Chatham County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Section 21-110 adopts, by reference, the Chatham County Board of Health's Rules and Regulations pertaining to Body Art Studios and Tattoo/Body Piercing Artists, as subsequently amended and updated, alongside the Board's other health regulations covering food service, tourist accommodations, septic systems and public pools. The ordinance delegates implementation and enforcement of those body-art rules to the Board of Health, which the Board of Commissioners charges with promulgating sufficient procedures to ensure compliance by anyone operating or found within the county.

Any violation of the incorporated Body Art rules is treated as a violation of the county ordinance itself and is a misdemeanor offense, carrying a fine of up to $1,000, in addition to any other penalties allowed by law (section 21-110(3)). Separately, if a body art studio or artist does not pay the inspection fees on the Board of Health's approved fee schedule within 14 days of notice, the county can suspend the permit. The Recorder's Court of Chatham County has jurisdiction over these violations, with enforcement procedures following O.C.G.A. 31-5, and complaints are brought before that court by a designated representative of the Board of Health (section 21-110(4)).

Because the studio-specific requirements, such as sanitation, licensing and inspection standards, live in the Board of Health's own regulations rather than being printed in the county code itself, operators should confirm current requirements directly with the Chatham County Board of Health before opening or renewing a body art business.