You are here: Home > Departments > Community Development Agency > Environmental Health Services > Body Art

Body Art

Community Development Agency

If you plan to open a body art facility or perform body art activities, you will need to register with the County of Marin Environmental Health Services.

Body Art includes piercing, tattoos, permanent cosmetics, and branding. Body art must be performed in a safe and sanitary manner to prevent the potential for spreading blood-borne diseases and other infections. The Marin County Body Art program promotes and protects the health and safety of body art practitioners, their clients and the public by overseeing practices to ensure they are in compliance with the law.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Body Art Program at 415-473-6907 or drop us an email.

Environmental Health Services

3501 Civic Center Drive, Ste 236
San Rafael CA 94903
Office 415-473-6907
Fax 415-473-4120

Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

 

Body Art Facility and Practitioner Permits

All body art (BA) practitioners must practice in a permitted BA facility. All BA facility permits are address specific and not transferable.  All individuals practicing BA in the County must be registered regardless of paid status or if they are an “apprentice.”   

Requires an application submission: 

  • New BA facility
  • BA facility change of address
  • BA facility change of ownership
  • New BA practitioner or apprentice
  • Lapse of practitioner permit  

 

Body Art Facility & Practitioner Permit Application Packet

Temporary Body Art

A practitioner may, in the local jurisdiction of registration, practice in a temporary demonstration booth for no more than seven days in a 90-day period. Application must be received 90-days prior to the event.

General Resources

Online General Resources

What’s in a tattoo ink? Additives not listed on packaging.

US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) – Are Tattoo Inks Safe?

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/think-you-ink-are-tattoos-safe

National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Body Piercing Infections

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537336/

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) – Caring for your tattooed skin

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-tattooed-skin

ADD – Unexpected skin reactions and what to do about them

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/tattoo-skin-reactions

Paying My Invoice Or Bill

Marin County accepts payment in the following ways:
  1. Cash (in-office payments only)
  2. Check (in-office or mail payments)

    Make check payable to: Marin County

  3. Credit/Debit Card (over the phone or in person)

    Please call 415-473-6907
    Only Visa and Mastercard accepted

Please mail payments to:

Environmental Health Services
3501 Civic Center Drive #236
San Rafael CA 94903

Payments are accepted:

Mon-Thur: 8 am to 3:30 pm
Friday:      8 am to 12 pm

 

Approved Bloodborne Pathogen Training

All body art practitioners in Marin County must maintain current bloodborne pathogens (BBP) exposure control training which meets Cal/OSHA’s BBP Standard 8 CCR 5193. The California Safe Body Art Law Section 119307 also requires this training for persons who may be exposed to BBP while performing their routine work functions. This includes, but is not limited to tattoo artists, permanent cosmetics professionals, and body piercers. Additionally, the training and training material must be specific to performing body art. Below is a list of BBP training courses in compliance with the Safe Body Art Law Section 119307 (c) and are approved for practitioner registration in Marin County. The County does not endorse one provider over the others. Records of this training must be kept for a minimum of 3 years.

Approved Bloodborne Pathogen Training