Rockingham County
Environmental Health locally enforces the North Carolina state rules
(15NCAC 18A .3200) for the practice of tattooing. Tattooing is defined
as "the inserting of permanent markings or coloration, or the producing
of scars, upon or under human skin through puncturing by use of a needle
or any other method."
Tattoo Rules
Permit requirements
The NC tattoo rules
require tattoo & permanent makeup artists to meet certain minimum
sanitation standards. These standards include: each studio having an
autoclave (for the sterilizing of tattoo instruments) unless using
disposable needles, bars & tubes, a sink for every 5 artists to be
used for hand washing by only the artists, proper storage & disposal
of solid waste, studio kept clean & in good repair, maintaining
records of all autoclave tests & also of each client. In addition,
each artist must be able to demonstrate knowledge of proper aseptic
techniques. (There is no testing of artistic ability). Upon meeting
these standards the artist is issued a permit.
Tattoo Artist Application
Permits
Persons who intend to
practice as a tattoo or permanent makeup artist must contact the
Rockingham County Environmental Health. An Application must be
submitted 30 days prior to beginning work along with the permit fee of
$255. Permits are good for 12 months and must be renewed annually by
submitting the application along with the permit fee of $255. It is
recommended that anyone setting up a new studio contact the Health
Department so an Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) can review the
requirements with them before work begins. There is no fee for the
review and it can prevent delays in obtaining a permit plus prevent the
costly replacement of equipment the applicant might purchase that
doesn't meet state requirements.
It is important to
understand that the permit is issued to a specific artist at a specific
location. That is, the studio & the individual artist must both
meet regulations. An artist who practices at more than one studio, or
who moves to another studio, must get a new permit at each location.
Conversely, at a studio with more than one artist each artist must have a
separate permit. Apprentices cannot work under an artist's permit; they
must have their own permits.
Permitted tattoo artists in Rockingham County
Body piercing
Body piercing is not regulated under NC Public Health laws or rules or by local ordinance in Rockingham County.
Inspection
Tattoo Inspection Form
Consent Form
Rockingham County Complaints
It is illegal to tattoo
anyone under the age of 18 in the state of North Carolina. Anyone who
violates this is guilty of a Class 2 Misdemeanor under General Statute § 14-400.
If your underage child has been tattooed in Rockingham County and you want
to press charges, please contact Environmental Health at (336)342-8130
or fill out the online complaint form.
It is illegal to tattoo
in the state of North Carolina without first receiving a permit to
operate as a tattoo artist. Anyone who violates this is guilty of a
Class 2 Misdemeanor under General Statute § 14-400.
If you know of someone who is tattooing without a permit, please
contact Environmental Health at (336)342-8130 or fill out the on line
complaint form.
If you have a complaint
regarding a tattoo parlor or a tattoo you received, please contact
Environmental Health at (336)342-8130 or fill out the on line complaint
form.
Rockingham County
Online Complaint Form