San Francisco, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issued by
- SF Director of Public Health
- Permit/card expiration
- June 30 annually
- Administrative fine range
- $25 to $1,000
- Governing article
- Health Code Art. 40
Summary
Every tattoo, piercing, branding, or permanent-cosmetics shop in San Francisco must hold a Department of Public Health permit before opening.
All body art facilities must obtain a permit issued by the Director.
(b) Every applicant for a body art facility permit shall file a written application with the Department, which shall state the name and address of the applicant, a description of the body art facility by street and number, the number of practitioners to be employed in the body art facility, together with a description of the experience and qualifications of each practitioner, and such other pertinent information as the Department may require. Such information shall be updated annually.
(c) A body art facility permit shall be subject to suspension or revocation by the Director, following a hearing, upon a showing satisfactory to the Director of a violation by the practitioner of state law, this
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Health Code Article 40 (Safe Body Art), implementing the state Safe Body Art Act, requires every body art facility to hold a permit from the Director of Public Health under § 4003(a). Applicants must file a written application naming the facility's street address, the number of practitioners employed, and each practitioner's experience and qualifications, updated annually. The permit can be suspended or revoked after a hearing for violations of state law, Article 40, or Department rules, and every practitioner working there must separately hold a registration card under § 4005.
Violations & Fines
Operating a body art facility without a health permit is a misdemeanor under state law, and the Department may impose an administrative penalty of $25 to $1,000 under Health Code § 4014.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a San Francisco tattoo shop need a city permit?
What happens for operating without a body art permit in SF?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Francisco
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