Tattooists and Applying Tattoos

RCNY tit. 24, ch. 22

in effect

24 RCNY § 22-01 License.

§ 22-01 License. No person shall engage in tattooing without having obtained a license pursuant to Subchapter 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 17 of the New York City Administrative Code.

24 RCNY § 22-02 Photograph Required.

§ 22-02 Photograph Required. Two (2) full-face photographs of an applicant shall be taken by the Department or by others approved by the Department when such an applicant applies for a license. One photograph shall be affixed to the license and the other maintained in the records of the Department.

24 RCNY § 22-03 Posting License.

§ 22-03 Posting License. A current and valid license issued pursuant to Subchapter 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 17 of the New York City Administrative Code shall be conspicuously posted by the person who holds the license at any place and whenever customers are on the premises where the licensee is applying a tattoo.

24 RCNY § 22-04 Advertising.

§ 22-04 Advertising. Advertising by a tattooist, except for alphabetical listings in telephone directories, shall include the statement "Licensed by the New York City Department of Health" and shall include the tattooist's license number.

24 RCNY § 22-05 Examination Required.

§ 22-05 Examination Required. No person shall be issued a tattooist license without first having attended a course and passed an examination administered immediately thereafter by the Department in infection control practices required for safe application of tattoos.

24 RCNY § 22-06 Disposable Equipment.

§ 22-06 Disposable Equipment. No tattoo shall be applied using other than sterile, disposable, single use, shaving razors, needles, and ink cups. Only single use paper stencils may be used. Such disposable equipment and tattoo dyes or pigments shall be discarded after each use.

24 RCNY § 22-07 Application to Clean Skin.

§ 22-07 Application to Clean Skin. No tattoo shall be applied to skin that is not clean and free from infection, rashes, sores, wounds, boils or other abnormalities of the skin tissue.

24 RCNY § 22-08 Equipment Cleaning.

§ 22-08 Equipment Cleaning. All non-disposable and reusable instruments and equipment shall be thoroughly cleaned with a detergent prior to sterilization by autoclaving after each use.

24 RCNY § 22-09 Facilities.

§ 22-09 Facilities. The premises where tattoos are applied, and all work areas and work surfaces therein shall be kept clean and sanitary and shall have adequate facilities for hand washing and separate facilities for washing equipment and instruments.

24 RCNY § 22-10 Tattooist Hygiene.

§ 22-10 Tattooist Hygiene. Before applying a tattoo, the tattooist shall wash his or her hands and forearms thoroughly with soap or detergent and warm water and shall wear a new pair of disposable, single-use latex examination gloves.

24 RCNY § 22-11 Written Consent.

§ 22-11 Written Consent. A signed written consent shall be obtained for each tattoo customer listing such customer's name, age, date of birth, address, telephone number, the date tattooed and body site tattooed. Consents shall be maintained by the licensee for a period of two years after the date of tattoo application and be available for inspection by the Department upon request.

24 RCNY § 22-12 Tattoo Care Instructions.

§ 22-12 Tattoo Care Instructions. The licensee shall provide the customer with written instructions regarding care of the tattooed area to prevent infection. Sample instructions shall be included in the licensees' informational publication issued by the Department pursuant to Subchapter 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 17 of the New York City Administrative Code.

24 RCNY § 22-13 Complaint Information.

§ 22-13 Complaint Information. A sign indicating that customers may register complaints at the New York City Department of Health, 125 Worth Street, New York, New York 10013, shall be conspicuously posted by the licensee at any place where the licensee is applying a tattoo.

24 RCNY § 22-14 Disposal of Equipment.

§ 22-14 Disposal of Equipment. Used tattoo needles and other sharp objects shall be disposed of in sharps containers approved for disposal of medical waste sharps. Dyes or pigments shall be disposed of in a manner that complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations regarding disposal of such materials.

24 RCNY § 22-15 Temporary License Fee.

§ 22-15 Temporary License Fee. The fee for a temporary license issued pursuant to Subchapter 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 17 of the New York City Administrative Code shall be $50.

24 RCNY § 22-16 License Denial, Suspension or Revocation.

§ 22-16 License Denial, Suspension or Revocation. An application for a license or a license shall be subject to denial, suspension or revocation pursuant to the rules of the Department (24 RCNY Chapter 7).

Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-43490Fetched: 10/24/2026