West Haven, CT Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Chapter 210 was adopted by the City Council of the City of West Haven on 9-23-2019 and is enforced by the West Haven Health Department through the Director of Health and authorized agents. Operating comes down to three layers: a license for the establishment, a bloodborne pathogen certificate for each artist, and Health Department approval of the space itself.

Before construction or remodeling, plans drawn in a minimum 1/4-inch scale plus manufacturers' specification sheets go to the Department with the license application. The site must be permissible under local zoning codes, with written approval from the Zoning Code Enforcement Officer submitted with the plans, and no human habitation or food service can share the space. Inside, lighting must reach at least 50 footcandles, every work station needs its own handwashing sink, and no live animals are allowed except guide dogs (§ 210-3).

The Director of Health or an authorized agent inspects each establishment at least once annually and can embargo any item believed associated with illness or infection (§ 210-2). Each artist holds a bloodborne pathogen certificate that is effective for one year and renewed by attending a seminar annually (§ 210-4A). A temporary establishment, limited to 72 consecutive hours at a single event, must apply no later than 15 days before the event, and one person, business or corporation cannot receive more than four temporary licenses each calendar year (§ 210-4C).

Procedures are spelled out in § 210-6. All needles and needle bars are single-use and sterilized, and a minimum of 25 ready-to-use sterilized needles must be on site. Equipment is sterilized for 20 minutes at 15.9 minimum pounds pressure at a minimum temperature of 250° F, and the autoclave gets a monthly biological test. Scarification, including branding and cuttings, is prohibited. Client records are kept for two years (§ 210-5G).