Kentucky Tattoo Laws

/Home/Tattoo Rules and Laws/Tattoo rules and laws-Kentucky

Kentucky Tattoo Laws

State Of Kentucky


211.760 Tattooing of humans by nonmedical personnel for remuneration Registration -- Administrative regulations - Compliance checks -- Exception Hearings.

No person shall engage in, offer to engage in, or carry on any business of tattooing of humans by nonmedical personnel for remuneration within the Commonwealth of Kentucky without first registering with the local health. department in the district or county in which the person is to perform tattooing, Registrations shall be valid for one (1) year. Applicants for registration shall pay a fee of twenty dollars ($20) to the local or district health department.

The Cabinet for Health Services shall promulgate administrative regulations relating to:

(a) Health and cleanliness of places of business in which tattooing is conducted;

(b) Sterilization of tattooing apparatus;

(c) Procedures to prevent the spread of disease or infection during or relating to tattooing procedures;

(d) Procedures to prevent the tattooing of minors without the consent of one (1) parent or guardian; and

(e) Such other administrative regulations as may be necessary to protect public health or properly administer the program requirements of this section.

Representatives of the cabinet or local or district health departments may visit tattooing facilities at any time during business hours to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. Representatives of local or district health departments shall visit each registered tattooing facility in their county or district not less than twice each year.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who engages in the application of permanent makeup.

Any administrative hearing conducted under this section shall be conducted in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B.

Effective: July 15, 1998
History: Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 426, sec. 312, effective July 15, 1998. -Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 3 18, sec. 108, effective July 15, 1996. - Created 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 385, sec. 1, effective July 14, 1992.



HB 407/FN (BR 1245) - J. Lee

AN ACT relating to public health.

Amend KRS 211.760 to prohibit any person from engaging in a business in
which the application of permanent makeup on humans is conducted, without
first registering with the local or district health department; remove the
restriction that registration of businesses providing tattooing or applying
permanent makeup only apply when conducted by nonmedical personnel for
remuneration; payable to the local or district health department; provide
that administrative regulations promulgated by the Cabinet for Human
Resources and which apply to health and safety factors, apply to places of
business conducting tattooing or permanent makeup application not just to
those conducting tattooing; require the promulgation by CHR of administrative
regulations relating to procedures for testing and qualification for
registration of tattoo and permanent makeup artists; allow CHR or local or
district health departments to inspect instead of visit places of business
conducting tattooing or permanent makeup application; require the inspection
instead of visit to occur not less than twice each year.



Feb 2-to Health and Welfare
Feb 3-posted in committee
Feb 8-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
Feb 9-2nd reading, to Rules
Feb 10-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for February 11
Feb 14-3rd reading, passed 91-0
Feb 15-received in Senate
Feb 16-to Business Organizations and Professions
Mar 9-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
Mar 10-2nd reading, to Rules
Mar 11-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for March 14
Mar 14-3rd reading, defeated 14-23

AN ACT relating to tattooing.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 211 to require persons engaged in the
business of tattooing to register with the local health department and have
present during the tattoo procedure a licensed registered nurse; penalty.

HB 416 - AMENDMENTS
HCS - Prohibit any person from engaging in or carrying on any business of
tattooing of humans by non-medical personnel for remuneration within the
Commonwealth without first registering with the local health department;
prohibit any person from engaging in the practice of tattooing of humans for
remuneration unless the person employs at all times during the tattoo
procedure a licensed registered nurse.
HFA (1, Riggs) - Require tattoo parlors to employ a person with first aid
training instead of a registered nurse.
SCS/CI - Delete requirement for presence of nurses; add requirement for
Cabinet for Human Resources regulations, inspections of facilities and
payment of an annual fee.
SCA (1, Johns) - Exempt persons engaged in the application of permanent
make-up from the provisions of the bill.



Feb 6-to Business Organizations and Professions
Feb 20-posted in committee
Mar 3-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with committee substitute
Mar 4-2nd reading, to Rules; posted for passage in the Regular Orders of
the Day for March 6, 1992; floor amendment (1) filed to committee substitute
Mar 6-3rd reading, passed 88-7 with committee substitute; received in Senate
Mar 9-to Health and Welfare
Mar 25-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with committee
sub. and committee amendment (1)
Mar 26-2nd reading, to Rules; posted for passage in the Consent Orders of
the Day for March 27, 1992
Mar 27-3rd reading, passed 37-0 with committee substitute and committee
amendment (1)
Mar 30-received in House; posted for passage for concurrence in Senate
committee substitute and committee amendment (1); House concurred in Senate
committee substitute and committee amendment (1), passed 85-3
Mar 31-enrolled, signed by each presiding officer, delivered to Governor
Apr 10-signed by Governor


211.760 Tattooing of humans by nonmedical personnel for remuner (.pdf)
Abstract: none. 211.760 Tattooing of humans by nonmedical personnel for remuneration -Registration -Administrative regulations -Compliance checks -Exception -Hearings. (1) No person shall engage in, offer to engage in, or carry on any business of tattooing of humans by nonmedical personnel for remuneration within t