Dallas, TX Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)
Key Facts
- State law
- TX H&S Code Chapter 146
- License issuer
- Texas DSHS
- License term
- Two-year renewal
- Minor tattoo
- Generally prohibited
- Records retained
- Two years per client
Summary
Tattoo and body piercing studios in Dallas must hold a Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) license under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 146 and follow Dallas City Code Chapter 51A zoning, with strict sterilization, recordkeeping, and minor-consent rules enforced through state inspections.
Sec. 146.012. TATTOOS PROHIBITED FOR CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) A tattooist may not tattoo:(1) except as provided by Subsection (a-1), a person younger than 18 years of age; or(2) a person who the tattooist suspects is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.(a-1) A tattooist may tattoo a person younger than 18 years of age if:(1) the tattoo will cover a tattoo that contains:(A) obscene or offensive language or symbols;(B) gang-related names, symbols, or markings;(C) drug-related names, symbols, or pictures; or(D) other words, symbols, or markings that the person's parent or guardian considers would be in the best interest of the person to cover; and(2) the person has obtained consent from the person's parent or guardian to cover the tattoo.(b) The consent required by Subsection (a-1) may be ...
Full Breakdown
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 146 requires every tattoo and body-piercing studio operating in Dallas to register and obtain a DSHS license, renewed every two years, before opening. Studios must use single-use needles, autoclave reusable instruments, maintain client records for two years, post sanitation procedures, and refuse anyone under 18 unless piercing earlobes with parental consent (tattooing minors is allowed only to cover gang-related marks with parental and judicial consent). Dallas Chapter 51A zoning generally permits tattoo studios in commercial corridors but excludes them from some residential and historic overlay districts. DSHS inspectors and Dallas Code Compliance enforce sterilization standards, infection-control plans, and licensing.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a DSHS license, tattooing or piercing minors outside narrow exceptions, reusing single-use needles, lacking required sanitation logs, or operating in a non-permitted Chapter 51A district triggers fines, license revocation, and possible criminal charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a 17-year-old get a tattoo in Dallas with parental consent?
Where can tattoo shops operate in Dallas?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas
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Tattoo & Body Modification in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle tattoo & body modification.