Tattoo, piercing, branding, and permanent cosmetics in Santa Clara County require Department of Environmental Health Body Art permits; California Penal Code Section 653 prohibits tattooing anyone under 18 statewide.
Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) administers the Body Art Program implementing California's Safe Body Art Act. Practitioners (tattoo, piercing, branding, permanent cosmetics) must register with DEH, complete bloodborne pathogens training, and work in permitted facilities meeting sterilization, sharps disposal, and recordkeeping standards. Mobile body art events also require permits. California Penal Code Section 653 makes it a misdemeanor to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent. Piercing minors generally requires parent consent and presence; genital and nipple piercing of minors is barred. DEH inspects annually and on complaint; suspensions are common for sterilization or recordkeeping failures.
Operating an unpermitted shop, tattooing a minor, failing autoclave sterilization, improper sharps disposal, missing client records, or unregistered practitioners triggers DEH suspension, fines, and Penal Code Section 653 misdemeanor charges.
See how Mountain View's tattoo & body modification rules stack up against other locations.
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