Dothan, AL Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

City Code § 18-22 classifies a 'Tattoo Parlor' under NAICS code 812199 at a $100.00 annual license fee, and the schedule entry adds that a 'Health Department permit required' before the license can issue, meaning the local Health Department must sign off on the shop before the city will license it. Like every other licensed business, a tattoo parlor is bound by the general rules in Article I of Chapter 18: § 18-4(a) ties the license to one address, so a second location needs its own license, and § 18-3(d) sets the annual renewal deadline at January 31, with § 18-3(a) prorating a business that opens after July 1 to half the annual fee.

Section 18-7 requires the license to be posted in a conspicuous place at the shop, and § 18-9 lets the city's designee enter the premises and inspect records to confirm the correct classification and tax. Operating a tattoo parlor without the license and health permit is unlawful under § 18-6, which sets a fine up to $500.00 and, for a willful violation, imprisonment up to six months, with each day of operation a separate offense. The city can also revoke the license under § 18-19 if the operator violates any city ordinance, state law, or regulation tied to the business, after a hearing with at least ten days' notice.