Fresno County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issued by
- County Dept. of Public Health
- Permit term
- 1 year unless revoked
- Interim permit while pending
- valid 90 days
- Definitions source
- CA Safe Body Art Act, HSC § 119301
- Denied applicant right
- hearing/appeal under § 8.50.155
- Governing sections
- §§ 8.50.045, 8.50.050(A)
Summary
Fresno County requires anyone operating a body art or tattoo facility to first obtain a written permit from the Department of Public Health; operating without one, or after a permit has lapsed or been revoked, is unlawful under County Code §§ 8.50.045 and 8.50.050(A).
8.50.045.A. It is unlawful for any person, without first having obtained a written permit from the Department of Public Health, to engage in the businesses and activities set forth under Section 8.50.050. 8.50.050.A. Body Art. The terms "body art," "body art facility," and "practitioner" shall have the same meanings as set forth in the California Health and Safety Code, Division 104, Part 15, Chapter 7, Section 119301 Safe Body Art Act - Definitions.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
050(A) lists 'Body Art' among them, adopting the definitions of 'body art,' 'body art facility,' and 'practitioner' directly from the California Health and Safety Code's Safe Body Art Act (Division 104, Part 15, Chapter 7, § 119301). 050,' which includes body art. 045(B)). 100(A) requires filing an application and paying the prescribed fee; the Department issues the permit once an investigation confirms the operation will conform to state and local standards, and may issue a 90-day interim permit while that investigation is pending. 155(B), (C), and (G).
090). Ordinance No. 24-020, adopted December 17, 2024, is the current codification; the Department of Public Health, not a separate body art board, administers the permit.
Violations & Fines
Operating a body art or tattoo facility without a current Department of Public Health permit violates § 8.50.045; the county may withhold or revoke the permit for cause under § 8.50.010(C), and continuing to operate on a lapsed or revoked permit is a separate, ongoing violation of the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do tattoo shops need a county permit in unincorporated Fresno County?
How long does a Fresno County body art permit last?
Can I operate while my body art permit application is pending?
What if the county denies my body art facility permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
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