- (a) A tattoo studio must be in a permanent, nondwelling building or portion of a building which is in compliance with applicable building codes and must be in a location which is permissible under local zoning codes, if any. The tattoo studio shall be separated from living quarters by complete floor to ceiling partitioning and shall contain no access to living quarters.
(b) The tattoo studio or temporary location shall be maintained in a sanitary condition.
- (1) Work surfaces shall be cleaned and sanitized with hospital (grade) United States Environmental Protection Agency registered disinfectants or a 1:100 dilution of household bleach and water (1/4 cup bleach and 1 gallon of water).
- (2) Other environmental surfaces shall be cleaned with an all-purpose detergent-disinfectant.
- (c) The walls, ceilings, and floors shall be kept in good repair. Tattooing areas shall be constructed of smooth, hard surfaces that are non-porous, free of open holes or cracks, light colored, and easily cleaned. New tattoo studios shall not include dark-colored surfaces in the tattooing area. Existing tattoo studios with dark-colored surfaces in the tattooing area shall replace the dark-colored surfaces with light-colored surfaces whenever the facilities are extensively remodeled.
- (d) Tattoo studios or temporary locations shall have adequate lighting of at least 50 foot candles of illumination in the tattooing area.
- (e) Adequate ventilation shall be provided.
- (f) Each tattoo studio or temporary location shall be equipped with hand-washing facilities for its personnel with unobstructed access to the tattoo area such that tattooists can return to the tattoo area without having to touch anything with their hands. Hand-washing facilities shall be equipped with hot and cold or tempered running water, liquid germicidal soap, single-service towels or other approved hand-drying devices, and a refuse container. Such facilities shall be kept clean and in good repair.
- (g) Animals are not permitted in the tattoo studios or temporary locations, except for guide or service animals accompanying persons with disabilities, or nonmammalian animals in enclosed glass containers such as fish aquariums, which shall be outside the tattooing area.
- (h) Smoking shall be prohibited in the tattoo area. Consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be prohibited in tattoo studios or temporary locations.
- (i) The tattoo studio or temporary location shall be kept free of rodents and vermin and protected from infestation by insects.
- (j) If tattooing is performed where cosmetology services are provided, it shall be performed in an area that is separate and enclosed.
Source Note:The provisions of this §229.404 adopted to be effective March 1, 1994, 19 TexReg 1110; amended to be effective August 23, 1996, 21 TexReg 7660; amended to be effective July 12, 1998, 23 TexReg 6957.