Charleston tattoo and piercing studios need a city business license and must comply with SC DHEC tattoo facility regulations under SC §44-34, with strict sterilization, age, and inspection requirements.
Tattoo and body modification studios in Charleston operate under the Tattoo Facility Act, SC §44-34, administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) which inspects facilities, certifies tattooists, and enforces sterilization rules. Charleston layers a Chapter 8 business license with zoning compliance under Chapter 54 (the Zoning Ordinance restricts tattoo parlors from residential areas and may require distance separation from schools and churches). Tattooing minors under 18 is prohibited statewide. Body piercing of minors requires parental consent.
Tattooing without DHEC certification is a misdemeanor; tattooing a minor carries criminal penalties under SC §44-34-100. City license violations bring additional civil fines.
Charleston, SC
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Charleston, SC
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See how Charleston's tattoo & body modification rules stack up against other locations.
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