Weld County commissioners approved on first reading Code Ordinance 2025-14 on Monday, a proposed update to the county's regulations for body-art establishments that adopts parts of a National Environmental Health Association model code and adds new local standards for procedures, facility plans and staff hygiene.

The ordinance replaces standards last updated in 2014 and, according to county staff, incorporates industry and regulator input from three stakeholder meetings and a prior work session; the changes include provisions for branding and scarification, plan-review procedures, specified hand-sink and lighting expectations, and limits on eating/drinking during procedures.

Jason Cheshire, with the Weld County Health Department, told commissioners the update reflects national model code work and local stakeholder input and is intended to be implemented with a transition period of roughly six months to a year for items that affect construction. "Any regulation is at the local level," Cheshire said, noting there are no statewide body-art regulations. Abby (last name not provided), a health department staff member who participated in the NEHA committee, said the model code is developed with both regulators and industry representatives. Dan (last name not provided), also with the department, said most operators would not see major operational changes but should expect some additional paperwork.

Commissioner Jason Maxey questioned several provisions during the public discussion. He asked why the health department would review facility construction plans when municipal building departments also review plans; Cheshire said the reviews run concurrently because the building department evaluates structural and plumbing compliance while the health department evaluates program-specific items such as the number and placement of hand sinks and lighting. "We strive to get plans reviewed within the week they are submitted," Cheshire told the board.

Maxey also pressed provisions on appearance and hygiene: the draft includes limits on artificial fingernail length ("must be less than 1/8 inch long") and a prohibition on chipped nail polish, which staff said are intended to protect glove integrity and hand-washing effectiveness. Staff explained the numeric limit provides an enforceable standard rather than an undefined phrase. Commissioners discussed the provision allowing water in a sealable container during procedures; staff said this relaxes the existing prohibition on any eating or drinking in the procedure area and that the sealable-container requirement is intended to reduce spill risk around open wounds.

The ordinance was presented as a first reading; Commissioner Jason Maxey moved to approve the ordinance on first reading, with Commissioner Scott James seconding. The motion passed on a voice vote. The ordinance will return for second reading and further board consideration, at which time commissioners may amend specific language based on the clarifications discussed.

The board heard no public comments during the ordinance's public-hearing period.