Tattoo Parlor Permit Requirements in Omaha, NE

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. Nebraska Department of Revenue — Sales and Use Tax Permit

   Any business selling taxable goods or taxable services in Nebraska must hold a sales tax permit from the Nebraska Department of Revenue and collect tax at the combined state and local rate for the delivery location. Register online through the Department's business registration service or by filing paper Form 20; NebFile is the separate system used to file returns once you are registered, not the registration tool. Local city sales and use taxes are layered on top of the state rate and change by quarter, so use the Department's Sales Tax Rate Finder for the exact rate at each address rather than assuming a flat figure.

   Official government source

   $0 — the Nebraska Department of Revenue charges no fee to register for a sales and use tax permit, online or by paper Form 20.·Registering online, you are either assigned a Nebraska ID number at the time of registration or contacted by the Department within five business days for additional information. Allow about two weeks for a paper Form 20.

   $0 — the Nebraska Department of Revenue charges no fee to register for a sales and use tax permit, online or by paper Form 20.

   Registering online, you are either assigned a Nebraska ID number at the time of registration or contacted by the Department within five business days for additional information. Allow about two weeks for a paper Form 20.

2. Bloodborne Pathogen and First Aid Training (per body artist)

   To be licensed as a tattoo artist, body piercer, brander or permanent color technician in Nebraska, DHHS requires at least four hours of training completed within the three years immediately before application. That must include at least two hours of bloodborne pathogens (disease) training covering sanitation, infection control and sterilization, with a required examination testing sanitation, safety and emergency procedures, infection control including cross contamination and barrier control, and sterilization including autoclave use — plus a basic first aid class. You must attach proof of completion of both. The same two-hour bloodborne pathogens requirement (within the prior 24 months) applies to reinstatement, and all body art licenses for persons and facilities expire March 31 of odd-numbered years, so the training cycle is biennial rather than annual.

   Official government source

   Training is delivered by private providers, who set their own prices; DHHS charges no fee for the training itself and publishes no price. The DHHS body artist license fee is separate at $95 (prorated to $25 late in the licensing cycle).·At least four hours of training total, including a minimum of two hours on bloodborne pathogens with an exam, completed within the three years before you apply — not a half-day one-off.

   Training is delivered by private providers, who set their own prices; DHHS charges no fee for the training itself and publishes no price. The DHHS body artist license fee is separate at $95 (prorated to $25 late in the licensing cycle).

   At least four hours of training total, including a minimum of two hours on bloodborne pathogens with an exam, completed within the three years before you apply — not a half-day one-off.

1. Nebraska DHHS — Body Art Facility License

   Tattoo and body art establishments in Nebraska must be licensed as a body art facility by the DHHS Licensure Unit, Division of Public Health, under 172 NAC 44. The application requires a floor plan identifying restrooms, sinks, and any connecting building or living space, plus a completed self-inspection report. An expired license cannot be reinstated — a completely new application is required before resuming operations. Operating before the license is issued carries an administrative penalty of $10 per day, up to $1,000. Local city and county rules may add requirements.

   Official government source

   $150 body art facility license fee, reduced to $37.50 when issued in the low quarter of the cycle (October–December of even years or January–March of odd years). Name change $10. Licenses expire March 31 of odd-numbered years.·Submit the application, floor plan, and self-inspection and wait for DHHS approval before operating.

   $150 body art facility license fee, reduced to $37.50 when issued in the low quarter of the cycle (October–December of even years or January–March of odd years). Name change $10. Licenses expire March 31 of odd-numbered years.

   Submit the application, floor plan, and self-inspection and wait for DHHS approval before operating.

2. City of Omaha Business Licensing (no general business license)

   Omaha does not require a general business license. The city's Finance Department administers occupation taxes only on specific categories (restaurant/bar, telephone, hotel/motel, tobacco), and there is no City Clerk business license for ordinary businesses. Most trades on this list — food truck, handyman, tattoo parlor, personal trainer, HVAC, pet sitting, real estate, cleaning, grooming, salons, electrical, plumbing, fitness, massage, home bakery, pest control, auto repair, catering, notary, photography, barber, landscaping, tutoring, yoga, wedding planning, pressure washing, daycare, insurance — instead need a category-specific approval: a Douglas County Health Department food permit, a state professional license, Nebraska Department of Labor contractor registration, or a city building/trade permit.

   Official government source

   $0 — Omaha issues no general business license·Not applicable — there is no general license application; timelines depend on the category-specific permit you actually need

   $0 — Omaha issues no general business license

   Not applicable — there is no general license application; timelines depend on the category-specific permit you actually need

Official Sources

• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — Tattoo Body Art License
• City of Omaha City Clerk

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