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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Body Art

Florida Department of Health in Volusia County Environmental Health

Body Piercing 

Body piercing, a form of body art, is the act of penetrating the skin to make, generally permanent in nature, a hole, mark, or scar. It does not include the use of a mechanized, pre-sterilized ear-piercing system that penetrates the outer perimeter or lobe of the ear or both.

Health Issues 

There are several body piercing salons in Volusia County that are licensed and inspected by the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County. These salons are inspected annually or more by both an Environmental Specialist and a Registered Nurse.

Body piercing is an invasive procedure that presents the potential for infection. Not only can piercing lead to infections of the pierced site (especially if aftercare procedures are not followed), but it also has the potential to transmit bloodborne pathogens, such as Hepatitis B.

  • Rules

In 1999, The Florida Legislature passed section 381.0075, Florida statutes, providing guidance for the operation of the body piercing industry.  Chapter 64E-19, F.A.C. contains the rules that were written to implement the statute.

 

  • Training for Piercers

Chapter 64E-19, F.A.C., prescribes the minimum sanitary and safety requirements related to the design, operation, and maintenance of body-piercing salons.

Operators and piercers (defined in subsections 381.0075(2), F.S. and Chapter 64E-19.002, F.A.C, respectively) must be trained in infection-control procedures, prior to licensure of a body-piercing salon.  The following training Courses on the link are reviewed and accepted by the Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, Facility Programs.

Training courses

Tattooing 

There are health risks associated with getting a tattoo. These include allergic reactions and the transmission of bloodborne diseases, such as hepatitis or HIV, which is why you should always use a licensed tattoo artist in a licensed tattoo establishment. 

Effective January 1, 2012, the Department of Health (the department) implemented sections 381.00771-381.00791, Florida Statutes (F.S.), The Practice of Tattooing. These statutes require licensure of tattoo artists and tattoo establishments, and also set forth educational requirements and standards of practice for conventional and cosmetic tattoo artists, and operational requirements for tattoo establishments.

Chapter 64E-28, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), which became effective September 5, 2012 , details the statutory requirements for tattoo establishments and tattoo artists. It is recommended that tattoo establishment owners and operators as well as tattoo artists review the requirements of both the statute sections and the rule chapter to ensure compliance with requirements for both artists and establishments.

  • Licensing requirements

Tattooing of a Minor 

A written notarized parental consent document is required for minors prior to receiving a tattoo.  A minor is defined as a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.

A person may not perform tattooing on a minor without the written notarized consent of the minor’s parent or legal guardian and an establishment may not perform tattooing on a minor under the age of 16. Additional information may be found at section 381.00787, F.S.

Minor Consent Form