Tattoo Parlor Permit Requirements in Milwaukee, WI

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. Wisconsin Department of Revenue - Seller's Permit

   Required of every individual, partnership, corporation or other organization with a Wisconsin sales location making retail sales of taxable products or taxable services, with limited exceptions for wholesalers, manufacturers and certain marketplace sellers. The permit is issued through Business Tax Registration, which also covers withholding and use tax accounts. Rates: 5% state; seventy counties add 0.5%; Milwaukee County is 0.9% and the City of Milwaukee adds 2%, both effective January 1, 2024, so the rate inside Milwaukee is 7.9% - the only Wisconsin city with a municipal sales tax.

   Official government source

   $20 one-time Business Tax Registration fee, then $10 to renew every two years - it is not free. The $20 is the same regardless of how many locations need a seller's permit. DOR can additionally require a security deposit of up to $15,000 in some cases, returned after 24 consecutive months of compliance.·Register online through My Tax Account. DOR does not publish a guaranteed processing time - contact [email protected] or 608-266-2776 to check status.

   $20 one-time Business Tax Registration fee, then $10 to renew every two years - it is not free. The $20 is the same regardless of how many locations need a seller's permit. DOR can additionally require a security deposit of up to $15,000 in some cases, returned after 24 consecutive months of compliance.

   Register online through My Tax Account. DOR does not publish a guaranteed processing time - contact [email protected] or 608-266-2776 to check status.

2. Bloodborne Pathogen Training (per artist)

   Employers of tattoo artists must comply with the federal OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, which requires bloodborne pathogen training for employees with occupational exposure. This is a federal workplace-safety requirement, not a Wisconsin-specific credential, and it is not administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

   Official government source

   No government fee - OSHA does not charge for training. Course prices are set by private training providers.·Training must be provided at the time of initial assignment to tasks with occupational exposure and at least annually thereafter (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)).

   No government fee - OSHA does not charge for training. Course prices are set by private training providers.

   Training must be provided at the time of initial assignment to tasks with occupational exposure and at least annually thereafter (29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)).

1. Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment License

   Tattoo establishments are licensed under the Wisconsin DSPS Tattoo and/or Body Piercing Establishment credential, not by the Department of Health Services. In Milwaukee the City Clerk's License Division issues the Tattoo and Body Piercing license directly, running July 1 to June 30 annually, with a separate Temporary Tattoo and Body Piercing license for events. Everyone working there must complete bloodborne pathogen and infection control training.

   Official government source

   City of Milwaukee Tattoo and Body Piercing license: fee varies based upon the services offered; Temporary Tattoo and Body Piercing (event duration) $250 - City of Milwaukee License Division. The statewide DSPS establishment credential is $220, renewing annually on June 30 ($245 with late fee).·Not published by DSPS - initial applications are filed at license.wi.gov. The Milwaukee license runs July 1 to June 30 regardless of when it is issued.

   City of Milwaukee Tattoo and Body Piercing license: fee varies based upon the services offered; Temporary Tattoo and Body Piercing (event duration) $250 - City of Milwaukee License Division. The statewide DSPS establishment credential is $220, renewing annually on June 30 ($245 with late fee).

   Not published by DSPS - initial applications are filed at license.wi.gov. The Milwaukee license runs July 1 to June 30 regardless of when it is issued.

2. No general business license in Milwaukee

   Milwaukee has no general business license. The City Clerk's License Division publishes the complete list of licenses and permits it administers, and every entry is a specific regulated activity (alcohol, cigarette and tobacco, food dealer, massage establishment, secondhand dealer, home improvement contractor, public entertainment premises, snow plowing, weights and measures and the like). The Department of City Development does not issue business licenses at all. What most businesses actually need from the City is a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Neighborhood Services before opening a commercial space, plus any specific license that matches their activity.

   Official government source

   $0 for a general license (none exists). Certificate of Occupancy fee varies by proposed use, size of space and how long it was vacant, plus a $6 processing fee and a 1.6% IT and Training surcharge.·Not applicable for a general license.

   $0 for a general license (none exists). Certificate of Occupancy fee varies by proposed use, size of space and how long it was vacant, plus a $6 processing fee and a 1.6% IT and Training surcharge.

   Not applicable for a general license.

Official Sources

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services — Tattoo and Body Art Establishment Permit
• City of Milwaukee Department of City Development

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