It is unlawful for any person to engage in the practice of tattooing at any place in the city without complying with the following regulations.
(A) Lavatory. Every place where tattooing is practiced shall be equipped with an adequate and conveniently located toilet room and hand lavatory for the accommodation of employees and patrons.
(1) The hand lavatory shall be supplied with hot and cold running water under pressure; shall be maintained in good working order at all times; and shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(2) Toilet fixtures and seats shall be of a sanitary, open front design, shall be readily cleanable, and shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(3) Easily cleanable, covered receptacles shall be provided for waste materials.
(4) Every lavatory facility shall be provided with an adequate supply of hand cleansing compound and single-service sanitary towels or hand-drying devices.
(B) Skin infections. It is unlawful for any person to perform tattooing upon any person having any skin infection or other diseases of the skin.
(C) Sterilization and disposal of bio-hazardous materials. All needles and razor blades shall be individually prepackaged, pre-sterilized, and disposable, and no such equipment shall be used on more than 1 customer. All bio-hazardous waste shall be disposed of in accordance with law. A licensee may use sterilizing solutions and methods for the purpose of sterilizing instruments other than needles and razor blades only if the licensee first provides to the city written confirmation that the sterilizing solutions and methods are approved by the Commissioner.
(D) Skin Preparation, aseptic technique. The following procedures shall be used for skin preparation.
(1) Prior to tattooing, the licensee shall ask every person to be tattooed whether he or she has had viral hepatitis in the preceding 6 months. No person suspected of then having viral hepatitis, or of having had viral hepatitis within the preceding 6 months, shall be tattooed unless he or she has the written consent of a licensed physician.
(2) Each practitioner shall scrub his or her hands thoroughly with soap and water and then dry them with a clean towel before and after each tattooing. Practitioners with skin infections of the hand shall not perform any tattooing services.
(3) Whenever it is necessary to shave the skin, pre-packaged, pre-sterilized, disposable, razor blades shall be used. All electric hair clippers shall be sanitized by a method approved by the Commissioner.
(4) The skin area to be tattooed shall be thoroughly cleaned with germicidal soap, rinsed thoroughly with water, and sterilized with an antiseptic solution approved by the Commissioner. Only single service towels and wipes shall be used in the skin cleaning process.
(5) After tattooing, a sterile dressing shall be applied to the tattooed area.
(E) Operating furniture. All tables, chairs, furniture, or area on which a patron receives a tattoo shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and either:
(1) Shall be covered by single-service disposable paper or clean linens; or
(2) Shall be impervious to moisture and shall be properly sanitized before and after each tattoo.
(F) Towels. Every practitioner shall provide single-service towels or wipes for each customer or person, and the towels or wipes shall be stored and disposed of in a safe and sanitary manner acceptable to the Commissioner.
(G) Outergarments. Every practitioner shall wear a clean, white, washable outergarment when engaged in the practice of tattooing, and before tattooing the next subject, shall remove, change, and replace with a clean outergarment any such outergarment that becomes contaminated with blood or other body fluids.
(H) Pigments. Pigments used in tattooing shall be sterile and free from bacteria and noxious agents and substances, including mercury. The pigments used from stock solutions for each customer shall be placed in a single-service receptacle, and the receptacles and remaining solution shall be discarded after use on each customer.
(I) Bandages. All bandages and surgical dressings used in connection with the tattooing of any person shall be sterile.
(J) Tattooing room. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the practice of tattooing at or in any place other than a “tattoo room.” Each tattoo room shall be separate and apart from all other areas of the establishment, not less than 100 square feet in area, and properly lighted and ventilated.
(K) Influence of alcohol and drugs. It is unlawful for any person to practice tattooing under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs, and it is also unlawful for any person to practice tattooing upon any other person who is under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs.
(L) Written instructions. The practitioner shall provide the person tattooed with printed instructions on the approved care of the tattoo during the healing process.
(M) Living quarters. No place licensed as a tattoo establishment shall be used or occupied as living or sleeping quarters.
(1998 Code, § 5.27, Subd. 12) (Am. Ord. 138, 5th Series, passed 3-1-2005) Penalty, see § 10.99