Minneapolis, MN Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)
Key Facts
- Establishment license
- Required under § 339.55
- Technician license
- State-issued, Minn. Stat. Ch. 146B
- Minors
- No tattoos under 18, no exceptions
- License expiration
- Annually, May 1
- Minimum floor space
- 150 square feet
Summary
Minneapolis requires a body art establishment license before any shop can offer tattooing, piercing, or related procedures, on top of the state technician license each artist must hold under Minn. Stat. Ch. 146B.
No person shall operate any establishment where body art, tattooing, or piercing is practiced without being licensed under this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 339 bars operating a body art establishment without a license from the licensing official (§ 339.55), and separately bars practicing body art without a state technician license (§ 339.50). Establishments must meet space, sanitation, sterilization, and recordkeeping rules under § 339.150, submit an approved establishment plan before construction, and renew annually: licenses expire May 1 (§ 339.110). Tattooing anyone under 18 is banned outright regardless of parental consent (§ 339.130(b)).
Violations & Fines
Enforced as a criminal offense under § 1.30 or as an administrative citation under Chapter 2; repeated or serious violations support license suspension or revocation, plus injunction or abatement in court (§ 339.170).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a tattoo in Minneapolis if I'm under 18 with a parent present?
Is a Minnesota technician license enough to open a shop in Minneapolis?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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