Anoka County, MN Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Ordinance No. 2018-12, the Anoka County Body Art Ordinance, implements Minnesota Statutes Chapter 146B and applies to every individual performing tattooing or body piercing and every body art establishment in the county; it does not preempt separate city zoning rules for these businesses (Sec. 2). 4 requires each technician to hold a license for the specific form of body art performed, tattoo or piercing, or current registration as an apprentice or guest artist. Exempt are board-certified medical or dental staff piercing or tattooing as part of a procedure, and anyone piercing only the ear lobe or outer perimeter with a pre-sterilized single-use stud system (Sec.

3). No technician may tattoo a minor, and no one may pierce the genitalia or nipples of a minor (Secs. 9). Every procedure area must have at least 45 square feet of floor space, separated from bathrooms, retail sales areas, or hair salon space that could cause contamination (Sec. 1). Establishment plans need Department approval before construction or remodeling, and the Department conducts a final inspection before a license issues (Sec. 3). The Department can order an emergency closure for conditions such as sewage backup, loss of hot or cold water, loss of electricity or gas, storm or fire damage, rodent or vermin infestation, unsterile instruments, or a positive sterilizer spore test (Sec.

1), and a closed establishment cannot reopen without written Department permission that the problem has been corrected (Sec. 2). Fees for licenses and plan review are set by the County Board, with late fees possible if work starts before plan approval (Sec. 11). Violating any provision, or permitting a violation on premises under one's control, is a misdemeanor, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense (Sec. 2).