstyling, cosmetology salon/shop or nail salon/shop shall be issued by the Verona Health Department upon the filing of an application on forms supplied by the Verona Health Department and upon payment of the licensing fee required by Chapter A565.
B. 
All licenses shall be posted in the barbershop, hairstyling, cosmetology salon/shop or nail salon/shop in a location visible to persons patronizing the establishment.
C. 
Every establishment must comply with local planning and zoning regulations and all other applicable ordinances before being issued a license.
D. 
Licenses will be valid for a period of one year and shall expire on December 31 of each year unless the license is suspended by the Health Officer or until such time as the facility changes owners, closes, or goes out of business.
E. 
No license shall be renewed until a completed application has been submitted, the license fee has been paid and the applicant's establishment meets the requirements set forth in this article and all other applicable state and local regulations.
F. 
All licenses are renewable on January 1 of each year and the license fee, set forth in Chapter A565, shall be due and payable on or before the first day of February of each year. Any applicant whose check is returned unpaid to the Board of Health shall be required to pay a returned check fee of $20.
G. 
Licenses shall not be transferable from person to person or from location to location. Any planned change in ownership of a facility must be reported promptly to the Board of Health and such changes must be approved by the Board of Health prior to the issuance of an operating license.
A. 
The Health Officer shall promulgate such rules and procedures as are necessary to ensure compliance with this article.
B. 
At least once a year, the Health Officer or their designee shall inspect each establishment and shall make as many additional inspections as are necessary for the enforcement of this article.
C. 
The Health Officer or their designee, after proper identification, shall be permitted to enter, during normal operating hours, any portion of any establishment for the purpose of making inspections to determine compliance with this article.
D. 
In the event that the Health Officer or their designee finds unsanitary conditions in the operation of an establishment or if a violation or multiple violations occur, the Health Officer or their designee may immediately issue a written notice to the license holder or person in charge citing such conditions, specifying the corrective action to be taken and time frame within which such action shall be taken. If corrective action is not made in the allotted time, the licensee may be fined or their license suspended.
A. 
Each establishment shall be maintained to provide a safe and sanitary environment. All facilities shall be kept clean, sanitary, and in good repair.
B. 
Disinfection of reusable equipment:
(1) 
After each use on a patron all electrical and nonelectrical instruments shall be thoroughly cleaned to remove foreign matter, treated with an approved disinfectant and stored in a protected manner until their next use.
(2) 
Disinfectants shall be changed in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction to ensure complete disinfection. No sediment from the item being disinfected shall be allowed to remain in the bottom of the disinfection contained.
C. 
Disposable and single-use equipment:
(1) 
Disposable or single-use articles shall be disposed of in a waste receptacle after use on each patron unless stored in a separate, closed, clean container labeled with the patron's name and used only on that patron.
(2) 
All disposable or single-use articles that come into contact with blood and/or body fluids shall be enclosed in sealable plastic bags prior to being placed in the waste receptacle.
(3) 
All sharp or pointed articles shall be disposed of in a puncture proof container.
D. 
Sanitation of foot spas and water baths:
(1) 
An antimicrobial additive shall be placed in each foot spa or water bath during use.
(2) 
After each patron, the establishment shall remove and immerse any filter in disinfectant and flush the foot spa or water bath with low-sudsing soap and water.
E. 
Towels:
(1) 
Clean, properly laundered or disposable towels shall be used for each patron.
(2) 
All linens and towels shall be deposited in a covered cleanable receptacle after each patron.
(3) 
Clean towels and linens shall be stored off the floor in a clean, protected location.
F. 
Cosmetics:
(1) 
When only a portion of a cream, liquid, powder or other cosmetic preparation is to be removed from the container it shall be removed in such a way as not to contaminate the remaining portion.
(2) 
Multi-use of cosmetic applicators is prohibited. This includes the use of lipsticks, powder puffs, makeup brushes, and sponges which are not disposable.
(3) 
Lotions and powers shall be dispensed from a sanitary self-dispensing container.
G. 
Operators:
(1) 
Operators shall thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water immediately after using the toilet, eating, or smoking. Before serving each customer, operators shall thoroughly wash their hands with soap or hand disinfectant.
(2) 
No operator shall remove warts or moles or treat any disease of a patron nor perform any medical procedure such as an injection, nor dispense any medical device.
(3) 
All operators shall have an exclusion policy for people with a communicable disease that may be transmitted through the services of a barber, hairdresser, cosmetologist or nail technician.
(4) 
No individual shall perform procedures requiring licensure by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling without possessing such a valid license.
(5) 
No individual shall perform procedures requiring licensure by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling without having such license visible and present on site.
H. 
Water and plumbing:
(1) 
Every shop/salon must have an approved water supply with sufficient hot and cold running water under pressure.
(2) 
All plumbing fixtures must be protected against back-siphonage or backflow. Existing establishments that have plumbing fixtures that are not protected against back-siphonage or backflow shall become compliant within 90 calendar days of the effective date of this article.
(3) 
Plumbing fixtures shall be clean and free from defects.
I. 
Toilet and sink facilities:
(1) 
Each shop/salon shall provide adequate toilet and hand-washing facilities for patrons and employees.
(2) 
Toilet and hand-washing facilities shall be in working condition at all times and kept clean and sanitary.
(3) 
Each hand-washing sink shall have a soap dispenser and disposable towels or an air dryer for hand drying.
J. 
Lighting and ventilation:
(1) 
Lighting shall be sufficient to provide adequate illumination in the work area.
(2) 
The shop/salon shall be properly and adequately ventilated to remove excess heat, vapors, and odors.
(3) 
Windows shall be effectively screened against insects, rodents and other vermin.
K. 
Floors, walls and ceilings:
(1) 
Floors, walls and ceilings shall be kept clean and in good repair.
A. 
Failure to comply with the provisions of this article and/or applicable state regulations shall be grounds for suspension of any license issued under the provisions of this article.
B. 
The Health Officer may suspend, without warning, prior notice or hearing, any license to operate a barbershop or hairstyling and/or cosmetology shop/salon or nail salon/shop if the operation constitutes an imminent hazard to public health including, but not limited to, any one of the following:
(1) 
There is an outbreak or an infectious, pathogenic, or toxic agent capable of being transmitted to consumers.
(2) 
There is an absence of potable water, supplied under pressure, in a quantity which in the opinion of the Health Officer is capable of meeting the needs of the facility.
(3) 
There is a sewage backup into the facility.
(4) 
An unlicensed individual is performing procedures requiring licensure by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology.
C. 
Suspension shall be effective immediately upon delivery of the written order to the license holder or person in charge of the facility by the Health Officer or their designee. When a license is suspended all barbershop, hairstyling and/or cosmetology shop or nail salon/shop operations shall cease immediately and shall not resume until written approval to resume has been issued from the Health Officer. The Health Officer or their designee shall remove a suspended license from the premises.
D. 
When a license is to be suspended, the holder of a license, or the person in charge, shall be notified in writing of the suspension and an opportunity for a hearing will be provided if a written request for a hearing is filed with the Health Officer by the holder of the license within two business days. If no written request for a hearing is filed within two business days, the suspension is sustained. The Health Officer may end the suspension at any time by giving written notice to the license holder if reasons for the suspension no longer exist.
E. 
Upon receiving a request for a hearing, the Health Officer shall schedule a hearing not later than 10 business days from the date of the actual receipt of the request to afford the owner the opportunity to present evidence and argument on all facts or issues involved and to examine the merits of such suspension.
F. 
The Health Officer shall examine the merits of such suspension and render a decision in writing to vacate, modify or affirm such suspension within 10 business days of the date of the hearing.
G. 
Whenever a license has been suspended, the holder of the suspended license may make a written request for license reinstatement. Within 10 business days following the Health Officer's receipt of a written request, including a statement signed by the applicant that, in their opinion, the conditions causing the suspension have been corrected, the Health Officer or their designee shall make a reinspection. If the Health Officer or their designee determines that the applicant has complied with the requirements of this article, the license shall be reinstated and returned to the license holder. A reinspection fee shall apply under this section and must be paid prior to the license being returned to the license holder.
The Health Officer shall designate a time and place to conduct the hearings provided for this article. The Health Officer shall summarize the proceedings of such hearings and provide sufficient copies. The Health Officer shall make a final finding based upon the complete hearing record and shall sustain, modify or rescind any notice or order considered in the hearing. The Health Officer shall furnish a written report of the hearing decision to the license holder within 10 business days of the hearing date. A request for a hearing shall not stay any suspension or denial of a license until such time as a hearing has been held and a decision rendered thereon.
A notice or order provided for in this article is properly served when it is delivered to the license holder or person in charge, posted at a conspicuous location on the building or when it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the holder of the license. A completed and signed inspection report shall constitute a written notice.
Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500, and each violation of any of the provisions of this article and each day the same is violated shall be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.
Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this article be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the remainder of said article shall not be affected thereby.
In any case where a provision of this article is found to be in conflict with a regulation of the State Department of Health, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs or any other higher state law or regulation, on the effective date of this article, the provision which establishes the higher standard for the promotion and protection of the health and safety of the people shall prevail.
This article shall become effective on July 1, 2026. All Barbershops, Hairstyling, Cosmetology and Nail Salons operating prior to July 1, 2026, shall come into compliance with the provisions of this article no later than the effective date.