Body Art Establishment

Eligibility

Ohio defines “Body Art” as the practice of physical body adornment, including tattooing, permanent cosmetics and/or body piercing. Tattooing is permanently placing marks on or under the skin of a person with ink, dye, or pigment. This includes procedures such as permanent makeup, micropigmentation, or microblading.

Requirements for Licensure

There are four forms that you will need to submit to GCPH. You will need to submit the following:

  1. An application to operate a body art establishment. 
  2. Complete fillable Body Art Plan Review Packet. 
  3. Fill out an apprentice form. You must have a minimum of 2 years of experience/training prior to opening facility in Greene County. 
  4. Complete Infection Control Plan. 

Reference Forms section below

Plan Submission Requirements:

  1. Proof of an apprenticeship or training in body art
  2. Current first aid training certificate
  3. Current blood-borne pathogen training certificate
  4. Written proof from your local zoning authority that you’re allowed to have a body art business at that location
  5. A floor plan showing the general layout of the facility
  6. Patron Consent or Authorization forms
  7. Parental Consent form if a patron under the age of 18 will be pierced/tattooed
  8. Procedure record forms to be kept on file
  9. Aftercare information provided to patrons
  10. Log used for steam sterilizer loads (if applicable)
  11. Log used to demonstrate employee training on the Infection Prevention Control Plan (IPCP)

      How Long to Get Licensed and Begin Operating?

      The initial licensing process can take up to 30 days. Completed paperwork can be mailed, emailed, faxed, or dropped off at our office and will be reviewed by staff. After the paperwork is reviewed, we will schedule a time for a licensing inspection. Once you are approved, we will conduct a pre-license inspection where the license will be provided at time of inspection once the inspection has been completed and passed.

      What if I Want to Remodel/Change Services Provided?

      You must contact GCPH if you want to remodel your facility or if you’d like to add or change the services you provide. This would include things like:

      • Changing or adding rooms to the facility
      • Adding piercing to your services when you are currently approved for only tattooing
      • If you want to switch from single use tools to using an autoclave sterilizer

      Depending on the changes, you may need to submit a Plan Review Request form and have a re-inspection.

      Purpose

      To maintain a safe and sanitary environment within Body Art Establishments according to the Body Art Rules in the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3701-9 and laws in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3730.01 to 3730.99.

      Description

      This program is to ensure sanitary practices for tattoos and body piercing procedures. All tattoo and body piercing establishments must be licensed by the Greene County Public Health to ensure that all procedures are being followed per the laws and regulations. A list of all currently licensed body art establishments located in Greene County are listed at the bottom of this webpage for your reference.

      Tattoo and body piercers are required to have the proper qualifications and training before they can be approved to work at a tattoo or piercing facility. All procedures including disposing of sharps, cleaning of equipment, maintaining records, and proper hand washing and disinfecting procedures must be maintained and followed to ensure the safety and sanitation of the operators and their customers.

      Services

      • Verify completion of First Aid Training and Bloodborne Pathogens Training.
      • Verify records are kept for sterilizing equipment and ensure proper cleaning procedures are followed.
      • Verify correct procedures and documentation for all clients, including minors, are followed.
      • Verify correct procedures for tattooing and/or body piercing are followed.
      • Inspection of the physical facility for cleanliness and easily cleanable equipment.
      • Observe sanitation requirements of artists are followed during a procedure.

      Time-Limited Events

      All time-limited body art events where tattooing and/or body piercing is to be performed are required to have a time-limited body art establishment license issued by the health department. The purpose of this license is to permit such body art work to be performed with a specific event such as fairs, festivals, and/or other gatherings of people. Please note that time-limited events licenses are for events lasting no more than 5 consecutive days. The purpose of the plan submission/review process and subsequent licensing is to ensure that all applicable provisions of Chapter 3701-09 of the Ohio Administrative Code (body art rules) are being met. The Time-Limited Event Plan Review Application and Application to Operate a Time-Limited Body Art Event are listed below under FORMS. Please note that following: The submittal of plans and plan review/license fee ($200.00) must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the event. The fee must be received before your plans can be reviewed. Written approval/disapproval/request for information will occur within no more than 7 business days after receipt of your plans and supporting documentation. NOTE: Failure to submit all required information/documents/payment within the noted timeframes could result in you not being permitted to operate at your proposed time-limited event. 

      Fees (Effective 01/01/25)

      • Body Art Establishment License: $442.00
      • Plan Review Fee: $200.00
      • Time-Limited Event License (up to 5 days max.): $200.00

      NOTE: License fees are subject to change annually at the start of each new year. Licenses Initially issued on or after October 1st are effective until December 31st of the following year.

      Contact

      (937) 374-5607

      Forms

      Regulation

      Links

      Licensed Establishments

      • 24/7 Permanent Make-Up (Microblading)
      • Alter'd Salon (Microblading)
      • Bad Romance Tattoo (Body Art Only)
      • Bare Beauty Bar (Microblading)
      • Bare, Blade & Brush, LLC (Microblading)
      • Barely Sweet Sugaring, LLC (Microblading)
      • Blacklist Tattoo (Body Art Only)
      • Body Jewel (Piercing Only)
      • By Design (Body Art Only)
      • Dragon Tree Tattoo & Gifts (Body Art Only)
      • Fairborn Tattoo (Body Art Only)
      • Gem City Glow (Microblading & Piercing)
      • Highbrow Permanent Cosmetics (Microblading)
      • Inna's Beauty Space LLC (Microblading)
      • Impressionable Ink (Body Art Only)
      • Lovesick Tattoos (Body Art Only)
      • Lucky Bunny (Body Art & Piercing)
      • Main St. Tattoo (Body Art Only)
      • Modified Skin (Body Art & Piercing)
      • Monkey Bones Tattoo, LLC (Body Art Only)
      • Posh Petals Spa (Microblading)
      • Renewed Image Ink (Body Art/Microblading)
      • Royal Prevail (Body Art & Piercing)
      • Roc Art (Body Art & Piercing)
      • Studio Uncommon (Body Art)
      • Subtle Fever (Microblading)
      • Totem Gallery (Body Art Only)
      • Zap! Tattoos (Body Art Only)