Fairfax County, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Director of Health Services
- Permit status
- Nontransferable, must be posted
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor per day
Summary
Fairfax County requires every tattoo establishment to get Director of Health Services approval and a permit before opening, under the county's Tattoo Establishments Ordinance.
(a)No tattoo establishment shall be opened for business until an application has been approved and permit issued upon compliance with the requirements of this Chapter and all other applicable County ordinances, including the Zoning Ordinance.(b)The current tattoo establishment permit issued by the Administrative Authority pursuant to this Chapter shall be kept posted in a conspicuous place in the establishment.(c)Whoever violates any provision of this Chapter, by doing a prohibited act, or failing to perform a required act, or failing to perform permitted acts in the prescribed manner shall be deemed guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.(d)The permit issued by the Administrative Authority shall be nontransferable. (46-86-35)
Full Breakdown
Fairfax County's Tattoo Establishments Ordinance, Chapter 35 of the County Code, bars any tattoo shop from opening until it has an approved application and a permit from the Director of Health Services, in compliance with the Chapter and all other county ordinances including the Zoning Ordinance. The permit must be posted in a conspicuous place, is nontransferable, and covers sanitation rules for sterilization, disinfection, and facility layout, enforced through inspections and administrative hearings before the Administrative Authority.
Violations & Fines
Opening or operating a tattoo establishment without an approved permit, or violating any Chapter 35 requirement, is a Class 3 misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation a separate offense under Section 35-1-5(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fairfax County require a permit to open a tattoo shop?
What happens if a tattoo shop operates without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
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