The Clinton County Health Department has adopted a new ordinance regulating tattoo and body modification businesses. The ordinance, approved by the Clinton County Commissioners, aims to protect the health and safety of clients by establishing guidelines for the operation of tattoo parlors, body piercing studios, and other body modification establishments.
The new ordinance requires tattoo artists, body piercers, and estheticians to meet specific training and certification requirements, including:
Completion of the Hepatitis B vaccination series for tattoo artists and body piercers
Certification by an IDOH-recognized certification program for estheticians and eyelash extension technicians
Cosmetologist or esthetician license for estheticians and eyelash extension technicians
The ordinance also outlines guidelines for the proper disposal of needles, instruments, and contaminated sharps, as well as the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves. All reusable equipment must be properly sterilized to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
To ensure compliance, each tattoo and body modification facility must obtain a permit from the Clinton County Health Department. The annual permit fee is $200 for tattoo parlors, body piercing shops, and esthetician facilities. Fees for individual artists and temporary or mobile artists can be found on the Health Department’s website.
The Health Department will conduct regular inspections to verify compliance, and any violations found during an inspection will be documented in a written report. The Health Department reserves the right to suspend or revoke a permit at any time if violations are not corrected.
“We’re excited to implement this new ordinance, which will help protect the public’s health and safety,” says Nash Smith, Environmental Health Specialist at the Clinton County Health Department. “We’ve noticed an influx of new body art businesses in our area, so the timing of this new ordinance is spot on.”
The Clinton County Health Department is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our community. If you have any questions or concerns about the new ordinance, please contact Nash Smith at 765-659-6385 ext. 1306.