The service of placing a tattoo or piercing on the body of a person for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes falls collectively under the term “body art”.
As of October 6, 2023, the construction, permitting, and operation of body art studios, as well as the certification of artists, are governed by the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Rules and Regulations for Body Art.
Below you will find requirements related to body art studio permitting and artist certification. If you have further questions, please contact your local Environmental Health Office or visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Body Art webpage.
Rules and Regulations for Body Art
Requirements for Permitting a Body Art Studio
Please note that the requirements for permitting a Body Art Studio include the submission of the following:
- A completed Body Art Studio Permit Application
- At least three copies of a detailed floor plan (8 1/2″ by 11″ minimum, drawn to scale)
- Payment of all applicable fees
- A fully completed Verification of Residency for Public Benefits Application (found on page 3 of the application – include a copy of supporting ID used for the form
Forward completed applications and noted documentation to the applicable County office:
Cobb Public Health Center for Environmental Health
1738 County Services Pkwy.,
Marietta, Georgia 30008
(770) 435-7815
Douglas Public Health Center for Environmental Health
4655 Timber Ridge Dr.
Douglasville, Georgia 30135
(770) 920-7311
Requirements for Obtaining Body Artist Certification
To begin the body artist certification process, you must first take the exam for each service you wish to provide (Tattooing, Piercing, and/or Microblading) at your local Environmental Health office. The fee for each exam is $50. Each exam is based on the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Body Art Rules, which should be reviewed as a study guide in preparation for your scheduled exam date. Upon successful completion of your exam(s), your results will be sent to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), and you will be contacted by email to initiate the remainder of the certification process. The following items will be required by DPH to complete the certification process:
- A completed Body Art Certification Application (emailed to you by DPH)
- Certificates indicating the successful completion of First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens/Universal Precautions, and CPR trainings
- A government-issued ID
- A signed and notarized residency verification form (provided by DPH)
- Hepatitis B vaccination status document or a signed declination
To schedule a time and date to complete your exam(s), please call the appropriate office:
Cobb Environmental Health
1738 County Services Parkway, 2nd Floor
Marietta, Georgia 30008
770-435-7815
Douglas Environmental Health
4655 Timber Ridge Dr.
Douglasville, Georgia 30135
770-920-7311
Body Art Program Fee Schedule
NOTE: A new Environmental Health fee schedule will go into effect on January 1, 2027. Click here for more information.
Plan Review
- Plan Review (New Facility): $250
- Plan Review for Existing Facility (New Owner or Remodel):
- No Changes: $110
- Minor Changes (equipment relocation and/or additions): $175
- Major Changes (structural changes): $235
- Plan Resubmittal: $110
Inspections
- Annual Inspection: $410
- Temporary Event Inspection (1 – 4 Days): $105
- Temporary Event Inspection (5 – 7 Days) : $155
Body Artist Certification
- Body Art Exam Fee: $50
- Guest Body Artist Permit: $105