Chapter 22: Tattooists and Applying Tattoos

§ 22-01 License.

No person shall engage in tattooing without having obtained a license pursuant to Subchapter 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 17 of the New York City Administrative Code.

§ 22-02 Photograph Required.

Two (2) full-face photographs of an applicant shall be taken by the Department or by others approved by the Department when such an applicant applies for a license. One photograph shall be affixed to the license and the other maintained in the records of the Department.

§ 22-03 Posting License.

A current and valid license issued pursuant to Subchapter 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 17 of the New York City Administrative Code shall be conspicuously posted by the person who holds the license at any place and whenever customers are on the premises where the licensee is applying a tattoo.

§ 22-04 Advertising.

Advertising by a tattooist, except for alphabetical listings in telephone directories, shall include the statement "Licensed by the New York City Department of Health" and shall include the tattooist's license number.

§ 22-05 Examination Required.

No person shall be issued a tattooist license without first having attended a course and passed an examination administered immediately thereafter by the Department in infection control practices required for safe application of tattoos.

§ 22-06 Disposable Equipment.

No tattoo shall be applied using other than sterile, disposable, single use, shaving razors, needles, and ink cups. Only single use paper stencils may be used. Such disposable equipment and tattoo dyes or pigments shall be discarded after each use.