Philadelphia Code 6-700 plus Pennsylvania Department of Health rules govern tattoo, piercing, and body-art studios. Operators need a Department of Public Health body-art license, sterilization protocols, parental consent for minors, and a Commercial Activity License from L&I.
Philadelphia Code Title 6 Chapter 6-700 designates tattoo, piercing, and body-modification studios as regulated body-art establishments. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health issues body-art licenses, inspecting for autoclave sterilization, single-use needles, hand-washing sinks, biohazard disposal, and trained operators. Pennsylvania does not occupational-license tattoo artists statewide, so Philadelphia's local rules dominate. Operators also need a Commercial Activity License and zoning compliance under Title 14. Tattooing or piercing minors under 18 requires written parental consent on site; some piercings on minors are limited regardless of consent. Mobile and home-based tattooing is generally prohibited inside city limits.
Operating without a Health Department body-art license, tattooing a minor without consent, or skipping sterilization standards can bring fines up to $2,000 per day under Code 1-109, license revocation, and disease-control investigations by Health.
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