Tattoo Parlor Permit Requirements in New York City, NY

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Free from the IRS — apply online and receive your EIN immediately upon approval; the IRS never charges for an EIN (avoid third-party sites that do). Federally required if you hire employees or operate as a corporation or partnership (including a multi-member LLC); a single-member LLC with no employees and no excise-tax liability may use the owner's SSN instead, though most banks ask for an EIN to open a business bank account.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate

   Free

   Immediate

2. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard Compliance

   Tattoo studios with employees who have occupational exposure to blood must comply with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030; in California, Cal/OSHA's equivalent standard, 8 CCR 5193): a written exposure control plan, hepatitis B vaccination offered free to exposed employees, proper sharps disposal, and annual training. Owner-operators with no employees are generally outside OSHA's scope, though state and county body-art rules still apply.

   Official government source

   No government fee; employer bears training, vaccination, and supply costs (vary by studio size)·Ongoing

   No government fee; employer bears training, vaccination, and supply costs (vary by studio size)

   Ongoing

1. NYS Public Health Law Article 4-A — Tattoo and Body Piercing Regulation

   New York State regulates tattooing and body piercing under Public Health Law Article 4-A. In New York City, the DOHMH is the local enforcement authority and administers all permitting. There is no separate state-level permit for studios in NYC — the city DOHMH license fulfills both city and state requirements. Studios outside NYC must apply to their local county health department.

   Official government source

   No separate state fee for NYC operations — regulated through DOHMH·N/A

   No separate state fee for NYC operations — regulated through DOHMH

   N/A

1. NYC DOHMH Tattoo Artist License

   NYC regulates tattooing under the Tattoo Regulation Act, NYC Administrative Code Title 17, Chapter 3, Subchapter 7 (§§ 17-354 et seq.): the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) licenses individual tattoo ARTISTS (exam + license), and there is no separate 'Article 47 studio operating permit' (Health Code Article 47 governs child care). Studios must comply with DOHMH sanitary requirements and are subject to inspection. New York State law separately requires body-art operators to comply with Public Health Law Article 4-A outside NYC.

   Official government source

   $100 per artist (2-year license) + $26 Infection Control Course; no separate studio operating permit fee exists·4–8 weeks (includes DOHMH inspection)

   $100 per artist (2-year license) + $26 Infection Control Course; no separate studio operating permit fee exists

   4–8 weeks (includes DOHMH inspection)

2. NYC DOHMH Individual Tattoo Artist License (per artist)

   Each tattoo artist working in New York City must hold an individual Tattoo License issued by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. To obtain the license, the applicant must complete a three-hour Infection Control Course offered by the DOHMH Health Academy. The license costs $100 and is valid for two years. The Infection Control Course has a separate fee of $26.

   Official government source

   $100 (2-year license) + $26 (Infection Control Course) = $126 per artist·2–4 weeks

   $100 (2-year license) + $26 (Infection Control Course) = $126 per artist

   2–4 weeks

3. NYC Department of Buildings — Certificate of Occupancy or Alteration Permit (if renovating)

   If you are converting or renovating a commercial space to operate as a tattoo studio in NYC, you may need an alteration permit from the NYC Department of Buildings and potentially a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy. The minimum permit fee as of 2026 is $130 (per Local Law 128 of 2024, effective December 21, 2025).

   Official government source

   DOB permit filing fees vary by scope and construction cost — verify the current minimum filing fee on the DOB fee schedule·4–12 weeks (depending on scope of work)

   DOB permit filing fees vary by scope and construction cost — verify the current minimum filing fee on the DOB fee schedule

   4–12 weeks (depending on scope of work)

Official Sources

• NYC Business — Tattoo License
• NYC DOH — Instructions for Applying for a Tattoo License
• NYS Health — Body Art Tattooing and Body Piercing
• NYS Public Health Law Article 4-A
• NYC Buildings — Certificate of Occupancy

Related Guides