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Skokie, IL Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

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

Key Facts

License cap
8 body art establishments Village-wide
Permit required
Body Artist Permit per practitioner
State registration
Illinois Dept. of Public Health, 410 ILCS 54
Training
OSHA bloodborne pathogen training annually
Vaccination
Hepatitis B vaccination documentation required
License term
Expires end of Village fiscal year
Home use
Not allowed in a residence

Summary

Skokie caps body art establishments offering tattooing, piercing, microblading, branding or scarification at eight Village-wide licenses under Village Code Section 26-954. Every shop must register with the Illinois Department of Public Health and each practicing artist needs a separate Body Artist Permit. The Village Manager reviews applications, including a criminal background check, within 30 days of filing.

(a)All establishments providing body art services such as tattooing, microblading, micropigmentation, piercing, branding or scarification are required to be registered with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and be in full compliance with the Act.(b)No person or entity shall operate a body art establishment in the Village without first obtaining a body art establishment license in accordance with the provisions of this Article. A separate Body Art Establishment License shall be required for each body art establishment location, regardless of whether such multiple establishments are operated by the same person or entity.(c)The number of licensed Body Art Establishments in the Village shall not exceed eight (8) at any given time.(d)Body Art Establishments shall not be allowed in a residence and do not qualify as a Home Occupation pursuant to Section 118-79 of the Skokie Village Code.

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 205 | Zoning: Supplement 89).

Full Breakdown

The Village of Skokie, Cook County, regulates tattoo and body piercing under Chapter 26, Article XX of the Skokie Village Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 19-3-C-4446 on March 4, 2019. Section 26-951 adopts the Illinois Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment Registration Act (410 ILCS 54) by reference, so a shop must also register with the Illinois Department of Public Health. Section 26-954 caps the number of licensed Body Art Establishments in the Village at eight at any given time, bars them from residences, and denies them Home Occupation status under Section 118-79 of the zoning code.

Section 26-955 requires every practicing body artist, whether or not a Village resident, to hold a separate Body Artist Permit tied to a licensed establishment. 1030, and proof of hepatitis B vaccination, all kept on file at the establishment for Village inspection. Section 26-956 exempts licensed electrologists, acupuncturists, physicians treating scar tissue, and single-use stud-and-clasp ear piercing. Section 26-958 requires the Village Manager or designee to complete a criminal background investigation of the applicant, or of an entity's owners and officers, within 30 days of receiving the application.

Licenses and permits expire at the end of the Village's fiscal year under Section 26-960 and must be prominently displayed at the location where services are performed.

Violations & Fines

Section 26-959 lets the Village Manager deny, refuse to renew, suspend or revoke a license or permit for a disqualifying felony or misdemeanor conviction, immoral conduct, fraudulent application statements, unpaid Village fees or fines, or inadequate training. Section 26-961 authorizes immediate temporary suspension without a hearing when evidence shows criminal behavior or a public danger, with a Village Manager hearing required within 30 calendar days. Operating without a license or permit violates Section 26-954 or 26-955.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tattoo or body art shops can operate in Skokie?
Section 26-954 caps the number of licensed Body Art Establishments at eight at any given time Village-wide. A separate license is required for each location even if the same owner operates more than one shop, and once the cap of eight is reached no new establishment license can be issued until one is surrendered or revoked.
Can I open a tattoo studio in my home in Skokie?
No. Section 26-954(d) states that Body Art Establishments are not allowed in a residence and do not qualify as a Home Occupation under Section 118-79 of the zoning code, so a separate licensed commercial location is required for any tattooing, piercing, microblading or branding business.
What training does a Skokie body artist need?
Section 26-957 requires evidence of training in each procedure performed, such as an apprenticeship, plus annual OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Training documentation under 29 CFR 1910.1030 completed before providing services, and proof of hepatitis B vaccination. Records must be kept at the establishment and produced to the Village on request.
Is stud-gun ear piercing exempt from Skokie's licensing rule?
Yes. Section 26-956(d) exempts individuals who pierce only the non-cartilaginous portion or lobe of the ear using a pre-sterilized single-use stud-and-clasp ear-piercing system from the body art licensing article, along with licensed electrologists, acupuncturists and physicians treating scar tissue.
Can Skokie suspend a body art license without a hearing first?
Yes, temporarily. Section 26-961 lets the Village Manager immediately suspend a license or permit without a prior hearing when evidence shows criminal behavior or danger to the public, but a hearing before the Village Manager must then be held within 30 calendar days of the suspension.

Sources & Official References

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