Whether you are at the gym, the pool, the park, or grocery store in Santa Clara County, the landscape is adorned with a myriad of body art designs and piercings, each telling a unique story of individual expression or personal significance. From intricate tattoos to elegant piercings to permanent cosmetics, the County embraces the diverse forms of self-expression that body art offers. However, alongside this flourishing industry comes the responsibility to ensure the health and safety of both practitioners and clients.

“Nowadays, body art is mainstream. As body art surges in popularity, the need for stringent permitting and routine inspections of body art facilities and practitioners has become extremely important to provide safe and secure environment for the community at-large”, says Marilyn Underwood, PhD, Director of Environmental Health.

Currently, the County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health oversees the permitting and inspection process for over 500 active body art facilities. Routine inspections, conducted by Registered Environmental Health Specialists, are key in upholding health and safety standards. Through rigorous education and enforcement efforts, the department aims to prevent infections and bloodborne diseases within the body art community.

Among the most common violations identified during inspections are issues related to cross-contamination prevention. From inadequate sterilization practices to improper use of protective equipment, these violations pose serious risks to public health. To address these concerns, practitioners are required to develop and implement Infection Prevention and Control Plans (IPCPs), outlining safe procedures and best practices.

Beyond being great body art professionals, in Santa Clara County, practitioners must undergo a registration process with the DEH to obtain a practitioner registration certificate. This process ensures that practitioners are knowledgeable about proper hygiene protocols and are committed to maintaining a safe environment for their clients.

Community members planning to get inked or a piercing, are urged to research their body art facility and practitioner to ensure they are permitted. Accepting body art from a practitioner that isn’t permitted is dangerous. In the County of Santa Clara Body Art program, identifying safe and permitted body art facilities is made simple through the display of County-issued permits and Body Art ID cards. These visible indicators provide assurance to clients that they are entering a facility that prioritizes health and safety.