Tattoo License in New York: NYC and County Rules

New York does not yet hand every tattoo artist one statewide license card. Public Health Law Article 4-A authorizes the State Department of Health to permit tattooists and tattoo studios, but the state body art page still says statewide regulations are being developed. Until those rules are in place, local rules apply.

In practice that means two tracks. In New York City you get a Tattoo Artist License from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Outside the five boroughs you deal with your county (or city) health department. Fees, exams, and renewal cycles are not the same from Buffalo to Mineola to Manhattan.

For renewal calendars and late-fee patterns across states, use the state-by-state tattoo license renewal guide. This page is the New York how-to.

What Article 4-A already locks in

Even while full statewide regulations are pending, parts of Article 4-A are already law:

Tattooing a person under 18 is illegal under Penal Law section 260.21, with or without parental consent. Body piercing of minors has a separate written parental-consent path; tattooing does not.
Studios must use single-use needles and approved ink-handling procedures, and the client and artist sign a confirmation form before the procedure (PHL 467). Keep a copy for at least seven years.
Once state permits exist, Article 4-A sets a two-year term, posting in a conspicuous place, and non-transferable credentials (PHL 464). Cities and counties can still add stricter local rules.

Do not treat a supplier account, an online bloodborne pathogens PDF, or a shop lease as a substitute for the local artist credential where you tattoo.

New York City: Tattoo Artist License

Every tattoo artist working in NYC needs an individual Tattoo License from DOHMH. The license covers traditional tattooing and permanent makeup (including microblading). Studios do not hold the artist card for you. Each artist applies separately.

Fees (checked 2026-11-06)

Item	Amount	Source
Two-year Tattoo Artist License	$100	NYC Business: Tattoo License
Infection Control Course	$26	Same page; register when you apply
Online application total	$126, plus a 2% online convenience fee	NYC Business
Temporary Tattoo License	$50 for seven consecutive days	NYC311 Tattoo License and the DOHMH application instructions PDF
Renewal	$100 per two-year period	NYC311 / NYC Business

The two-year license is valid from the end of the month in which you applied. Temporary licenses are for conventions and short guest spots. You generally need to already be licensed in another jurisdiction and complete NYC’s infection control course. Temporary licenses are not renewable or extendable.

Documents to gather

NYC Business and the DOHMH application packet expect:

Proof of home address (driver license or non-driver ID, current lease or mortgage statement, or a utility/bank/credit card statement dated within the last 90 days)
Government-issued photo ID
A valid original New York State Certificate of Authority to Collect Sales Tax (Form DTF-17 through the Tax Department; plan for weeks of processing if you do not already have one)
Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
Payment of any outstanding DOHMH fines before a new license or renewal will issue

If someone else submits for you, they need a signed Authority to Act form and their own photo ID.

How to apply

Read the Tattoo License instructions and application.
Create an account in the NYC Online Licensing system (or schedule an in-person appointment with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection at the Citywide Licensing Center, 42 Broadway, Manhattan; appointments only).
Submit the Tattoo Artist License application and register for the Infection Control Course in the same transaction. Pay the $126 package (plus the online convenience fee if you pay online).
Complete the Health Academy Infection Control Course and pass the written exam.
Wait for the mailed license and photo ID badge. NYC Business says that mail takes 4 to 6 weeks after you pass. Do not tattoo in NYC until both are in hand.

Infection Control Course

The course is run by the NYC Health Department Health Academy at the Riverside Health Center, 160 West 100th Street (at Columbus Avenue), Manhattan. NYC Business and the official application PDF describe it as a three-hour class. The Health Academy course page currently lists the class as four hours. Confirm the length on the page the week you register. Classes run about twice a month.

Bring your receipt, course registration confirmation, and photo ID on class day. Pass the written exam and your photo is taken at the Academy. Fail once and you can retake the next class for free. Fail twice and you re-register and repay through the licensing center.

Study from the Infection Control Course Study Manual linked on the Health Academy and NYC Business pages. Generic online bloodborne pathogens certificates from other vendors do not replace this city course.

Outside NYC: county and city health departments

Until statewide regulations go live, upstate and Long Island artists follow local sanitary codes. Patterns repeat, but the paperwork does not.

Erie County (Buffalo area)

The Erie County Department of Health requires:

A shop Health Permit ($100 annual fee, plans, workers’ compensation or exemption). Shops must be fixed locations. No private residences, mobile shops, or temporary locations under current county rules.
A separate Tattoo Artist certificate for each permitted shop where you work ($50 annual fee). Certificates do not transfer between shops.
A county-administered test on sanitary code and hygienic practices.

Contact: Division of Environmental Health, 503 Kensington Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214, (716) 961-6800.

Nassau County (Long Island)

Nassau runs its own Tattoo and Body Piercing program:

Artist Certification is required for tattoo, microblading, permanent makeup, and body piercing. It lasts three years.
Process: review the county certification class recording, schedule the monthly in-person exam at (516) 227-9717, then bring the completed application, photo ID, and a $200 certified check or money order (no cash or personal checks) to 200 County Seat Drive, Mineola.
Studio Permit is separate. New studio applications list a $150 permit fee, floor plans, aftercare instructions, and workers’ compensation / disability proof. Private residences are not permitted.

Email: DOHtattooandpiercing@nassaucountyny.gov.

Suffolk County (Long Island)

Suffolk enforces Article 14 of the Suffolk County Sanitary Code. Every body art practitioner needs a Body Artist Certificate, and procedures must happen inside a licensed Body Art Establishment. The county runs an exam portal, study guide, and plan-review process for shops. Confirm current fees with the Bureau of Public Health Protection at (631) 852-5900 or php@suffolkcountyny.gov before you pay.

Everywhere else in the state

Start with your county health department’s environmental health or body art page. Ask specifically for:

Artist / practitioner credential (license, certificate, or registration)
Facility / establishment permit and plan review
Required training (local exam, OSHA bloodborne pathogens, or both)
Renewal length and late fees
Whether guest or temporary work is allowed, and for how many days

If a county has no body art program yet, that does not mean “unregulated.” Article 4-A, the Penal Law age ban, and single-use equipment rules still apply, and municipal zoning or business licensing may still block you.

Age. Tattooing anyone under 18 in New York is a crime under Penal Law 260.21, even with a parent in the room. Check government ID every time. Piercing of minors is a different statute with a written parental consent form (DOH-5072) signed in person.

Consent and single-use confirmation. Beyond whatever your county requires for intake, Article 4-A section 467 requires a signed confirmation that single-use needles were shown sealed, opened in front of the client, and that approved ink handling was explained. Keep that form for seven years. A practical consent template walkthrough is on our tattoo consent form page.

Inspections. Inspectors look at sterilization (or single-use setup), sharps, handwashing, posted credentials, and client records. Prep with the tattoo studio health inspection checklist alongside this licensing guide.

Renewal

NYC. Renew for $100 every two years through NYC Online Licensing (or by mail / in-person appointment). Clear outstanding DOHMH fines first. First-time online renewals need the PIN from your renewal notice (request one online or via 311 if the notice is gone). NYC311 and NYC Business describe renewal as the fee path, not a re-take of the Infection Control Course. Confirm anything extra on your notice.

Counties. Erie renews artist certificates annually at $50. Nassau artist certifications run three years at $200. Other counties set their own clocks. Put the expiry on a shared shop calendar with enough buffer for mail or portal delays.

For how New York City fits next to other states’ renewal calendars, see the license renewal requirements by state.

Keeping inspection records in one place

City and county portals issue licenses. Studio software does not.

What does help on inspection day is less chaos around the records New York already expects:

Digital intake, health questionnaires, consent acknowledgements, and signatures stored as PDFs you can pull from an archive (Tattoo Studio Pro forms)
Text reminders before each appointment (messages and reminders)

If you want one system for booking, forms, and payments, look at Tattoo Studio Pro. The 30-day free trial needs a card to start, and you can cancel anytime.

Once you are licensed and stocking a station, supplier pro accounts often ask for a license scan. That is a supplier rule, not a substitute for DOHMH or county credentials.

FAQs

Is there a New York State tattoo license I can use anywhere in the state?

Not yet as a single portable card. Article 4-A authorizes statewide permits, but the State Health Department still says regulations are being developed. Until then, NYC artists use the DOHMH Tattoo Artist License, and everyone else follows their local health department.

How much does a tattoo license cost in New York City?

$100 for the two-year license plus $26 for the Infection Control Course ($126 total), with a 2% convenience fee on online payments. Renewals are $100 per two-year period. Temporary guest licenses are $50 for seven consecutive days.

Do I need a separate license for microblading or permanent makeup in NYC?

Yes. NYC treats microblading, scalp pigmentation, and related permanent makeup work under the same Tattoo Artist License and Infection Control Course as traditional tattooing.

What if I tattoo outside New York City?

Contact the county or city health department where the shop sits. Erie County, for example, charges $50 a year for an artist certificate tied to one permitted shop. Nassau County charges $200 for a three-year artist certification and runs a separate studio permit. Suffolk requires a Body Artist Certificate inside a licensed establishment. Do not assume an NYC license covers Long Island or upstate work.

No. Tattooing anyone under 18 is illegal under Penal Law 260.21, with or without parental consent. Piercing has a different parental-consent rule. When in doubt, refuse the tattoo and document the ID check.

How long does the NYC license take after I pass the course?

NYC Business says the license is mailed 4 to 6 weeks after you complete the course and pass the exam. You cannot start working until you have both the photo ID badge and the license document. If nothing arrives within six weeks, call 311.

What training do NYC renewals require?

Initial licensing requires the Health Academy Infection Control Course and exam. Renewal materials from NYC311 and NYC Business describe the $100 fee path without re-taking that course. Always read your renewal notice in case DOHMH asks for something extra.

Where should I look for renewal rules in other states?

Start with the tattoo artist license renewal requirements by state hub, then confirm fees and deadlines on that state’s or county’s official page the week you renew.