New Jersey salon inspections
New Jersey salon inspection checklist
The New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling inspects New Jersey salons against the state's sanitation rules. A new salon is inspected before it may open, and inspected again once it is running. Below are the 18 rules an inspector checks, from the state's own rules and inspection pages, each beside the rule's own words. Tick them off as you get ready, filter by the services you offer, and print the list.
- Inspected by
- New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling
- Before opening
- Inspected first
- Rules on this list
- 18
- Official form
- None found
- Foot spa log
- Not stated
- MMA nail liquid
- Banned
Read from the official sources on October 19, 2026.The full rules New Jersey salon license
How it works
How New Jersey inspects salons
Inspections are done by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. A new salon is inspected before it may open or before its license is issued, so have everything below in place before you book it.
Any premises where these services have been, or are being, rendered is subject to inspection by the Board or its representative.
“Any premises where it appears that cosmetology and hairstyling, beauty culture, barbering, manicuring, skin care specialty, or hair braiding services have been, or are being, rendered shall be subject to inspection by the Board or its representative.”
We found no inspection form published by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, so this checklist is built from the state's rules themselves.
The checklist
What New Jersey inspectors check
Every rule below is from the state's own rules, beside its own words. An inspector can check anything in the rules, so read them in full once before you open.
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New Jersey salon inspection checklist
salonai.studio/salon-inspection-checklist/new-jersey
Licenses on display
The first thing an inspector looks for: the salon's license and every working license, current and where clients can see them.
1.Display the shop license and the signed license of every practitioner where all patrons can see them.
Other required postings
Some states also want their rules, a consumer notice or the last inspection report on the wall.
2.Post a listing of all services performed and the charges for each service.
The disinfectant
What the disinfectant must be, how it is mixed and how often it is changed.
3.Disinfect implements and tools with an EPA-registered chemical labeled tuberculocidal, for the contact time on the label.
Cleaning tools between clients
How combs, shears, nippers and other reusable tools are cleaned and disinfected after each client.
4.Clean implements and tools thoroughly with a mild alkaline detergent to remove soil, blood, and any other foreign material.
5.Clean and sanitize tools and utensils that touch clients after each and every use.
Storing clean and used tools
Clean tools kept covered and apart from used ones, so nothing dirty touches the next client.
6.Let disinfected tools air dry, then store them in a clean drawer.
Single-use items
What must be thrown away after one client because it cannot be disinfected.
7.Throw away emery boards, orangewood sticks, and any tool that cannot be sanitized after each use.
Towels, capes and linens
Clean towels stored closed, used ones in a covered container until laundered.
8.Launder and sanitize linens and toweling, such as with bleach, before each and every direct contact with a client.
Water, sinks and restroom
Hot and cold running water, sinks and a restroom with a place to wash hands.
9.Keep hot and cold potable water in the shop.
Pedicure equipment
How foot spas and pedicure basins are cleaned after each client and at the end of the day, and the log some states require.
10.Between clients, brush the inside of the pedicure tub with a mild detergent.Pedicures
11.At the end of each day, remove and disinfect the screen, filter, and any removable parts of the pedicure basin.Pedicures
12.At the end of each day, soak pedicure brushes in a 2,600 PPM bleach solution for a 30-minute contact time.Pedicures
Banned products and tools
Products, tools and practices the state's rules forbid outright.
13.Do not use any product that contains methyl methacrylate monomer.
14.Do not use styptic pencils; styptic liquid or powder, or other single-use antiseptic product, is allowed.
15.Do not allow animals or pets in the shop, except trained guide dogs.
The premises
Floors, walls, light, air, waste bins and keeping living space and food out of the work area.
16.Keep waste in clean, covered containers, and dispose of it in a way that does not pose a public health hazard.
17.Clean all shop floors thoroughly every day and keep them in good repair.
First aid and safety
A first aid kit, what to do after a cut or blood exposure, and other safety rules.
18.Keep a current Safety Data Sheet for each hazardous chemical in a binder, available to all staff and to the Board or its authorized representative.
Questions
New Jersey salon inspections, answered
What do salon inspectors check in New Jersey?
Is a new salon inspected before it opens in New Jersey?
How are salons inspected in New Jersey?
Does New Jersey have an official salon inspection checklist?
Is MMA banned in New Jersey nail salons?
Plan the rest
Get the rest of the salon ready
- Every step to opening a salon, as a checklist for your state
- The salon license, fees and who must be licensed
- Which services and products the state taxes, and the sales tax permit
- What it costs to open a salon, line by line
- A client intake and consultation form
- A cancellation and no-show policy
Salon inspection checklists for other states
Ready when you are
Pass the inspection, then fill the chairs
Sanitation is yours to run. SalonAI plans the digital side of your New Jersey salon: a website clients can book from in one tap, online booking, your Google profile, reviews, and client follow-ups. Founden builds and runs it.
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