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Norfolk, VA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Permit required
From Dept. of Public Health director (Sec. 43.1-11)
Annual fee
$1,800, prorated after July 1 (Sec. 43.1-14)
Plan review fee
$200 before opening (Sec. 43.1-13)
Mobile parlors
Banned outright (Sec. 43.1-6)
Scarification/branding
Unlawful for anyone (Sec. 43.1-5)
Client age
18+, valid photo ID required (Sec. 43.1-23(a))
Penalty
Class 1 misdemeanor per violation (Sec. 43.1-1)

Summary

Norfolk requires anyone running a tattoo parlor to hold a permit from the director of the Department of Public Health under Section 43.1-11, display it for public viewing, and pay an $1,800 annual fee set by Section 43.1-14. Section 43.1-6 bans temporary or mobile tattoo parlors outright, and Section 43.1-5 makes scarification and branding of a human unlawful for anyone, permit or not. Section 43.1-1 makes any violation of the chapter a Class 1 misdemeanor.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a tattoo parlor without first obtaining a permit from the director. The operator of a tattoo parlor shall conspicuously post or display the tattoo parlor permit for public viewing. Proof of an applicable permit shall be the burden of the operator. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in tattooing at an establishment that has no permit. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to perform, undertake, permit, cause or allow any scarification or branding of any human. ... The fee for a tattoo parlor permit shall be one thousand, eight hundred dollars ($1,800.00).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).

Full Breakdown

1-13 for a scale drawing and floor plan review before the parlor opens. 1-14, runs on a calendar-year term from January 1 to December 31 regardless of the issue date, and is prorated to half price for anyone who applies after July 1. 1-15(e) lets the director refuse a permit if the operator has a prior conviction tied to tattooing or has broken a law the director finds poses an imminent health risk. 1-15(b)-(c), and any change of location or ownership requires a brand-new application and fee.

1-16(c) allows the director to skip notice and close the parlor immediately if the violation is an imminent threat to public health or safety. 1-18. 1-23(a) requires every tattoo client to be at least 18 and show valid government-issued photo identification.

Violations & Fines

Section 43.1-1 makes any violation of the tattoo parlor chapter, including operating without a permit or performing scarification or branding, a Class 1 misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense. Refusing to let the director inspect the parlor under Section 43.1-8 is itself grounds for suspending the permit. Continuing to tattoo after a suspension, revocation, or emergency closure under Section 43.1-16(d) is independently unlawful for both the operator and the tattooer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open a mobile or pop-up tattoo shop in Norfolk?
No. Section 43.1-6 makes it unlawful to operate or use a tattoo parlor at any temporary location or in any mobile configuration. Every parlor also has to be inside a permanent building in a zoning-compliant location under Section 43.1-21(a), separated from any living quarters by floor-to-ceiling partitioning.
How much does a Norfolk tattoo parlor permit cost?
The permit fee is $1,800 a year under Section 43.1-14, covering a calendar-year license from January 1 through December 31. Applying after July 1 cuts the fee to $900 for that first partial year. A separate $200 plan review fee under Section 43.1-13 covers the director's review of the floor plan before the permit issues.
Is scarification or branding legal in Norfolk?
No. Section 43.1-5 makes it unlawful for any person to perform, undertake, permit, cause or allow scarification or branding of a human, regardless of whether the person or establishment holds a tattoo parlor permit. A violation is punishable under Section 43.1-1 as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
How old do you have to be to get a tattoo in Norfolk?
At least 18, with limited exceptions under Code of Virginia Section 18.2-371.3. Section 43.1-23(a) requires every client to present valid, government-issued photo identification showing a printed birth date, and the tattooer must verify and record the client's age and ID type in a permanent record kept for at least two years.

Sources & Official References

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All Norfolk rules

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