Before you begin

Look at our information about:

• How to open a new business
• Sewer Availability Charges (SAC)

What to know

Body Art businesses are:

• Responsible for making sure their business follows State and City regulations
• Inspected yearly

• Individual technicians:
  • Are licensed through the State of Minnesota
  • Must show proof of state license
  • Must follow Minneapolis regulations

Application

Body art businesses in Minneapolis are required to be licensed.

• Tattoo/Body Art Establishment application
• Read the Minneapolis Body Art Code

Submit your application

Submit your application to Business Licenses & Consumer Services

If you have questions, contact:

• 311
• Business Licenses

Plan review

Plans are required for any new or remodeled body art business. See the Body Art Plan Review guide

Submit the Body Art Plan Review application to the Health Department.

The application, in DocuSign, is the preferred method for applications for Body Art. On the site, enter your email address and name, then press begin signing. Then you can attach the items below along with credit card information for the fee.  

Body Art Plan Review application

Determine your plan review fee 

Attach to the application:

• Copy of your plans
• Body Art Technicians Summary form
• Client release form
• Aftercare instructions

Before opening your business, a Minneapolis health inspector must conduct a pre-opening inspection. 

If you have questions, contact 311. Ask for an Environmental Health supervisor.

Temporary events

Number and duration of events

A body art business or professional organization serving as a sponsor of a temporary event can have a maximum of:

• 10 body art events per year
• 21 days of events, regardless of the number of events held 

An individual who does not hold a current Minneapolis Body Art Establishment license serving as a sponsor of a temporary event can have a maximum of: 

• 4 body art events per year
• 10 days of events, regardless of the number of events held

Tattooing 

Submit the application with all required documents (listed on the application) and fee. 

Contact 311 if you have questions. Ask for an Environmental Health supervisor.

Body art artists

All participating body art artists must:

• Be licensed or permitted by the State of Minnesota prior to the event
• Show proof of license or permit to Minneapolis Health Department staff 

Submit the application with all required documents (listed on the application) and fee to Minneapolis Development Services.

Sponsor

Every event must have an event sponsor who:

• Submits the Tattoo/Body Art Establishment, Temporary Event Sponsor
• Makes sure the event follows state and local rules and regulations
• Makes sure artists have proper licenses and follow regulations and event guidelines

Complaints

Report concerns about a body art business

Disclaimer

Information on this page should be considered guidelines. If you have questions, feel free to contact us.