Tattoo Parlor Permit Requirements in Davenport, IA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Iowa Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Permit

   Required for businesses selling taxable goods or services in Iowa. The state rate is 6%, and local option sales tax of up to 1% may apply. Iowa taxes about 75 enumerated services, so check whether your service is taxable before assuming you need a permit. Register with the Iowa Department of Revenue online.

   Official government source

   Free — no fee to register for a sales tax permit·Register online through GovConnectIowa, the state's tax portal

   Free — no fee to register for a sales tax permit

   Register online through GovConnectIowa, the state's tax portal

2. Bloodborne Pathogens and First Aid Training (per artist)

   Every permitted tattoo artist in Iowa must hold current American Red Cross or equivalent bloodborne pathogens training plus separate first aid training. CPR/AED-only training is not accepted, and the certificate must show your name, the type of training, and an unexpired date. You submit the certificates to the Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing each year when you renew your artist permit, so the training has to stay current for as long as you tattoo.

   Official government source

   Training is bought from a private provider, commonly $20-$80 per course; the state charges nothing for the training itself (the artist permit application or renewal is a separate $75)·Most approved courses are finished online or in a half day

   Training is bought from a private provider, commonly $20-$80 per course; the state charges nothing for the training itself (the artist permit application or renewal is a separate $75)

   Most approved courses are finished online or in a half day

1. Iowa DIAL - Tattoo Establishment Permit

   A tattoo shop in Iowa needs an establishment permit from the Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL), which took over tattoo and body art regulation in the 2023 agency consolidation - not Iowa HHS and not the former Department of Public Health. Establishments must be in permanent, commercially zoned buildings, are inspected before opening and again each year, and no food, drink, alcohol, or smoking is allowed in the tattoo area. Every artist working there must hold their own permit with current bloodborne pathogens and first aid training.

   Official government source

   $100 application fee for a permanent establishment with 1-10 participating artists ($200 for 11-100, $300 for 101 or more); late renewal adds $25 per month delinquent·Permits run by calendar year and are renewed October through December; allow several weeks for application review and the pre-opening inspection

   $100 application fee for a permanent establishment with 1-10 participating artists ($200 for 11-100, $300 for 101 or more); late renewal adds $25 per month delinquent

   Permits run by calendar year and are renewed October through December; allow several weeks for application review and the pre-opening inspection

2. No General Business License Required in Davenport

   Davenport does not require a general, citywide business license. The Revenue Division licenses only specific categories, each with its own fee: alarm businesses ($50-$100), auctioneers ($150), billboards and signs, bicycles ($5), tobacco/nicotine ($25-$100 by term), closing-out sales, vehicle-related businesses, mobile food units ($55), live entertainment ($50), metal recyclers ($300), and pawnbrokers/secondhand/junk/antique dealers ($50-$500). Most professional and personal-service businesses — pest control, barbering, tutoring, insurance, cleaning, photography — are not licensed by the city at all. Check the category list, and call the Revenue Division at 563-326-7715 if unsure.

   Official government source

   $0 for most business types; listed categories carry their own published fees·Not applicable unless your activity is one of the listed categories

   $0 for most business types; listed categories carry their own published fees

   Not applicable unless your activity is one of the listed categories

Official Sources

• Iowa Department of Public Health — Tattoo Body Art Registration
• City of Davenport Finance Department

Related Guides