[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Chambersburg 9-14-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-06. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as, and may be cited as, the "Borough of Chambersburg Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishments Ordinance."
To prevent and/or limit infection, disease, and other injuries, it is crucial that tattoo and body piercing establishments be licensed, inspected, and regulated to ensure compliance with uniform health and sanitary requirements.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all tattoo and body piercing establishments located within the Borough of Chambersburg.
In the event any provision of this chapter is inconsistent with a provision of any chapter of the Code of the Borough of Chambersburg or state law, the provision applying the stricter standard shall apply.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms, phrases, and abbreviations shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section.
AUTOCLAVE
An apparatus for sterilization, utilizing steam pressure at a specific temperature over a period of time.
BOARD OF HEALTH
The Board of Health of the Borough of Chambersburg.
BODY PIERCING
Perforating the skin for the express intention of insertion of any object, including, but not limited to, jewelry; provided, however, that the piercing of the ears shall be specifically excluded from the purview of this chapter.
BODY PIERCING ESTABLISHMENT
Any place where an operator performs or practices the art of body piercing.
CLIENT
The person receiving a tattoo or piercing on or in his or her body as a personal service in return for compensation.
HEALTH OFFICER
An individual appointed by the Borough Council or the Board of Health pursuant to Section 3101(a) or 3103(b)(1)(iii) of the Pennsylvania Borough Code, 8 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 101 through 3501.[1]
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
A disease of man or animals resulting from a transmittable infection, whether or not patent, apparent, unapparent, latent, clinical, or subclinical.
OPERATOR
Any individual, firm, company, corporation or association that owns or operates an establishment where tattooing and/or body piercing is performed and any individual who performs or practices the art of tattooing and/or body piercing on another person.
STERILIZATION
The process of destruction of microorganisms by physical or chemical means.
TATTOO/TATTOOED/TATTOOING
Any method of placing designs, letters, scrolls, figures, symbols, or any other marks upon or under the skin of a human with ink or any other substance, resulting in the coloration of the skin by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin. Microblading, a technique involving semi-permanent pigmentation of the skin, is expressly included within this definition and subject to the provisions of this chapter. Medical doctors or doctors of veterinary medicine acting in performance of their professional duties are specifically excluded from this definition.
TATTOO ESTABLISHMENT
Any place where an operator performs or practices the art of tattooing.
[1]
Editor's Note: See, specifically, 8 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3101(a) and 3103(b)(1)(iii).
The Board of Health of the Borough of Chambersburg shall have the duty to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
License required. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a tattoo and/or body piercing establishment without first obtaining a license to engage in such business in accordance with this chapter and unless abiding by the provisions hereof. An operator of a licensed establishment shall not perform any tattoo and/or body piercing services outside the licensed establishment premises within the Borough.
B. 
Application. Applicants for a license under this chapter shall submit to the Borough of Chambersburg a written application containing such information as required by the Board. The Borough Manager, or his or her designee, is authorized to promulgate forms, rules, and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
Investigation. Applications for licenses shall be referred to the Health Officer or his or her designee. The Health Officer or his or her designee shall perform an initial investigation of the proposed location prior to issuance of a license to determine if the premises complies with the health and sanitation provisions of this chapter.
D. 
Fee. Each applicant, before being granted a license, shall pay to the Borough a nonrefundable annual fee, which shall be set by Town Council by resolution.
E. 
Expiration. Each license shall expire on December 31 of the year in which such license is issued, regardless of the date of issuance.
F. 
Display. The license provided for in this chapter shall be posted conspicuously at the location where the applicant conducts the tattooing and/or body piercing.
G. 
Transfer. If the licensee moves his or her tattooing and/or body piercing business to another location within the Borough, the license may be transferred to such new location upon application to the Board giving the address of the new location. The new location must first be approved by the Board in the same manner as provided for in this § 261-7. A license shall not be transferable to any operator other than the initial applicant.
[Amended 3-25-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-03]
A. 
Health Officer. The Health Officer, or a designee thereof, shall conduct inspections of any tattooing and/or body piercing establishment at least once every two calendar years for the purpose of determining whether or not said establishment and the persons performing tattooing and/or body piercing therein are in compliance with all applicable provisions contained within this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person or operator of a tattooing and/or body piercing establishment to willfully prevent or restrain the Health Officer or a designee thereof from entering any licensed establishment where tattooing and/or body piercing is being performed for the purpose of inspecting said premises after proper identification is presented to the operator.
B. 
Reinspections. If an operator or a tattooing and/or body piercing establishment fails an inspection, a cease-and-desist order shall be issued immediately by the Health Officer. The operator shall pay a reinspection fee for each reinspection, and such reinspection(s) shall not count toward the minimum one inspection per two calendar years.
C. 
Inspection fees. The fees for any inspection or reinspection required under this chapter shall be established by resolution of Town Council from time to time.
Every operator of a tattooing and/or body piercing establishment shall comply with the following health and sanitation requirements. The Board may promulgate, from time to time, additional rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith pertaining to the health and sanitation of tattooing and/or body piercing establishments.
A. 
Premises. The entire premises of a tattooing and/or body piercing establishment shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition and in good repair in accordance with the following:
(1) 
The walls and floors of the room in which tattooing services are administered shall have an impervious, smooth, washable surface and shall be painted or finished in a light color. Carpeting is prohibited in tattooing areas.
(2) 
A toilet shall be located in the tattooing and/or body piercing establishment and shall be accessible at all times when said establishment is open for business. The lavatories shall be supplied with hot and cold running water, liquid soap, and single-use towels provided in approved dispensers. Carpeting is prohibited in all toilet rooms.
(3) 
The tattooing and/or body piercing establishment shall have a sink with unobstructed access supplied with hot and cold water which shall be located within each tattoo area or otherwise located within the overall workroom area. Within reach of the sink shall be antibacterial soap and a stocked single-use towel dispenser.
(4) 
During the period of May 15 through October 1, every door, window, and/or other outside opening shall be kept closed or shall be supplied with air curtains or tightly-fitted screens which are not torn or damaged in any way that may allow insect infestation into the tattooing and/or body piercing establishment.
(5) 
An easily cleanable waste container must be provided in the tattooing and/or body piercing area for waste materials.
[Amended 9-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-06]
(6) 
The telephone numbers of local emergency medical services and local police shall be prominently posted in the tattooing and/or body piercing area.
B. 
Equipment. All equipment used by the operator shall comply with the following:
(1) 
Single-service or individual containers of dye or ink shall be used for each patron, and the container thereof shall be discarded immediately after completing work on a patron in a double opaque plastic bag in a container with a tightly fitting lid. Any dye in which the needles were dipped shall not be used on another person. Excess dye or ink shall be removed from the skin with an individual, sterile sponge, gauze, or disposable paper towel or tissue, which shall be used on one person and then immediately discarded.
(2) 
All pigments, dyes, colors, and other related agents used in tattooing shall be free from bacteria, virus particles, noxious agents, and substances. The stencil, unless composed of acetate, shall be of a single use. If acetate stencils are used, they shall be washed and disinfected between uses. Designs drawn directly onto the skin shall be applied with a single-use article only. All bandages and surgical dressings used in connection with the tattooing and/or body piercing of a person shall be sterile and absorbent.
(3) 
All tables and other equipment shall be constructed of easily cleanable material, with a smooth, washable finish, and shall be separated from waiting customers or the general public by a panel or counter at least four feet high.
(4) 
A new, disposable, single-service safety razor shall be available for the operator's use for each patron. All other sharps, including needles and tubes, shall be of single use and sterilized in an approved manner as required by the Board and this chapter before use on each patron.
(5) 
All clean and ready-to-use needles, tubes, and instruments shall be kept in a closed glass or metal case or storage cabinet while not in use. Such cabinet shall be maintained in a sanitary manner at all times.
(6) 
The needles, tubes, and instruments required to be sterilized shall be so used, handled, and temporarily placed during tattooing and/or body piercing so that they are not contaminated. Nondisposable and nonautoclavable items such as machines, countertops, wash bottles, clip cords, knobs, lamp handles, procedure tables, and arm and leg rests shall be equipped with a disposable poly barrier or sleeve. New barriers and sleeves shall be used for each client.
(7) 
A steam sterilizer (autoclave) shall be provided within the tattoo and/or body piercing establishment for sterilizing needles, tubes, and similar instruments before use on any customer, person, or patron. Sterilization of equipment shall be accomplished by exposure to live steam for at least 30 minutes at a minimum pressure of 15 pounds per square inch, temperature of 260° F. The autoclave shall be provided with a thermometer reading ±2° accuracy and an accurate steam pressure gauge. Steam pressure gauge accuracy shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Autoclave effectiveness shall be validated by regular quarterly spore testing and conducted by a laboratory approved by the Board. Record of such testing shall be kept on the premises for a period of three years. Every three months, the operator shall be responsible for providing a copy of the spore testing results to the Board. A Class 5 steam sterilization integrator shall be used in all loads to be sterilized and shall be numbered so as to correspond with the lot number of the sterilized contents. Sterile packaged instruments shall be marked with a lot number, and a logbook shall be kept tracking the date of processing, contents, temperature, time, integrator result, spore test result, and the name of the person responsible for processing. Alternate sterilizing procedures may only be used when specifically instructed by the manufacturer of the sterilizing equipment and approved by the Board. A copy of the instructions from the manufacturer shall be maintained on site at all times. Use of manufacturer presterilized needles, tubes, and similar instruments shall be permitted, and a record of these items shall be kept on the premises for a period of three years. Lot numbers shall be marked on each presterilized item, and a logbook shall be kept tracking the manufacturer name, item description, date received, and expiration date (if any).
(8) 
All equipment user manuals, as supplied by the equipment manufacturer, shall be retained and stored at the tattoo and/or body piercing establishment and shall be provided to the Health Officer or his or her designee upon request.
(9) 
All instruments that are processed by sterilization must first be cleaned.
(10) 
All body piercing jewelry shall be made of high-quality stainless steel, gold, inert plastics, or other approved materials found to be safe for use in body piercing. Jewelry to be inserted shall be sterilized prior to insertion at the piercing site. All receiving corks used in body piercing shall be discarded after each use.
(11) 
All bandages and surgical dressings used in connection with the tattooing of a person shall be stored in a sterile manner.
(12) 
Needles and all other sharp instruments, along with gloves, gauze, and other materials contaminated with blood, shall be discarded by following the procedures of a reputable waste services company which collects, transports, and disposes infectious waste and is approved by the Board. Infectious waste disposal shall occur at least once during a calendar year, and record of such disposal shall be kept on the premises for a period of three years. Operators of a tattoo and/or body piercing establishment shall not store needles and other infectious waste materials on the premises for more than one year.
C. 
Operations and personnel.
(1) 
A signed statement from a licensed physician shall be provided to the Board annually, prior to issuance or renewal of a license under this chapter, confirming that, within the twelve months preceding the date of the statement, the operator was examined by the physician, a test of the operator's blood was performed, and the test results indicate that:
(a) 
The artist is free from all contagious and infectious diseases, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV; and
(b) 
The artist has completed a vaccination series or laboratory tests, which tests include hepatitis B surface antibody total, hepatitis C antibody test, and HIV-1 antibody test, or alternatively, antibody testing reveals that the artist is immune to certain diseases; or
(c) 
A vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons.
(2) 
The operator shall scrub his/her hands thoroughly with soap and hot water before starting to tattoo and/or body pierce. Hands shall be dried with individual, single-use towels. Clean surgical gloves (latex or nitrile) shall be worn by the operator when tattooing and/or body piercing. Gloves shall be used only once and then disposed of in a double opaque plastic bag in a container with a tightly fitting lid or any alternative manner as prescribed by the Board. Gloves shall be changed and properly disposed of each time there is an interruption of the tattoo and/or body piercing procedure, when the gloves become torn or punctured, or whenever the ability to function as a barrier is compromised.
(3) 
In addition to surgical gloves, personnel shall wear protective eyewear and a fluid-resistant mask when performing services if necessary for the procedure.
(4) 
Tattoo and/or body piercing establishment employees or operators are prohibited from working or providing services in a tattoo and/or body piercing establishment while having skin infections, open sores, and/or weeping dermatological lesions. Documentation from a licensed physician indicating that the condition is resolved or healed and no longer communicable or transmissible is required before returning to work.
(5) 
Tattoo and/or body piercing establishment employees or operators are prohibited from providing services or working in a tattoo and/or body piercing establishment while having an acute respiratory infection or other disease or condition which has been diagnosed to be in a communicable or transmissible condition. Documentation from a licensed physician indicating that the condition is no longer communicable or transmissible is required before returning to work.
(6) 
Prior to the procedure, the area to be tattooed and/or externally pierced shall be thoroughly scrubbed with an antiseptic soap or surgical scrub or preparation adhering to manufacturer guidelines for use of the specific product. Any oral skin piercing procedure shall be preceded by the client performing not less than one-minute, vigorous application of an antiseptic mouthwash. Waste materials shall be deposited in an easily cleanable, covered waste container provided in the work area.
(7) 
Only petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment as approved by the Board shall be used on the area to be tattooed and/or pierced during the tattooing and/or piercing procedure, and at the discretion of the operator. Such petroleum jelly or ointment shall be applied with sterile gauze.
(8) 
The use of styptic pencils, alum blocks, or other solid styptics to check the flow of blood is prohibited.
(9) 
No establishment licensed under this chapter shall attempt to remove a tattoo from any person or allow such a procedure to take place on its premises.
(10) 
Animals shall not be permitted in a tattoo and/or body piercing establishment, except where permitted by law. Animals are not to be tattooed in tattooing establishments. Animals are not to be tattooed with any of the instruments used in tattooing human customers.
(11) 
Ear piercing guns shall not be used for body piercing; such guns shall only be used for piercing ear lobes.
(12) 
During all hours of operation, a staff member or operator who has completed an approved course on the control and prevention of blood-borne disease must be present.
[Amended 9-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-06]
(13) 
During all hours of operation, a staff member or operator who has completed an approved course on the administration of adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and who has a valid certification therefor must be present.
[Amended 9-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-06]
D. 
Clients.
(1) 
No holder of a license hereunder, or the employee of such holder, shall tattoo and/or body pierce any person under the age of 18 years without first obtaining written consent from a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian of such person shall be present at the time of the procedure. All parental authorizations shall be maintained on file and be available for inspection for a period of seven years.
(2) 
No tattooing and/or body piercing shall be done on a skin surface that has a rash, pimples, boils, infection, or manifests any evidence of unhealthy conditions or infectious disease.
(3) 
All infections resulting from the practice of tattooing which become known to the operator shall promptly be reported to the Board, the Health Officer, or a designee thereof by the operator.
(4) 
Licensed tattoo and/or body piercing establishment personnel shall refuse service to any person who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
(5) 
Aftercare instructions shall be provided to each client following any procedure. Aftercare shall consist of both verbal and written instructions concerning the proper care of the body area involved and instructions to consult a physician if infection occurs.
(6) 
Each client shall complete an application prior to any procedure. This application shall include, at a minimum, the client's name, date of birth, proof of age, address, telephone number, procedure performed, date of procedure, name of employee providing service, and, if a minor, proof of parental or guardian consent and client's signature. All applications shall be retained for a minimum of three years and made available upon request to the Board.
A. 
Suspension and revocation of license.
(1) 
A tattoo and/or body piercing establishment license may be suspended or revoked by the Health Officer under any of the following circumstances:
(a) 
The application for such license contained one or more false statements;
(b) 
The operator has violated any of the provisions of this chapter; and/or
(c) 
The operator is convicted and pleads guilty or nolo contendere to an offense listed under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code relating to the conduct of business in the tattoo and/or body piercing establishment.
(2) 
The Health Officer shall serve the tattoo and/or body piercing establishment with written notice of said suspension or revocation, specifying the reasons therefor, before said suspension or revocation shall become effective. Service of said notice shall be deemed effective if delivered to the person in apparent charge of the tattoo and/or body piercing establishment.
B. 
Other penalties. In addition to the suspension and revocation of any license, as provided in § 261-10A of this chapter, any operator or other person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $600, and costs of the action. Each day that a violation exists shall constitute a separate violation.
Any person aggrieved by an action or decision of the Health Officer may appeal such action or decision to the Borough of Chambersburg Board of Health within 30 days.