Body Art Facilities

Body Art Facility Licensing

Per Public Act 375, tattooing, branding, and body piercing done by one individual on another must occur at a facility licensed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of Public Act 375 is to set statewide requirements for body art facilities, thereby decreasing the risk of transmission of bloodborne diseases such as Hepatitis and HIV.

Although body art licenses are issued by the state, the program is administered by local health departments. To receive a license, a facility must:

1. Complete a plan review with their local health department.
2. Apply for a license with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
3. Pass an onsite inspection done by the local health department.

Once a facility has a license, it receives annual inspections. Inspections cover all aspects of the body art process, from set-up to the procedure itself to clean-up and sterilization.

In Michigan, any body art procedure that is not performed in a licensed facility (even if the procedure is done for free) is ILLEGAL!

For additional information, please visit "MDHHS Body Art Facility Licensure."