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

Article XIII of Chapter 95 sets Springfield's body art licensing scheme. 700 requires any person or entity operating a body art establishment, covering tattooing, cosmetic tattooing, body piercing, branding, and scarification, to hold an annual establishment permit from the health department, applied for with a $100 fee due by December 31 each year; miss that date and the late fee is at least double the regular fee. The permit is non-transferable and must be posted where clients can see it, and permit holders may only employ operators who carry their own valid permits.

701 requires each operator to individually apply and pay a $35 annual fee, also due December 31 with the same late-fee doubling, demonstrate knowledge of anatomy, skin disease, and infectious disease control, complete blood-borne pathogen training, and pass an approved exam with a 70% grade. 702 layers on operating standards: operators must be at least 18, glove up and rewash hands between clients, discard gloves after every procedure, and dispose of contaminated waste in biohazard-marked bags within 30 days. No one may perform body art on a minor without a parent or guardian present, consenting, and showing identification.

703 exempts licensed physicians and single-use stud-and-clasp ear piercing. 715 must inspect every permitted establishment at least once a year and can order violations corrected on a standardized report. 716, the department can suspend a permit immediately for noncompliance or, for repeated or serious health-threatening violations, revoke it permanently after a hearing that the permit holder can request within five days of written notice.