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Introduction

Body piercing is the act of penetrating the skin to make, generally permanent in nature, a hole, mark, or scar. It does not include the use of a mechanized, pre-sterilized ear-piercing system that penetrates the outer perimeter or lobe of the ear or both. The department has produced an educational video to aid piercing salons in complying with required minimum standards. A copy in CD format is provided free to each licensed salon. If you have trouble viewing the video from the CD, read our CD viewing instructions (57kb PDF ) . The department also has developed a brochure containing 10 common questions related to body piercing. You can download the brochure in pdf format (1.6mb ) or it is available by contacting the body piercing program.

Business Issues

In 1999, the Florida Legislature passed section 381.0075, Florida Statutes (F.S.), regulating the body-piercing industry.  Chapter 64E-19, Florida Administrative Code [F.A.C.] (40kb PDF) prescribes the minimum sanitary and safety requirements related to the design, operation, and maintenance of body-piercing salons and temporary establishments.  New information that affects the body piercing industry will be provided as it becomes available.

Operators and piercers (defined in subsection 381.0075(2), F.S. , and section 64E-19.002, F.A.C.(40kb PDF ) , respectively) must be trained in infection-control procedures prior to licensure of a body-piercing salon.  Training courses are reviewed and accepted by the Department of Health, Bureau of Community Environmental Health, and are presented by individuals with the required knowledge, experience, and credentials (12kb PDF).

Download the Rules

Chapter 64E-19, F.A.C.(40kb PDF ) is available to review or download.  If you do not have a PDF viewer, you can download one free of charge from http://www.adobe.com/.

License Application and Other Forms

In accordance with Chapter 64E-19, F.A.C.(40kb PDF ), body-piercing salons and temporary establishments require an operating license that is subject to annual renewal.  A license application form (10kb PDF ) is available in pdf format.  Body-piercing licenses are issued by many of the Department of Health's county health departments.  To apply for a license, complete the application form (10kb PDF ) and submit it along with the required license fee to your local county health department.

Owners and operators of body-piercing salons and temporary establishments also should have an injury-report form (11kb PDF ) in the event of a report or complaint of injury.  The completed form should be sent to the licensing county health department.

Contacts - Comments and Suggestions

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing (F.S. 668.6076)

General questions concerning the body-piercing program should be directed via e-mail to Gina Vallone-Hood or
Ed Golding at the Bureau of Community Environmental Health, HSEC, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN A08, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1710.  Ms. Vallone-Hood or Dr. Golding can be reached by telephone at (850) 245-4277.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. They will be used to improve the services provided by this website and can be directed via e-mail.