Health staff recommend rules for mobile tattoo units, board forwards ordinance and fee changes to commissioners

Health department staff presented proposed amendments to chapter 12 of the county health and safety code to add rules for mobile tattoo units and temporary-event tattooing and to update the fee schedule. "I'm just adding on to our existing tattoo ordinance," said Dan, a staff member presenting the draft. He told the board the update would allow enclosed mobile tattoo units and temporary, indoor-event tattooing if the space met handwashing and sanitation requirements and could be inspected before or during an event.

Staff explained mobile units must perform tattooing inside the enclosed unit and may not set up equipment outside the vehicle; temporary-event permitting would be limited to indoor events that can provide adequate handwashing, lighting and cleanliness. The proposed ordinance would also clarify that permanent makeup and microblading fall under the tattooing definition and that piercing beyond earlobes is governed by state code because of autoclave/sterilization requirements.

The department proposed fee changes to bring review and permit fees closer to cost recovery: examples included consolidating some review fees to a $100 base, raising tattoo permits from $100 to $200, seasonal permits from $50 to $100, and adding a $25 temporary-event per-artist fee. Staff presented estimated revenue impacts and noted some fees are intended to reduce the county subsidy of services.

The board moved to conditionally approve forwarding the draft ordinance—subject to any formatting changes requested by the commissioners' attorney—and the motion passed on roll call. The board separately voted to forward the fee schedule to the county commissioners with the same caveat that the ordinance and fees might be reformatted before final adoption.

The board's actions were recommendations to the county commissioners, who retain authority to adopt ordinances and set fees under county code.