The City of Albany hereby finds and declares the need to protect its
people through greater supervision of tattooing and tattoo businesses. The
City of Albany recognizes that the threat of AIDS/HIV and hepatitis contamination
through shared tattoo needles and other aspects of the tattoo process has
the potential for negatively affecting the health and safety of the general
public. The City of Albany also recognizes that there has been an alarming
expansion of the tattoo business into the criminal activity of tattooing minors.
The City of Albany realizes its obligation to protect the health and safety
of its people and hereby regulates the tattoo industry.
As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings
set forth in this section:
MINOR
Any person under the age of eighteen (18) years.
TATTOO
To mark or color the skin by pricking or coloring matter so as to
form indelible marks or figures or by the production of scars.
TATTOO SHOP
Any room or space where tattooing is practiced or where the business
of tattooing is conducted or any part thereof.
No person shall tattoo a minor in the City of Albany.
[Amended 12-6-1993]
Any person engaged in the business of tattooing shall file a registration
form annually with the City Clerk or his/her designee containing the tattoo
shop name, address, telephone number and business hours, along with a nonrefundable
processing fee of two hundred dollars ($200.) paid by certified or business
check or money order or cash. No personal checks shall be accepted.
The Chief of Police or his/her designee shall have the power to inspect
the customer register immediately upon request.
Any person engaged in the business of tattooing shall conspicuously
post a sign in the tattoo shop stating that tattooing a person under the age
of eighteen (18) is prohibited by law.
Any tattoo shop operating in the City of Albany shall comply with any
and all future or existing regulations of the State or County Health Department.
Any violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.), imprisonment of not more
than fifteen (15) days, or both.