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Planning board reviews adopting state body-art rules and proposed $500 studio fee
Summary
The Planning Board reviewed adopting the Official Code of Georgia rules for body art to allow local permitting, a proposed $500 annual studio fee and a $100 guest-artist fee; enforcement would remain with the Georgia Department of Public Health unless the county formally adopts the rules, which would allow local magistrate enforcement.
On Sept. 10, 2024, the Effingham County Planning Board heard a presentation on adopting the Official Code of Georgia rules and regulations for body art, which cover tattooing, piercing and microblading. Presenters Stephen Andrews and Brent Phelps described a proposed fee schedule — a $500 annual studio fee and a $100 guest-artist fee — and inspection cadence of every six months.
Staff and presenters said the rules were passed at the state level in March 2022 and were adopted by the county board of health in February 2023; adopting the state rules locally would permit the county to implement the fee schedule and pursue enforcement in local magistrate court where appropriate. Mr. Steve Candler told the board that the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) would perform enforcement activities, inspections and fee collection under current practice, but local adoption would provide an additional enforcement path and make fee collections official at the county level.
Board member Peter Higgins asked about microblading and the risk of disease transmission from tattoo needles. Mr. Brent Phelps described standard public-health protections used in permitted body-art operations, including single-use needles and other protective measures, and explained that permit holders are subject to periodic inspections.
Presenters noted a legal constraint: state law requires that any Environmental Health fee assessed locally must be authorized by the Board of Commissioners. The board did not take a vote at the workshop; staff said formal adoption and any fee ordinance would be handled through the Board of Commissioners in a later action if the Planning Board recommends approval.
What happens next: staff will refine the redlined ordinance language and confirm the procedural steps required to place any fee ordinance before the Board of Commissioners for consideration. No formal vote on the ordinance or fees was recorded at the Sept. 10 workshop.
