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If you have questions that aren't answered here, please call:Antrim County:
1-231-533-8670
Charlevoix County:
1-231-547-6523
Emmet County:
1-231-347-6014
Otsego County:
1-989-732-1794
Body Art Licensing
Public Act 149, which was enacted in December of 2007, requires that individuals shall not tattoo, brand, or perform body piercing on another individual unless that tattooing, branding, or body piercing occurs at a body art facility licensed by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). Owners or operators of body art facilities will be required to apply for a body art facility license through MDCH.Body art is becoming increasingly popular and the implementation of PA 149 sets statewide requirements for body art facilities aimed at decreasing the risk of transmission of bloodborne diseases such as hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Licenses are issued by MDCH after a satisfactory inspection by the local health department or their authorized contractor from another local health department.
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan performs inspections for licensure for the four counties in the district - Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego. The Health Department of Northwest Michigan provides inspection services by contract with District Health Department #4 for licensure in Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties.
Exemptions from Body Art Licensing:- State of Michigan licensed physicians (MD or DO) or dentists who utilize body art procedures as part of patient treatment, as well as other licensed health care professionals working in the same office/health care facility as that physician and under the direct supervision of that physician.
- Facilities and individuals that only provide ear piercing services.
- Review the Public Act 149, Requirements for Body Art Facilities, and Frequently Asked Questions here
- Apply for a license from MDCH at the following link under Apply for a Body Art License. Include your three year licensure fee when submitting.
- When MDCH has received the licensure fee they will submit an inspection form to the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.
- You will receive a package of information from the Health Department along with a bill for the annual inspection fee. Inspection fees are charged by the Health Department for providing the inspection service. MDCH does not fund or reimburse the Health Department for performing inspections. Inspection fees are set by the local Board of Health.
- The inspector from the Health Department will contact you to schedule an inspection. The inspection fee must be paid prior to inspection.
- Satisfactory inspection results are communicated back to MDCH by the inspector so that MDCH may issue the license.
Laboratory Coordinator and Body Art Facility Inspector
phone 989-732-6878
j.harmon@nwhealth.org
Complaints regarding body art facilities may be submitted by filling out a complaint form at your local health department office, or by faxing a completed and signed complaint form to 989-732-3285, attn: Jacob Harmon. Click here to access the Complaint Form.
Note that complaints regarding body art facilities/operators/artists must be pertinent to the safe performance of body art procedures - such as unlicensed facility, facility cleanliness, proper hygenic practices, safe operation, underage client without parental consent, intoxicated client/operator, disease transmission, post-procedure complications, danger to public health and similar issues. The Health Department does not investigate complaints regarding the quality of workmanship or other aspects of the body art procedure itself where such quality issue does not endanger the client - such as misspellings or differences of opinion regarding procedure placement/orientation, artistic or other issues.
Related Links
MDCH General Body Art Information© 2007 Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency / Health Department of Northwest Michigan