(a)
No tattooing shall be done on skin surfaces which have rash, pimples,
boils, or infections or manifest any evidence of unhealthful conditions.
(b)
No tattoo shall be administered to any person under the age of 18
years of age.
(c)
No tattooing shall be performed on any person who has given a history
of jaundice or hepatitis infection within the previous 30 days.
(d)
Specified anatomical areas shall not be exposed in publicly accessible
areas of the tattoo parlor business or viewable from the public right-of-way.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94; Ord. No. 2019-09, § 6, 9-11-19)
(a)
The operator shall be free of communicable diseases and have no pustular
skin lesions.
(b)
The operator shall not smoke during the tattoo operation.
(c)
The operator shall wear a clean, light-colored, short-sleeved smock
during the tattoo operation.
(d)
The operator shall wear disposable gloves during the tattooing operation.
(e)
No tattoo parlor shall be operated in conjunction with nor share
any operating space with any other business. Service of alcohol, marijuana/cannabis
based substances, or other controlled substance shall not be permitted
in conjunction with a tattoo parlor.
(f)
The entrance door shall be 100% clear and free of obstructions such
as signs, window tinting, shelving, or racks. Storefront window openings
shall provide an unobstructed view of the interior of the premises.
(g)
The operator shall ensure that specified anatomical areas of customers
shall not be exposed in publicly accessible areas of the business
or viewable from the public right-of-way.
(h)
The operator of a tattoo parlor shall prevent loitering and loud
noises around the subject site during and after the hours of business
operations.
(i)
The property shall be developed and maintained in a neat, quiet,
and orderly condition and operated in a manner so as not to be detrimental
to adjacent properties and occupants. This shall encompass the maintenance
of exterior façades of the building, designated parking areas
serving the use, walls and fences and the perimeter of the site (including
all public parkways).
(j)
The operator of the tattoo parlor shall comply with all applicable
state and local laws as they may be amended from time to time, including
Health and Safety Code Sections 119300 et seq., (California Safe Body
Art Act), Penal Code Section 653, and County of San Diego Department
of Environmental Health regulations.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94; Ord. No. 2019-09, § 6, 9-11-19)
(a)
Before working on a customer, the tattoo artists shall cleanse their
hands and arms in the following manner:
(1)
Thoroughly scrub hands and fingernails with water, soap, and a hand
brush. The upper arms to the elbow shall be scrubbed with soap;
(2)
Rinse hands and upper arms with running water;
(3)
Rinse hands with an approved antiseptic solution such as 70% alcohol;
(4)
Hands and arms may be dried with clean, individual, single-use towels;
(b)
The area of the customer's skin to be tattooed shall be prepared
by:
(1)
Washing with water and soap. A sterile hand brush, in conjunction
with water and soap, shall be used to produce a clean skin area;
(2)
After washing of the skin surface, shaving shall be done with a new,
single-service blade. The blade shall be discarded in the proper manner
after use. Reusable blade holders shall be sterilized in an autoclave
after each use. If disposable blade holders are used, they may be
used on one customer only and then shall be disposed of in an approved
manner;
(3)
Following shaving, the skin shall be prepared by thoroughly washing
with soap, followed by gentle scrubbing of the skin with 70% isopropyl
alcohol or Betadyne three times, using a separate sterile gauze pad
each time;
(4)
Petroleum jelly to be used for stencils shall be dispensed from a
disposable, single-use, collapsible tube or container approved by
the health officer and shall be applied with sterile gauze, sterile
tongue blade, or sterile applicator stick onto the area to be tattooed.
The container shall be discarded following a single use.
(c)
During the tattoo operation, dyes, inks, and bodily fluids shall
be removed with sterile material and properly disposed of at the end
of the tattoo operation.
(d)
The tattooed skin surface shall be treated in the following manner:
(1)
The tattooed skin surface shall be washed with a sterile gauze saturated
with 70% alcohol solution.
(2)
The tattooed skin surface shall be allowed to air dry.
(3)
The tattooed skin surface may be treated with Bacitracin ointment
applied with a sterile applicator from single-use tubes of ointment.
Unused portions of the ointment shall be discarded.
(4)
The tattooed skin surface shall be loosely covered with a dry, sterile
gauze dressing with adhesive to permit free circulation of air.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94)
(a)
All pigments, dyes, and equipment shall be steam sterilized in an
autoclave with at least 15 pounds pressure per square inch (two hundred
fifty-one degrees (251() Fahrenheit) for at least 15 minutes. Autoclaves
shall not be overloaded. Equipment shall be loosely packed in the
autoclave. There shall be sufficient equipment on hand in each establishment
to handle 24 hours tattooing without having to resterilize.
(b)
Instruments and equipment that shall be steam sterilized shall include
but not be limited to:
Dyes, pigments,
Paper towels, napkins,
Charcoal,
Needle tubes,
Needles,
Wiping clothes.
(c)
All equipment shall be thoroughly cleaned before being sterilized.
Instruments shall be cleaned with soap or detergents by use of a brush.
Interior of needle barrels shall be brushed. After cleaning, equipment
shall be thoroughly rinsed under running, fresh, tap water.
(d)
Each piece of equipment shall be individually wrapped with paper
in an approved method for autoclaving. Metal foil may not be used.
Tattooing needles shall be threaded through the metal tube that attaches
to the tattooing vibrator and shall be placed in a glass (or plastic)
test tube with a cotton plug for autoclaving. Gauze may be placed
at the bottom of the test tube to prevent damage to needle tips. Wiping
tissues shall be sterilized in a single pack to be used for one tattoo
only and then discarded.
(e)
All packs shall be marked with temperature recording tape or labels.
(f)
The packages in which equipment is sterilized shall be dated with
date of autoclaving. Equipment shall not be used 30 days or more after
autoclaving without being resterilized.
(g)
Dyes or inks shall be used from squeeze bottle containers in which
the dyes or inks have been sterilized in an autoclave. Dye shall be
kept in a sterile condition, and the dye bottles filled with dye shall
be autoclaved at least once a week or more often, if necessary, to
keep the dye in a sterile condition. Refilling of partially depleted
squeeze bottle containers with dyes or inks shall necessitate subjecting
the bottle and its contents to the sterilization procedure.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94)
(a)
Reusable stencils shall be sanitized by immersion in a chlorine solution
containing no less than 100 parts per million (ppm) of chlorine (one
ounce of household bleach [5.25 percent] with one quart of water).
The sanitizing solution may not be used for more than 30 minutes after
preparation.
(b)
The stencil shall be scrubbed with soap and a brush after use to
remove all accumulations of carbon and Vaseline in the etched grooves
of the stencil. The stencil shall be dried on a clean towel.
(c)
The dried stencil shall be sanitized by immersing in the chlorine
solution, design side down, for at least 10 minutes.
(d)
The sanitized stencil shall be rinsed in tap water and may be air
dried with clean, sterile paper towels. The stencil shall be stored
in a clean folder or envelope.
(e)
Prior to use, each precleaned stencil shall be wiped with a piece
of sterile gauze soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol. The stencil shall
be allowed to air dry while other preparatory steps are being taken.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94)
(a)
Dyes or inks shall be from an approved source of supply. The tattoo
parlor permittee shall submit to the enforcement officer, in writing,
the source of the dyes and inks used in their establishment.
(b)
Dyes or inks to be immediately used in tattooing shall be dispensed
from the sterile dye bottles into sterile paper cups. Upon completion
of the tattooing, the paper cups and remaining dye shall be discarded
in the appropriate manner. Any dye in which a needle was dipped shall
not be used on another customer.
(c)
Styptics shall be single-use only. Styptic material shall be dispensed
only from single-use containers then discarded after use on one customer.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94)
All infections resulting from the practice of tattooing shall
be reported to the health officer by the person owning or operating
the tattoo establishment.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94)
(a)
The permit holder shall maintain proper records of each customer.
The records shall include the following information:
(b)
The information required in subsection (a) of this section shall be permanently recorded in ink or indelible pencil in a bound book kept solely for this purpose. This book shall be available at reasonable hours for examination by the enforcement officer and shall be kept in the establishment for a minimum of six months.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94)
(a)
The premises of a tattoo parlor shall be maintained in a clean and
sanitary manner at all times, free from vermin or rodent infestation
and excessive dust and dirt.
(b)
The walls and ceilings shall be easily cleanable, smooth-surfaced,
and light-colored. All walls and ceilings shall be kept in a clean
condition and in good repair.
(c)
The floor surfaces shall be of smooth, nonabsorbent material and
constructed so as to be easily cleanable. The floors shall be kept
in a clean condition and in good repair.
(d)
Adequate lighting and ventilation shall be provided.
(e)
Each tattoo establishment shall have a sink for the exclusive use
of the tattoo artist for hand washing and preparing the customers
for tattooing. The sink shall be supplied with hot and cold running
water under pressure to a mixing-type faucet, a soap dispenser with
soap, and single-use paper towels from a dispenser.
(f)
Water closet and hand basin shall be available on the premises for
use by customers and tattoo artists. The plumbing fixtures and toilet
room shall be maintained in a sanitary condition and in good repair.
(g)
All needles and instruments shall be stored in a manner so as to
provide protection from contamination after sterilization. Adequate
storage shall be provided for all needles and instruments.
(h)
Operating tables shall be constructed of metal or white enamel or
porcelain finish or stainless steel. The operating tables shall be
separated from observers and waiting customers by at least ten feet.
(i)
No smoking shall be permitted in the tattooing area.
(j)
Tattooing shall be the only activity conducted in a tattoo parlor
establishment. Waivers for this section can be authorized by the County
of San Diego Health Department.
(k)
Adequate, approved containers shall be provided for the disposal
of wastes.
(l)
Instruments, dyes, inks, pigments, carbon, stencils, and other paraphernalia
used in the tattoo parlor shall be stored exclusively in approved,
closed cabinets.
(m)
No animals shall be allowed in the tattoo parlor at any time.
(Ord. No. 94-19 § 1, 6-15-94; Ord. No. 94-35 § 2, 9-11-94)
Potentially biohazardous waste materials generated by tattoo
parlor establishments and mobile tattoo vehicles shall be disposed
of in the following manner:
(a)
Sharps—which are objects or devices having acute rigid corners,
edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing—including,
but not limited to, hypodermic needles, tattoo needles, blades, and
slides, shall be disinfected and disposed of by one of the following
methods:
(1)
By a cold disinfection method when used strictly in accordance to
instructions and which has been approved by the state Department of
Health Services. The sharps disposed of in this manner may be disposed
of via the municipal solid waste hauler. Prior to pickup by the municipal
solid waste hauler, the cold disinfection container shall be stored
in a locked trash dumpster or a secured trash area to prevent tampering;
(2)
By disposal via a permitted biohazardous waste hauler or a State
of California authorized medical waste hauler who possesses a permit
from the appropriate regulatory agency;
(3)
By autoclaving the sharps to be disposed of for at least 30 minutes
at 15 pounds per square inch (psi) at a temperature of two hundred
fifty degrees (250°) Fahrenheit, bound in packs with temperature-sensitive,
indicating tape. Once sterilized, the sharps must be contained before
disposal in the municipal landfill;
(4)
Other disposal methods approved by the state Department of Health
Services or the local health officer.
(b)
Gauze, wipes, tissues, unused dyes and inks, and other nonsharps
used in a tattooing operation shall be contained and secured on-site
to prevent unauthorized access. This material shall be disposed of
in the municipal landfill by a licensed solid waste hauler (general
trash hauler).
(Ord. No. 94-19, § 1, 6-15-94)
