Tattoo & Piercing Inspections

About Tattoo & Piercing Inspections

*ATTENTION Tattoo Artists: Kentucky Public Health has released several major changes to Tattoo/Piercing regulations for 2020 licensure.

Artist fees and Studio fees that are paid before Nov. 15th will be valid until the issued permit expires (12 months). When these permits expire throughout 2020, renewals will become available. When artists and studios pay upon expiry, they will be paying only for the remainder of 2020. This means that some will pay for part of 2020 and then be billed again in OCT 2020 for their 2021 fee. At that point, all establishments will be caught up with the new fee schedule.

Artist fees and Studio fees paid AFTER Nov. 15th this year will be applied towards a 2020 permit.


Below are printable handouts regarding some of the major changes to the Tattoo/Piercing regulations:

Fee Fact Sheet: covers all updates to the fee structure and explains fee transition into calendar year. Anticipated implementation date/ cutoff date of Nov. 15th.

Bloodborne Pathogen Fact Sheet: covers the details of new bloodborne pathogen training requirements, what is required by the CFR., and provides some online training options that meet requirements.

Jewelry Quality Fact Sheet: covers the updates to jewelry quality requirements and explains the difference between different jewelry types.


What courses can be used to meet the new Bloodborne Pathogen training requirement?

Any course, either online or in person, that is OSHA compliant and provides opportunity for students to pose questions is sufficient for Tattoo Artists and Piercers. Online training companies should be able to verify whether or not students have access to instructors for subject-matter questions. Many list phone or email support for student questions as part of their curriculum. Please see below for a short list of compliant online training courses. This is not a complete list; always feel free to contact KY Food Safety at 502-564- 7181 if you are unsure that a course meets CFR requirements.


For more information from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Food Safety Branch visit: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dphps/fsb/Pages/tattoopiercing.aspx