I found an online directory of Kalispell City ordinances and thought it would be intriguing to see what some of the ordinances of the past were. The last post covered a 1933 ordinance called "Montana Beer Act." Nothing very interesting happened during the following few years, so we're jumping ahead to 1936 for the Cosmetology and Beauty Shops ordinance #455.
In 1936, the licensing of Cosmetology and Beauty shops began in Kalispell MT. Specifically, it became unlawful to practice or teach cosmetology (specifically "hair dressing" and "beauty culture") for compensation without a license. That included any work that was done to embellish, clean or beautify hair, scalp, face, arms or hands.
Each Kalispell beauty shop owner would pay $5 per calendar year for the license and any other operators in the shop would also pay $5 per year. In order to get their license, they had to provide proof that they had a state license issued by the Montana State Examining Board of Beauty Culturists. Any transient cosmetology provider who did not have a permanent place of business in the area would have to pay $10 per day.
Regarding beauty schools, they would pay $25 per year and would have to agree to have one instructor per ten students. Each teacher was also required to have a license or certificate issued by the state. There were rules about the signage for each beauty school and what they could say.
Further, no beauty shop or school was to be used for any other purpose except those listed above, and no person with a communicable disease could work, be employed or be served in the licensed schools or shops. This one made me wonder, were beauty shops or schools being used as massage parlors or houses of ill repute? Why the wording about a communicable disease? I don't have an answer to those questions, just food for thought!
Once a month an inspection would be made of all beauty shops and schools to make sure the ordinance was not being violated.
Anyone violating the provisions of the ordinance will be fined between $5 to $100 per offense. A second offense could result in the loss of a license for one year.
So the question that came to my mind is, what are these rules today?
Licenses are still required, but they are now administered by the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.
A license to practice is now $80 per year, and a school license is $220 per year. The license for a salon or shop is $85. There are other fees that have to do with additional courses in a school, school or shop inspections and more.
What is interesting is that the cost of living since 1936 has increased 21.86 times, so $5 in 1936 would now be $109 so getting a license now at $80 is actually a bargain!
In addition to annual fees at a school, a cosmetology school must also obtain a bond or other security for each course in the amount of $5000. This bond is to refund prepaid tuition to students if the school ceases to operate or cannot complete the course. So out of pocket expenses for cosmetology schools have definitely increased.
Annual inspections are conducted (not monthly) and licensees must respond to inspection violations within ten days of receiving notice of violations.
And there you have it, another blast from the past of Kalispell Montana. I wonder what I'll find the next time I peek into the Kalispell Ordinances? By the way, there was such a big delay in sharing another ordinance since I was having trouble accessing the online ordinance site. It seems to be back in order!
If you have any real estate related needs, feel free to give me a call on 406-270-3667 or email me at kat@thehousekat.com and I would be happy to find the right person to assist you!
Photos made from Kat's brain and AI.
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