Kings County, CA Public Health Rules: Syringe Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Licensed tattoo establishments only
- Sharps defined by
- Health & Safety Code §117755
- Container standard
- Rigid, puncture- and leak-resistant
- Needle-exchange siting
- Not addressed in county code
Summary
Kings County requires licensed tattoo shops to dispose of used needles and other sharps waste in rigid, puncture-resistant, leak-resistant containers under Sec. 15-113(18); the code has no separate household or needle-exchange rule.
The tattooing shop shall have proper facilities for the disposition of waste materials. Any sharps waste as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 117755 shall be separately disposed of in a rigid, puncture resistant container which when sealed is leak resistant and cannot be reopened without great difficulty.(19)Hand brushes, fingernail files: Each tattoo artist shall be provided with individual hand brushes and fingernail files.(20)Chest X-rays and other medical tests: Each operator and employee shall be required to have an annual chest X-ray and any other medical tests designed to detect communicable diseases determined to be necessary by the health department to protect the public health and welfare. (Ord. No. 584, § 2, 4-11-00)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 15-113(18), part of the county's tattoo establishment regulations in Article VI of Chapter 15, requires every licensed tattoo shop to maintain proper facilities for disposing of waste and to separately dispose of sharps waste, as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 117755, in a rigid, puncture-resistant container that is leak-resistant when sealed and cannot be reopened without great difficulty. This is the only sharps- or syringe-disposal standard in the Kings County Code; the code does not address general household syringe disposal or siting of needle-exchange or harm-reduction programs, which fall to state law and the county health department's discretion.
Violations & Fines
Failing to use a compliant sharps container is a code violation enforceable as a misdemeanor under Sec. 15-18, and can support suspension of the shop's health department license under Sec. 15-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kings County have a general household syringe disposal law?
What container must Kings County tattoo shops use for used needles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kings County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kings County to another location·View the California public health rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.