Berkeley, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)
Key Facts
- Practitioner registration
- Required annually, expires Dec. 31
- Facility permit
- Issued by DEH after inspection
- Late fee penalty
- 10% if unpaid within 30 days
- Temporary facility filing
- At least 10 working days ahead
- Instrument impound release
- DEH proceeding within 30 days
Summary
Tattoo and piercing work in Berkeley requires both a City registration for the practitioner and a health permit for the facility, issued by the Division of Environmental Health under Chapter 11.70. Operating without either is unlawful.
It shall be unlawful for any person to perform body art in the City of Berkeley without first registering with the City. As a condition of registration, the applicant shall provide to the City all of the evidence required by Health and Safety Code Section 119306(b) as amended from time to time and pay a nonrefundable registration fee.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 8031-NS, passed July 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
) at the local level. 040). 050 makes it unlawful to operate a body art facility, whether permanent, temporary or mobile, without a valid health permit issued by the Division of Environmental Health (DEH). Applicants must file a written application, pay a filing fee, and supply evidence required by Health and Safety Code Section 119312(b), plus the facility name and address, the number of practitioners working there, and proof of each practitioner's registration. 060); temporary facility applications must be filed at least ten working days before the intended start date.
070 also requires plan filing and DEH review before any construction, reconstruction or alteration of a body art facility, ahead of any building, plumbing or electrical permit. 090). 100, and an enforcement officer may impound unsafe instruments, with DEH required to commence a release proceeding within 30 days. 120.
Violations & Fines
Every violation of Chapter 11.70 is a misdemeanor punishable under Chapter 1.20, and violators may separately face administrative citations under Chapter 1.28 of the code; the remedies are cumulative. A permit or registration may also be suspended or revoked under the procedures in Health and Safety Code Sections 119320 through 119322.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to tattoo in Berkeley?
How long does a Berkeley body art registration last?
Can Berkeley impound tattoo equipment?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berkeley
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