Body art licensing

COVID-19 response

The safety of residents, business owners and employees is our primary focus.
We want to ensure retail personal services are restored in a planful, safe manner. This will help reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
Our physical office is closed to the public but we are available to answer your calls.
We are accepting applications via mail or the locked drop box outside our office.

Sanitation and safety standards

Hennepin County provides sanitation and safety standards for the regulation of body art establishments, and conducts plan review and licensing of the facility that provides tattoos, body piercings and/or permanent makeup operations.
Prevention of injury and disease is the goal of inspections and consultation with licensed artists at these facilities.
Operators may be subject to complaint investigations and enforcement, to ensure compliance with county ordinance.
Operators also must have a state-issued license to perform tattooing, piercing or permanent cosmetic tattooing.
Learn about Minnesota Health Department body art regulations.

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Body art ordinance proposed changes

We’d like input from licensed body art establishments on proposed changes to the ordinance that regulates body art, Ordinance 23:

Based on public input we may make further changes to the ordinance.

For opportunities at public input and updates to other possible changes to the ordinance, check this webpage.

Forms

Learn about Hennepin County Environmental Health plan review fees and application in the forms below. Please direct phone calls to 612-543-5200.

Plan review and initial license 2023 (PDF)

Hennepin County licenses and inspects body art special event booths within our inspection jurisdiction. Please review the application regarding the body art special event licensing process.

Body art special event licensing application 2023 (PDF)

Minnesota Department of Health information and applications

Body art regulations

Body art brochure (PDF)

Body art establishment exemption application (PDF)

Body art licensing program verification of credential (PDF)

Body art technician license application (PDF)

Guest artist license application (PDF)

Temporary body art technician license application (PDF)

City-county inspection jurisdiction

Cities where Hennepin County is responsible for regulating body art establishments

Brooklyn Center
Champlin
Chanhassen (Hennepin County part only)
Corcoran
Crystal
Dayton
Deephaven
Eden Prairie
Excelsior
Golden Valley
Greenfield
Greenwood
Hanover
Hassan
Hopkins
Independence
Long Lake
Loretto
Maple Grove
Maple Plain
Medicine Lake
Medina
Metro Airport
Minnetonka Beach
Minnetrista
Mound
Orono
Osseo
Plymouth
Robbinsdale
Rockford (Hennepin County part only)
Rogers
St. Anthony
St. Bonifacious
St. Louis Park
Shorewood
Spring Park
Tonka Bay
Wayzata
Woodland

Cities with their own inspections departments

Bloomington, 952-563-8934
Brooklyn Park, 763-424-8000
Edina, 952-927-8661
Minneapolis, 612-673-2170
Minnetonka, 952-939-8200
New Hope, 763-531-5100
Richfield, 612-861-9700

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