Madison tattoo and body-piercing studios must license through Public Health Madison & Dane County under Wis. Stat. Ch. 252.245 and pass routine inspections covering sterilization, blood-borne pathogen training, and consent records.
Wis. Stat. 252.245 makes counties responsible for tattoo and body-art licensing; in Madison, that work is delegated to Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC). Each studio must hold an establishment license and each practitioner an individual license, with documented blood-borne pathogen training, autoclave use, single-use needle protocols, and written client consent forms. Minors under 18 cannot be tattooed; piercings on minors require parental consent. PHMDC inspectors perform unannounced visits and respond to complaints. Mobile and home-based tattoo operations are prohibited.
Operating without a license, tattooing minors, or failing sterilization standards can mean fines, immediate closure, and referral for state criminal prosecution under Wis. Stat. 252.245.
See how Madison's tattoo & body modification rules stack up against other locations.
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