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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>69435</law_id><section_number>15.2-912</section_number><catch_line>Regulation of tattoo parlors, body-piercing salons, and ear-piercing salons; definitions; exception</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="9">General Powers of Local Governments</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Public Health and Safety; Nuisances</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> regulate the sanitary condition of the personnel, equipment, and premises of <span class="dictionary">tattoo parlors</span>, <span class="dictionary">body-piercing salons</span>, and <span class="dictionary">ear-piercing salons</span> and specify procedures for enforcement of compliance with the disease control and disclosure requirements of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Tattooing or body piercing of minors" href="/18.2-371.3/">18.2-371.3</a>. <a id="paragraph-251114" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-912/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> For the purposes of this section:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Body-piercing salon</span>&#x201D; means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the skin to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Ear-piercing salon</span>&#x201D; means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the ear by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Ear-piercing salon</span>&#x201D; does not include the use of a mechanized, pre-sterilized ear-piercing system.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Tattoo parlor</span>&#x201D; means any place in which is offered or practiced the placing of designs, letters, scrolls, figures, symbols or any other marks upon or under the skin of any person with ink or any other substance, resulting in the permanent coloration of the skin, including permanent make-up or permanent jewelry, by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin. <a id="paragraph-251115" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-912/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> This section shall not apply to medical doctors, veterinarians, registered nurses, or any other medical services personnel licensed pursuant to Title 54.1 in the performance of their professional duties. <a id="paragraph-251116" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-912/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Localities requiring regulation of <span class="dictionary">tattoo parlors</span>, <span class="dictionary">body-piercing salons</span>, or <span class="dictionary">ear-piercing salons</span> by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall include in such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> authorization for unannounced inspections by appropriate personnel of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. <a id="paragraph-251117" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-912/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1983, c. 429, &#xA7; 15.1-28.3; 1997, c.; 2000, c. 842; 2001, c. 270; 2025, cc. 308, 322.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
