Legislation introduced in Albany would allow barbers to operate licensed shops out of trailers or vehicles.
Albany, NY – A newly introduced bill in the New York State Assembly would allow barbers to legally operate mobile barber shops, removing decades-old restrictions that require barber shops to maintain a permanent physical location.
Assembly Bill A10137, sponsored by Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson Wright, would amend sections of the state’s General Business Law to eliminate the current prohibition on so-called “itinerant” barber shops and authorize licensing for barber businesses operating out of vehicles or trailers.
Key Points
- A10137 would allow licensed barber shops to operate from mobile vehicles or trailers.
- Current New York law requires barber shops to maintain a permanent location.
- Operators would still need to meet licensing, health, safety, and sanitation standards.
Under current law, barber shops in New York must maintain a fixed address to obtain a barber shop owner’s license. The legislation would remove that requirement and permit barbers to operate mobile shops, provided they meet licensing and regulatory standards set by the state.
Applicants seeking to operate a mobile barber shop would need to demonstrate ownership or legal possession of the vehicle used for the business, along with proof of valid vehicle registration and a New York driver’s license authorizing them to operate the vehicle.
Licensing and safety requirements
The bill outlines several conditions mobile barber shop operators must meet before receiving a license. Applicants would need to show that the mobile shop has a proper interior layout and that all equipment and tools meet health, safety, and sanitation requirements under state and local laws.
Operators would also be required to demonstrate that the vehicle itself complies with all applicable regulations and that the applicant meets the state’s character requirements for barber licensing.
The Department of State would determine whether the vehicle layout and equipment meet regulatory standards for operating a barber shop.
Addressing high rents and access to services
Supporters of the legislation say mobile barber shops could help barbers operate in communities where high rents make traditional storefront locations difficult to maintain.
The proposal also seeks to modernize language in the state’s barbering law dating back to 1946, including removing references describing itinerant barber shops as “evil,” which sponsors say is outdated and no longer appropriate in modern statutes.
If approved by the legislature and signed into law, the measure would take effect immediately.
