How to Obtain a Body Art Health Permit in Sacramento County

How to Obtain a Body Art Health 

Permit in Sacramento County 

Steps to obtain a Body Art Health Permit 

Where to begin? 

Contact the City/County Zoning Department 

Obtain a Business License from the city/county 

Obtain a Fictitious Business License 

Obtain a Tax ID number if the business employs anyone other than the owner 

Obtain a Seller’s permit if needed 

Contact an Insurance Company that insures body art business to determine their 

requirements 

Submit building plans to Sacramento County’s Environmental Health Division-Plan 

Review. Plans must be approved prior to construction. 

Complete a Cal/OSHA compliant Bloodborne Pathogen Training class that is 

designed especially for Body Art Practitioners. 

Register with Sacramento County’s Environmental Health Division. You must be 18 

years or older to register. 

Obtain a Health Permit from Sacramento County’s Environmental Health Division 

1

Before Construction of your Facility 

Opening a body art business takes time and planning. Contacting various offices may 

seem like too much trouble but it is important to ensure you know what is required of 

you. It will save you time and money in the future. 

Environmental Health Plan Review 

Any new construction or remodeling will require that plans be submitted to and 

approved by Plan Review prior to construction, opening your facility, obtaining building, 

plumbing or electrical permits. 

Building Department 

Any construction that involves structure, electricity, plumbing or construction of separate 

rooms will require a building permit. 

Sign Restrictions 

Cities may also regulate the type of sign you use on your businesses. Contact your local 

Code Enforcement Agency to determine if the jurisdiction has any requirements or 

restrictions for signage. 

Business License 

Cities also require that you obtain a business license. Contact the local jurisdiction in 

which your business is located to find out what the procedures are for obtaining a 

business license. 

Liability Insurance 

All body art businesses should obtain liability insurance to protect the assets of your 

business. Most landlords will require it and some cities will require it in order to obtain a 

business license. 

Fictitious Business Name (DBA) 

If your business name is anything other than your legal name, a fictitious business 

license is required. You will need a fictitious business name to open a business bank 

account, and to establish any merchant accounts. A fictitious business name statement 

must be filed with the County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk. Contact your local 

jurisdiction that your facility is located in to obtain your fictitious business license. 

Tax ID Number 

If your business will have any employee other than yourself, you are required to have 

federal and state Employer tax ID numbers. Contact your local jurisdiction to obtain 

your tax ID number. 

2

Seller’s Permit 

You must have a seller’s permit or resale permit if your business purchases wholesale 

items for later resale in your body art business. You can obtain your seller’s permit from 

the California State Board of Equalization. 

3321 Power Inn Rd Ste 210 

Sacramento 

(916) 227-6700 

3

Contact Information 

The following contact numbers will assisting you in determining the requirements for the 

locations of the body art business you are considering. 

City of Citrus Heights 

6237 Fountain Square Drive (916) 725-2448 

Building Department (916) 727-4760 

Business License (916) 727-4907 

Chamber of Commerce (916) 722-4545 

Code Enforcement (916) 725-2845 

Zoning (916) 727-4740 

*For Fictitious Business License contact Sacramento County 

www.citrusheights.net 

City of Elk Grove 

8401 Laguna Palms (916) 691-2489 







www.elkgrovecity.org 

City of Folsom 

50 Natoma Street (916) 355-7200 







www.folsom.ca.us 

4

Contact information cont’d 

City of Galt 

380 Civic Drive 







www.ci.galt.ca.us 

City of Isleton 

P.O. Box 716 (916) 777-7770 






www.isletoncoc.org 

City of Rancho Cordova 

2729 Prospect Park Drive (916) 851-8700 







www.cityofranchocordova.org 

City of Sacramento 

915 I Street (916) 264-5011 


Business License & 

Fictitious Business license (916) 874-6644 




www.cityofsacramento.org 

Contact information cont’d 

5

County of Sacramento 

700 H St 


Business License & (916) 874-6644 

Fictitious Business license 




www.saccounty.net 

Franchise Tax Board 

(800) 338-0505 

www.fttb.ca.gov 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 

4330 Watt Ave 

Sacramento, CA 95821 

(916) 974-5225 

www.irs.gov 

6

Shop Layout 

In general, a body art business will need space for at least five areas: waiting area, front 

counter, procedure room, cleaning room, restroom, and storage. If pre-packaged, presterilized 

and disposable equipment is used, then the cleaning room can be reduced to 

the size of a mop closet. 

Waiting Area and Front Counter 

This area should provide seating and must be away from the procedure area. It may 

have an area used for consultation with clients about available procedures. 

Required signage should be posted near this area, such as AGE requirement and any 

other required signage. 

Procedure Room (Area) 

The procedure area must be separated from waiting area and the cleaning room. This 

area must meet the following requirements: have adequate lighting, be separate from 

hair/nail activities, have a lined waste container, have a sharps container labeled 

“BIOHAZARD”, and a hand sink with liquid soap and a touch-less wall-mounted single 

dispensing paper towel dispenser. The hand sink must be plumbed with hot and cold 

water. Ultrasonic cleaners must not be used at work stations. 

Cleaning Room (Decontamination and Sanitization) 

The cleaning room must be separate from procedure areas by at least 5 feet or by a 

cleanable barrier, have a sink with liquid soap and a touch-less wall-mounted single 

dispensing paper towel dispenser. The sink must be plumbed with hot and cold water. 

The room must also have a lined waste container and sharps container labeled 

“BIOHAZARD”. 

The sterilization units must have mechanical indicators for time, temperature, and 

pressure. Each sterilization load must have a Class V integrator and each individual 

sterilization pack must have its own indicator. 

A monthly biological spore indicator monitoring test must be performed, recorded and 

the records maintained for two years. A written log must also be maintained on site for 

two years that contains the following information: date of load, list of contents in load, 

exposure time and temperature, and results of the Class V integrator. For cycles where 

the results are positive, it must be logged how the items were cleaned and proof of a 

negative test before reuse. 

Shop Layout Cont’d 

7

Clean instruments must be stored in a clean, dry, dust/moisture proof storage cabinet. 

Sterilized instruments must be stored in intact peel packs. If the integrity of the pack is 

compromised, the pack must be discarded or reprocessed before use. 

If no sterilization area is available, the business must use only disposable, single-use, 

pre-sterilized instruments. Records must be maintained on site for 90 days and must 

include: record of purchase and use of all single-use instruments and a log of all 

procedures. The log of procedures must include the practitioner’s name, client’s name, 

and the date of the procedure. 

Restroom 

Restrooms may not be accessible by walking through the cleaning rooms. Restrooms 

must have a sink with hot and cold running water, a lined waste container, and a wall 

mounted liquid soap and touch-less single-use paper towel dispenser. 

Storage 

Storage must be separate from waiting, procedure area, or cleaning area. It should be 

used for records, chemicals, and other supplies for the business. 

8

Bloodborne Pathogen/Infection Control Training 

All employees will be required to complete a bloodborne pathogen/infection control 

class that meets OSHA requirements and is specifically geared toward preventing cross 

contamination and disease transmission in body art and permanent cosmetics 

businesses. Some online courses may be approved, contact EMD for verification. The 

class must be specific to body art, two hours long and taken annually. The course must 

contain the following information: OSHA, local ordinance requirements, transmission 

control of diseases, tasks performed, personal protective equipment, types of tasks, 

handwashing, disinfectants, chemical labels, Hep B vaccine, and Bloodborne pathogen 

exposure. 

Records of this training for all current and past employees must be maintained on site 

for three years. 

The following organizations are only some of the organizations that offer the Bloodborne 

Pathogen/Infection Control Training classes: 

Alliance of Professional Tattooist, Inc.; www.safe-tattoos.com 

(520) 514-5549 

Bloodborne Pathogen Prevention Training Institute of America; www.bbptraining.com 

Cathie Montie Body Art Training Company; www.cathiemontie.com 

(858) 277-5082 

Compliance Training Online; www.compliancetrainingonline.com 

Your Training Place; Kathy.Hartman@YourTrainingPlace.com 

Infection Prevention and Control Plan 

The owner and/or practitioners must have and follow a written Infection Prevention and 

Control Plan. This plan must include: 

Procedures for decontaminating and disinfecting surfaces 

Procedures for decontaminating, packaging, sterilizing, and storing reusable instruments 

Procedures for protecting clean and sterile instruments from contamination 

A set up and tear down procedure for all work stations 

Techniques for preventing contamination 

Procedures for safe handling and disposal of sharps waste 

9

Registrations 

Body Artist (Practitioner) Registration 

Anyone engaged in the business of tattooing, body piercing, branding and the 

application of permanent cosmetics must register with the Environmental Health 

Division in Sacramento County prior to conducting business. The artist must have proof 

of current Hepatitis B vaccine, evidence of completion of the OSHA Bloodborne 

Pathogen Training, photo I.D. ( must be 18 years or older), two passport photographs, 

documentation of six months minimum of related experience ( first time registrants 

only), business address, and payment. Practitioner registration must be renewed 

annually. Registrations must be maintained on site at the business at all times. 

* All other permits and licenses to conduct business must be obtained. 

Body Artist (Apprentice) Registration 

Anyone gaining experience at a tattooing, body piercing, or permanent cosmetics facility 

under the direct supervision of a Practitioner must register with the Environmental 

Health Division in Sacramento County. Apprentice registration must be maintained on 

site at the business at all times. Once the six month apprenticeship is complete, the 

lower portion of the Apprenticeship Notification form must be completed and returned to 

EMD. 

Health Permits 

Body Art Facility Health Permits 

An owner of a body art business (whether performing body art or not) is required to 

obtain an annual health permit from the Environmental Health Division (EH) in 

Sacramento County. Each location is required to have its own health permit. Permits 

are not transferrable. The holder of the facility health permit is responsible for ensuring 

that only registered practitioners with valid health permits and/or registered apprentices 

are working in the business, for keeping all cleaning and sterilization equipment in good 

operating condition, and for maintaining a master infection prevention and control plan 

that covers all people in the business. 

Any owner who violates this requirement will be subject to closure of the facility by EH 

and a penalty not to exceed three times the permit fee will be applied. 

Health Permits Cont’d 

10

Mechanical Stud and Clasp Ear Piercing 

Mechanical stud and clasp ear piercing is not considered body art. A health permit is not 

required. A one-time facility notification fee will apply and must be submitted to EMD. 

However, any business involved in ear piercing must meet the following requirements: 

Maintain a safe and sanitary facility 

Equipment must be single-use, pre-sterilized, stud and clasp only 

Jewelry must meet code requirements of section 119310 

Piercers must meet the following: 

• Be18 years or older 

• Have received a one hour training that covers use of devices, 

types of bloodborne pathogens, proper hand hygiene, safe and 

sanitary use of single-use equipment, cartilage ear piercing training 

(if performed), 

Vehicle Business 

A practitioner that performs body art in their vehicle for more than seven days in a 90- 

day period in Sacramento County is required to obtain a health permit. The practitioner 

must also comply with all requirements of temporary body are facilities. If the 

practitioner is performing body art in their vehicle for less than 7 days in a 90-day 

period, the vehicle will be treated as a temporary booth. 

Temporary Body Art Facilities 

A temporary booth operating in Sacramento County for no more than 7 days in a 90-day 

period must meet the following requirements: 

Operate in a building that has an easily accessible hand wash facilities that have 

hot and cold running water, soap, and single-use paper towels 

Has a partition that is at least 3 feet high and separates the procedure area from 

the public 

Be free of insects, rodents or any other animals 

Used only for performing body art 

Has adequate lighting 

Has a hand wash station with a 5-gallon hands free container, waste catch 

container, liquid soap, and single-use paper towels 

Have all necessary permits and licenses 

Health Permits Cont’d 

11

Temporary Body Art Events 

A temporary body art event requires a sponsor. The sponsor must obtain all required 

permits Failure to obtain all necessary permits will result in the event being subject to 

closure by EH and a penalty not to exceed three times the permit fee will be applied. 

The sponsor is responsible for ensuring all of the following are available for the event: 

Potable (drinkable) water 

Restrooms that are supplied with toilet paper, hand sink(s) with hot and cold 

water, soap and single use paper towels 

A sharps container labeled “BIOHAZARD” at each booth 

Licensed medical waste disposal company for removal of sharps 

Frequent trash pick up 

Eye wash station 

Decontamination and sterilization area that is separated from public access 

Adequate back-up supplies 

Pre-sterilized tattoo needles 

Pre-sterilized needle tubes 

Pre-sterilized piercing instruments 

Plastic nitrile and latex gloves 

Single-use tubs of water and petroleum-based lubricants 

Absorbent dressing materials 

Posted emergency room information that includes name, address and directions 

Each artist must have their certificate of registration displayed or readily available 

at their booth upon request by EH 

*THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED AS A GUIDELINE. 

NOT ALL REQUIREMENTS MAY BE SPECIFIED. SEE 

“AB300-SAFE BODY ART ACT” FOR ALL 

REQUIREMENTS. 

Sacramento County Environmental Management Department 

Environment Health Division 

10590 Armstrong Ave, Mather, CA 95655 

(916) 875-8440 

www.emd.saccounty.net 

12

How to Obtain a Body Art Health Permit in Sacramento County

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