Ventura County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- Environmental Health Division
- Covers
- Temporary body-art facilities and booths
- Underlying state law
- Safe Body Art Act, H&S Code Ch. 7
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Ventura County only
Summary
Tattoo and body-art operators in unincorporated Ventura County must hold a permit or registration from the county's Environmental Health Division before working.
Each person subject to the permit and/or registration requirements of MWMA, SBAA, or this Article shall obtain a permit and/or registration from the Environmental Health Division of the Resource Management Agency. No temporary body art facility may conduct business without a temporary body art facility permit. A sponsor of a temporary event that includes a body art demonstration booth must obtain a body art sponsor permit prior to the event.
(Ord. No. 4448, 6-5-2012)
4568-1 - Expiration and renewal of SBAA permits and registrations. (a)Each health permit and each practitioner registration issued pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 119306, 119312, or 119316, subdivision (a), expires one calendar year after issuance unless renewed by the Environmental Health Division.(b)Each health permit issued pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 119317 or 119318 expires on the sooner of the last day of the temporary body art event or the time period specified on the permit. (Ord. No. 4448, 6-5-2012)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Under the county's Safe Body Art Act implementation, every person subject to permit or registration requirements must obtain that permit or registration from the Environmental Health Division of the Resource Management Agency. Temporary body-art facilities (mobile tattoo vans) and sponsors of temporary body-art demonstration booths each need their own separate permit issued before operating or hosting the event.
Violations & Fines
Before imposing an administrative penalty under Health & Safety Code §§ 118330 or 119323, the Director must give written notice; the operator has 15 days to request a hearing or the penalty is imposed without one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a tattoo shop in Oxnard need this county permit?
Can a mobile tattoo van operate without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
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