Tattoo "Licensing" The REAL Facts
Gallery of Permanent Cosmetics
State of Florida "Licensing" Requirements
This information is being provided due to the recent attempt to further regulate tattooing (SB1130) in the State of Florida. Contrary to what tattoo and permanent cosmetics "professionals" lead you to believe, there is no actual 'license" required by the State of Florida to offer tattooing services. Tattooing is illegal in Florida without the compliance with Florida State Statute 61F6-19.002 GENERAL SUPERVISION. Without a supervising physician overseeing EACH individual tattoo artist, the tattooist/permanent cosmetics technician is tattooing illegally.
To further clarify, EACH INDIVIDUAL TATTOOIST or PERMANENT COSMETICS TECHNICIAN MUST BE SUPERVISED BY A PHYSICIAN, WITH A SEMI-ANNUAL REVEW. THIS APPROVED REVIEW LETTER MUST BE IN WRITING AND READILY AVAILABLE. The shop or studio does not have "blanket" supervision. So if you are considering a studio or shop with multiple artists, each and every artist must be able to provide you with written proof of physician supervision (with their individual name on the letter). While the owner/manager of the shop is probably complying with the general supervision state statute, chances are likely that the shop's subcontractors, employees or apprentices are not! (The fees associated with general supervision are costly). They may not even be aware of the state requirement.
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The penalties for tattooing without this physician general supervision is as follows:
877.04 Tattooing prohibited; penalty.--
(1) It is unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any human being; except that tattooing may be performed by a person licensed to practice medicine or dentistry under chapters 458 and 459 or chapter 466, or by a person under his or her general supervision as defined by the Board of Medicine.
(2) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3) No body of a minor shall be tattooed without the written notarized consent of the parent or legal guardian.
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As for further "licensing," the Florida Department of Health requires a state-issued operating permit for bio-medical waste removal (see above). These records must be made readily available for inspection by the Florida Department of Health. The Florida Department of Health DOES NOT INSPECT tattoo facilities, they merely monitor this bio-medical waste operating permit and associated records. The State is not concerned with the overall cleanliness of the facility, only that the used needles and bio-medical waste is properly being disposed of. THIS PERMIT IS NOT A LICENSE TO TATTOO LEGALLY.
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Charlotte County requires a Local Business Tax Receipt (see above). This is an annual permit that you have registered your business with the County and have paid the necessary fees. THIS ALSO IS NOT A LICENSE TO TATTOO LEGALLY.
AUTOCLAVE USAGE: In addition, if the tattoo facility you are considering utilizes an autoclave for sterilization, a test needs to be performed every 30 days and submitted to a sterilization monitoring laboratory. A "PASS" written report from the laboratory must be provided, and if the test fails, your facility will be reported to the Florida Department of Health
IN SUMMARY: Request to see the facility's semi-annual review approval for EACH tattooist in the studio/shop that you are considering. (Be sure to check for current dates.) The bio-medical permit must be prominently displayed as well as the Local Business Tax Receipt. If these items can not be produced, the facility is operating illegally and you need to find yourself another studio. "LICENSED AND INSPECTED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA" Don't be mislead by this statement.......
Take a Photo Tour......
Where it's All About the Art.....
Come in and visit our art studio
Private Fine Art Tattoo Room
...and high quality permanent cosmetics
Private Permanent Cosmetics Room
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The most unique aspect of Artistry Concepts is that we offer two private procedure rooms......one for tattooing and one for permanent cosmetics.
No longer does one have to sit in a "fishbowl" window open to the general public while receiving their tattoo. And no longer does a woman have to deal with the surroundings of a hair and/or nail salon while receiving her permanent cosmetics. With our private rooms, both types of clientele can feel comfortable and relaxed in their surroundings.
Welcome to our reception area.....
Our reception area is professional yet inviting, and you will be greeted by one of the owners themselves.
...and feel comfortable in our lounge.
Should you find the need to wait a bit, you may relax in our comfortable waiting lounge and watch the 62 inch television or you may peruse the artwork in our studio.