Hendricks County, IN Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Hendricks County Code § 115.02 bars anyone from offering tattooing, body piercing, or other body modification services without a valid Health Officer permit, or performing procedures that fail 410 I.A.C. 1-5 and I.C. 35-45-21-4. Facilities must be inside an enclosed building with artist stations reasonably separated from waiting clients under § 115.03(A), lit to at least 20 footcandles generally and 40 footcandles where tattooing occurs under § 115.03(B), with smooth, non-absorbent, easily cleanable walls, floors and equipment, and a dedicated hand sink near every artist station serving no more than six stations under § 115.03(G).

Operators must use calibrated autoclave sterilization with monthly spore testing, keep client photo ID, parental consent for minors, and tattoo-ink records for two years, and document each artist's hepatitis B vaccination status under § 115.04. Section 115.06 flatly prohibits tongue splitting for anyone, and prohibits branding, implanting, suspension, scarification, and piercing of the genitalia or nipples on anyone under 18. Mobile establishments get added rules under § 115.05, including operating only from an enclosed unit and carrying waste tank capacity at least 15% greater than onboard potable water capacity.

Permits run January 1 to December 31 and must be renewed annually, or held for up to 14 days for a single temporary event, under § 115.08(B), with fees set in § 37.28 per § 115.12.