Body Art Program

On October 9, 2011, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 300 (Ma) The Safe Body Art Act into law. In California, body art practitioners and body art facilities are required to comply with the new state law. After July 1, 2012 compliance with AB 300 was mandatory. While this is state law, authority has been delegated to the local enforcement agency, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH), to implement.

Prior to the new state law, Santa Clara County adopted a local ordinance to regulate body art and has implemented a body art program to permit and inspect practitioners and facilities since 2006. Our local ordinance and the new state law apply to the practice of tattooing, body piercing, permanent cosmetics, and branding.

A body art practitioner with a Practitioner Registration issued from any other jurisdiction within California has limited reciprocity. This is intended to allow the Practitioner to practice within this county and any other county in California for 5 consecutive days, but no more than 15 days total, in a calendar year.

Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Control Training Courses must be in compliance with the Safe Body Art Law (AB 300) Section 119307(c). Please review this reference list of available Blood Borne Training Courses​​.​​

For mechanical stud and clasp ear piercing, completion of this form will constitute compliance with California Health and Safety Code, Chapter 1, Article 7, Section 119325. It is not intended to nor does it fulfill any requirements for any other activity including body art practitioner registration/permitting or body art facility permits as set forth in The Safe Body Art Act, California Health and Safety Code Sections 119300 through 119324.

County of Santa Clara Permitted Body Art Facilities and Permitted Body Art Practitioners

• Permitted Body Art Facilities and Practitioners (NEW)

Permitting Body Art Facility & Practitioner Requirements:

Guidelines:

• Body Art Facility Plan Check Guideline
• Body Art Permanent Facility Permit Application Guideline​
• Infection Prevention and Control Plan (IPCP) Guideline
• Body Art Practitioner Registration/Application Guideline​

Applications Forms:

• Body Art Plan Check Application Form​

• Body Art Permanent Facility Permit Application Form​​

• Body Art Practitioner Registration Application Form​
• Blood Borne Pathogen Certificate: Please see available Blood Borne Training Courses​​​
• Proof of Hepatitis B Vaccination or Declination Form​

​Fees:

• ​Body Art Program Fees​

Temporary Events: Requirements and Application Forms (PDF)

• Body Art Temp Event Facility Application

• Body Art Temp Booth Permit Practitioner Notification

• Body Art Temp Event Practitioner Requirements

Sample Forms (PDF)

• Client Records Required For Body Art

• Sample Consolidated Informed Consent Form​​

• Sample Client History Form

• Sample Aftercare Instructions

• Sample Needle Usage Log​​

• Sample Sterilization Log

• Sample IPCP

Other Links

• C​DPH Registered Medical Waste Transporters (PDF)​
• County of Santa Clara Ordinance Code
• The California Safe Body Art Act​
• Ensuring Safe Body Art Through Permitting and Inspections in Santa Clara County​