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Fishers staff present draft ordinance to require sanitary permits and inspections for personal-care services
Summary
Staff proposed a draft ordinance to establish sanitary inspections and permits for massage parlors, nail salons, tattoo/microblading and eyelash services, with a recommended $50 facility permit and $25 inspection fee; board discussed per-facility vs. per-provider permits and enforcement challenges.
City health-department staff presented a draft 2026 ordinance to create sanitary-inspection and permitting requirements for personal-care services, including massage parlors, nail salons, tattoos and eyelash extensions. Staff said the measure’s goals are public-health protection and transparency in facility sanitation and basic safety standards. "The really, the goals are for public health and safety," a presenter said.
Board members and staff debated whether permits should be issued per facility or per provider, noting models such as Salon Lofts where individual contractors rent stalls. Staff recommended a hybrid approach: a facility-level permit combined with verification that individual providers hold the required state licenses. The board raised enforcement concerns and staffing capacity and asked for fee modeling tied to expected service counts.
After discussion the board supported a staff recommendation to propose a $50 permit fee with a $25 inspection charge (and reinspection fees), and the chair announced the motion passed. Staff said tattoos and microblading are subject to state rules, while massage parlors and nail salons lack explicit state code and would require local ordinance language. Staff will take the draft to council for formal introduction and additional ordinance work.
The board emphasized tying sanitary standards to existing state licenses where possible to strengthen enforcement. Several board members urged clear language on who is accountable (facility owner versus individual contractor) and flagged the need to estimate inspection time and program costs so the new program does not divert resources from other public-health work.
