Body Art Regulations
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is responsible for implementing the Body Art Regulations, which provide statewide licensing of tattoo and piercing professionals and establishments. The law became effective on July 1, 2010.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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Licensed Body Art Technicians who are supervising Temporary Body Art Technicians must notify the Minnesota Department of Health in writing if they discontinue supervising a Temporary Body Art Technician. If you are a Licensed Body Art Technician who was supervising
a Temporary Body Art Technician but has stopped supervising that Temporary Technician please send notification to:
Minnesota Department of Health
Attn: Matt Duff
PO Box 64882
Saint Paul MN 55164-0882
or by email Matt.Duff@state.mn.us.
Information for:
Important Links
2011 Amendments to 2010 Statute
List of licensed and provisional licensed establishments
List of licensed tattoo and piercing technicians
Minnesota Body Art complaint form
What The Law Requires:
- To apply for a full dual license by working under supervision, you must document 200 hours in tattooing AND 200 hours in piercing, for a total of 400 hours;
- You must complete your coursework within the year PRECEDING your application;
- Storage of contaminated waste must not exceed the overflow level of any container; and
- The fees for the initial and the three-year renewal licenses for establishments are each $1,000 plus applicable surcharges.
If you are a body art technician:
As of January 1, 2011, you must have a state-issued license to perform either tattooing or piercing in the State of Minnesota. This includes permanent cosmetic tattooing.
Download applications from: Body Art Applications.
If you own/operate an establishment:
As of January 1, 2011, your establishment must be licensed. If your establishment is licensed by a municipal or county agency, it may be exempt from the state requirement. As an establishment owner/operator, you MUST complete and return either an application for licensure or an application for exemption from licensure.
Download Applications from: Body Art Applications.
All initial establishment licenses are issued as "PROVISIONAL". That status will remain in effect until your establishment has been inspected and approved by MDH staff. To help you prepare for your inspection, please refer to the Body Art Establishment Inspection Checklist. (NOTE: This form is subject to change.) During the inspection process, the inspector will note any deficiencies in your establishment and you will be given a specified period of time in which to correct the deficiency. Failure to correct a deficiency may result in the shutdown of your establishment.
If you are a body art consumer:
Be an informed consumer. Make sure your tattooist or piercer is licensed by MDH. A list of licensed tattoo and piercing technicians will be posted on this site and updated on a regular basis. You can also call 651/201-3731 or health.hop@state.mn.us to inquire as to whether or not an artist is licensed.
If you would like to file a complaint:
If you would like to file a complaint against a Body Art Establishment, or a Body Art Technician (this includes Permanent Make Up Artists,Tattooists and Piercers), download and complete the Minnesota Body Art complaint form. Mail the completed complaint form to: Minnesota Department of Health, Health Occupations Program, PO Box 64882, Saint Paul MN 55164-0882.
If you are under the age of 18:
As of July 1, 2010, you CANNOT get a tattoo in Minnesota—even with consent of your parent or guardian.
As of July 1, 2010, you MAY get a piercing. BUT, you will need parental/guardian consent AND your parent/guardian must be present during the procedure. You CANNOT get the following, even with consent: nipple piercing, genital piercing, branding, scarification, suspension, subdermal implantation, microdermal, or tongue bifurcation.
If you want to perform body art in Minnesota
Beginning January 1, 2011 individuals performing body art in Minnesota are required to have a current Minnesota body art technician license. Body art includes tattooing and piercing. Application of permanent cosmetics is considered tattooing.
Minnesota Body Art Regulation brochure (pdf 189.82 KB, 2 pages)
Body art related links
If you have questions about Minnesota Body Art Licensing please call Matt Duff 651-201-3770 or email Matt.Duff@state.mn.us.
