At the end of 1997, Governor Wilson signed AB 186 (Brown) into law. This law added sections to the California Health and Safety Code, which, for the first time, provided for the regulation of body art (tattoo, body piercing, permanent cosmetics).  The bill required that anyone engaged in the business of body art to be registered with the County Health Department in which the business is conducted.

In the interest of promoting and protecting the health and safety of local practitioners and their clients, the County of Santa Clara Environmental Health Department enforces a program for the inspection and complaint response regarding body art practitioners, body art facilities, and lower lobe ear piercers.  The County of Santa Clara Body Art & Lower Lobe Ear Piercing Regulations, adopted April 2006, require:

• The registration and permitting of body art facilities;
• The registration of body art practitioners and lower lobe ear piercers;
• All body art practitioners and lower lobe ear piercers to show proof of blood borne pathogen training and Hepatitus B (HBV) vaccination or declination in order to obtain a permit;
• All facilities to meet and maintain facility requirements;
• Annual inspections, at a minimum, of all permitted facilities and practitioners.

To register, or if already registered, and apply for a permit, please submit a completed registration application.  The permit application must include copies of a recent bloodborne pathogen training certification and evidence of HBV vaccination and/or Vaccination of Declination for HBV.

Please review County regulations regarding practitioner and facility requirements prior to registration to avoid delay and/or denial of application.

Forms and Documents

• Sharps Waste Collection Services
• CDC NIOSH Body Art
• Sharps Waste Mail-back Services