Environmental Health Services

Read and comply with the Requirements for Body Art Practitioner and Facility reference document.

The following forms must be submitted along with the registration fee. 

• Click here to download all materials in one packet.

Individual forms can be downloaded below:

1. Body Art Practitioner Registration Form. 

Please note, this is not a health permit application to operate a Body Art Facility.  A separate health permit application must be completed and returned along with the applicable health permit fee to operate a Body Art Facility. This application is for practitioners to obtain a certificate of registration from the County of San Luis Obispo Environmental Health Services Division.

• Please visit our Body Art Facility permitting page for information on obtaining a health permit to operate a Body Art Facility.

2. Provide evidence of current hepatitis B vaccination, including applicable boosters, unless the practitioner can demonstrate hepatitis B immunity or has complied with current federal OSHA hepatitis B vaccination declination requirements. Click here to download the Hepatitis B Vaccination Declination Form (if applicable). 

Provide evidence of completion of OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Training.

Prior to registering with Environmental Health Services, a practitioner shall complete a Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Training program specific to body art activities.  

• Training must be updated and submitted annually.
• Records of training required shall be maintained for three years and shall be available for inspection upon request.

Registered Body Art Practitioners must be at least 18 years of age.

Provide an example of the Informed Consent Form to be completed prior to the performance of body art. 

The client shall read, complete, and sign an informed consent form that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information:

1. A description of the procedure.
2. A description of what the client should expect following the procedure, including suggested care and any medical complications that may occur as a result of the procedure.
3. A statement regarding the permanent nature of body art.
4. A notice that tattoo inks, dyes, and pigments have not been approved by the federal Foodand Drug Administration and that the health consequences of using these products areunknown.
5. Post procedure instructions that include all of the following:
   • Information on the care of the procedure site.
   • Restrictions on physical activities such as bathing, recreational water activities,gardening, or contact with animals, and the duration of the restrictions.
   • Signs and symptoms of infection, including, but not limited to, redness, swelling,tenderness of the procedure site, red streaks going from the procedure site towardsthe heart, elevated body temperature, or purulent drainage from the procedure site.
   • Signs and symptoms that indicate the need to seek medical care.

Provide an example of the Medical Questionnaire to be completed prior to the performance of body art. 

The client shall receive, complete, and sign a questionnaire that includes all of the following information:

1. Whether the client may be pregnant.
2. Whether the client has a history of herpes infection at the proposed procedure site, diabetes, allergic reactions to latex or antibiotics, hemophilia or other bleeding disorder, or cardiac valve disease.
3. Whether the client has a history of medication use or is currently using medication, including being prescribed antibiotics prior to dental or surgical procedures.
4. Other risk factors for blood-borne pathogen exposure.

All information gathered from the client that is personal medical information and that is subject to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) or similar state laws shall be maintained or disposed of in compliance with those provisions.

As a condition of registration, a Registered Body Art Practitioner shall provide self-certification of, knowledge of, and commitment to meet state law and relevant local regulations pertaining to body art safety.

• By signing the Body Art Practitioner Registration Form, you are ensuring knowledge of requirements and a commitment to comply. No additional forms are required. Informational documents to assist in compliance with part are provided below.
  • Download the Requirements Body Art Practitioner and Facility operation
  • View the full California Safe Body Art Act.

Provide the business address and the address at which the Registered Body Artist will perform any regulated body art activity. 

• This step can by achieved by completing the "Employment Information" section of the Body Art Practitioner Registration Form

The permit fee is due with the registration. Please refer to the Environmental Health Permit Fee Schedule for more information. Click here to pay fees online (no additional fees).