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

Under Sec. 12-78, anyone planning to operate a body tattoo/body piercing establishment must submit a written application on a health department form before operating, and a new application is required whenever an establishment has not previously been permitted or ownership changes. The local health department issues the permit only after receiving a completed application with applicable fees and an inspection confirms the facility complies with the county's rules. The establishment permit and a framed "Notification of Risk" statement must be displayed within 15 feet of the front or primary public door, mounted five to seven feet off the floor, legible from one foot away.

Operators themselves need a separate body tattoo/body piercing operator permit under Sec. 12-79: applicants must be at least 18, pass a health-department exam, complete Red Cross Basic First Aid/CPR (or equivalent) and an OSHA-approved bloodborne pathogen course, and that permit also expires each June 30. Physicians and osteopaths licensed under Title 43, Chapter 34, and technicians under their direct supervision, are exempt under Sec. 12-73. Establishments are barred from sharing space with human habitation, food service, retail sales, or hotel rooms, and from operating out of automobiles, trailers, tents, or other non-fixed facilities (Sec. 12-75(d)).