Body Art Facilities
Tattoo, piercing, and scarification facilities must be licensed through the health department. Understand the mandatory steps to operate a body art facility in Adams County.
Supporting and Licensing Local Tattoo, Piercing, and Scarification Facilities
Our team inspects all body art facilities in Adams County to ensure they comply with regulations and take precautions by the artist to prevent disease. We also process and investigate complaints received from the public.
Health Requirements
Call 720.200.1604 before constructing, remodeling, moving, opening, or modifying a body art facility. Before opening, an on-site inspection and approval are required. Final approval is also dependent upon payment of all associated fees.
Please review the updated Rules and Regulations for Body Art Establishments (BA-22) for a complete breakdown of all requirements.
Body Art Facility Documentation & Resources
Forms, applications, and example documents are available for all body art facilities.
Bloodborne Pathogen Required Training
Within 90 days of being hired or training certification expiration, all body artists must successfully complete an approved Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Course, obtain written certification of completion, and post the certificate in a visible location. Courses below meet the BA-22 requirements, but other options are available.
American Red Cross – Bloodborne Pathogens Training for Tattoo Artists
Cathy Montie – USA/International Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Training
Pacific Medical Training – Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) for Non-Medical Persons
Temporary Events
A temporary event is defined as an event or celebration at which licensed body artists may perform body art for no more than 14 consecutive days.
To participate in a temporary event, you must provide all the following documentation at least two weeks before the event. There is a $50.00 late fee if paperwork is not submitted two weeks before the event, and this may result in your application being denied.
Please note that, documents linked below are templates and will need to be updated with your facility’s information.
- Each Artist’s Application for Temporary Body Art Events
- Each Artist’s Hepatitis B Vaccination/Declination
- Facility Consent and Aftercare Forms
- Each Artist’s Annual Bloodborne Pathogen Training Certificate
- Facility Exposure Control Plan/Universal Precautions
The event inspector will review your packet and contact you to let you know what else may be needed for final approval. Please note that you cannot participate in the event without final approval.
You will receive final approval from the Adams County Health Department in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
All body art establishments in Adams County where body art procedures are being conducted are required to obtain an Adams County Health Department (ACHD) Body Art Establishment license. However, individual artists are not required to be licensed at this time.
See the Adams County Health Department Rules and Regulations for Body Art Establishments Regulation No. BA-22.
You must complete and submit a Body Art Establishment License Application to the Adams County Health Department. A pre-opening inspection by the Adams County Health Department is required; any violations noted during the inspection must be corrected, and all applicable fees must be paid prior to the approval of the license and operation of the establishment.
Section 5-516 of the Adams County Health Department Rules and Regulations for Body Art requires that all body art establishments shall be completely separated from areas used for human habitation. If you wish to open a Body Art facility, contact your local ACHD Environmental Health office for more information.
Contact your local ACHD Environmental Health office so a Body Art inspector can investigate and take appropriate action.
Contact ACHD and the local police agency where the offense occurred for enforcement. See Colorado Revised Statutes 25-4-2103, Parental Consent for Minors.
The hepatitis B vaccine is a 3-shot series and can usually be obtained by contacting your healthcare provider. Adams County Health Department offers the hepatitis B vaccine as well. You can also make an appointment with the Health Department to receive the vaccine by calling 303.451.0123.
Yes. If you will be performing body art procedures, a bloodborne pathogen course certification documentation is required within 90 days of being hired as a body artist. Body artists are also required to possess and demonstrate knowledge of Universal Precautions, disinfection and sterilization techniques, procedures for infection and exposure control, and are also required to have a waste management plan. These topics are taught in most bloodborne pathogen training courses.
Note: Other courses may be approved after review by ACHD; these courses must meet the definition of bloodborne pathogen course from Adams County Health Department Rules and Regulations for Body Art Establishments Regulation No. BA-16, Section 1-103(f). Call your local ACHD Environmental Health office for more information prior to taking the course to see if it can be approved.
Unannounced inspections are conducted once per calendar year, at a minimum; depending on the number and nature of any violations found during routine inspections, Adams County Health Department may inspect the facility at an increased frequency. In addition to routine inspections, the Body Art facility may be inspected pursuant to any complaints received by the Department.
See the Environmental Health Fees section of this website for the current license fee.
No. Adams County Health Department does not pro-rate any fees. Licenses are valid for one year, from January 1 to December 31.
No. Please arrange to pay the entire fee at one time. In addition to cash and check payments, Adams County Health Department will accept credit card payments through the web or over the phone.
Yes. On-site inspections will be conducted during the event to ensure compliance. Artists participating in temporary body art events must comply with all applicable sections of the Adams County Health Department Rules and Regulations for Body Art Establishments Regulation No. BA-16. A Temporary Event License Application must be completed and submitted by the event coordinator to ACHD at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed start date of the event. For more information, contact your local ACHD Environmental Health office.
Yes. Section 10-1001 of the Adams County Health Department Rules and Regulations for Body Art Establishment requires mobile body art establishments to obtain a Body Art Establishment License. Mobile body art establishments must comply with all applicable sections of the Adams County Health Department Rules and Regulations for Body Art Establishments Regulation No. BA-16 and must receive an annual licensing inspection from the Adams County Health Department. For more information, contact your local ACHD Environmental Health office.
All body art licenses expire on December 31 of every year, regardless of when the license was first issued. Invoices are sent out yearly in November, and renewal payment is due by December 31 of the same year.