Douglas County staff propose harmonizing local body-art regulation with state piercing definition

Douglas County Public Health staff told the board they will repeal the county's 2022 body-art regulation and adopt a new 2025 regulation to align county rules with state definitions for piercing.

Assistant Director Skyler Secard, who handles environmental health licensing, said the discrepancy became apparent when licensing a facility that primarily offers ear piercing. "Our current regulation basically said ear piercing was exempt," Secard said. He read the state definition as it applies: "The state, however, said, 'piercing means the puncturing or penetration of the skin or mucosa of the person and the insertion of jewelry or other adornment in the opening, except that piercing of the outer perimeter or lobe of the ear with a sterilized stud and clasp ear piercing system shall not be included.'"

Secard explained the practical consequence: piercing of the ear lobe with an approved ear-piercing gun is excluded from the state's body-art definition, while other forms of piercing remain subject to regulation. The county plans to repeal the 2022 regulation and issue a consolidated 2025 regulation so operators and inspectors have a single clear standard to follow.

Why it matters: the change aims to reduce confusion among operators and licensing staff about which piercing activities require a licensed body-art facility.

Ending: The board discussed the matter and staff said they will prepare the replacement regulation; the transcript does not record a formal adoption vote at this meeting.