Texas tattoo studio compliance requirements
Texas regulates tattoo and body-piercing studios through the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) under 25 TAC Chapter 229 and Health & Safety Code Chapter 146. Below is what an inspector expects on hand — every rule linked to its official source.
Issued for a one- or two-year term. Two-year fee runs $900 (tattoo only) to $1,200 (tattoo + body piercing) — among the highest licensing costs of any launch state.
Every tattooist or body piercer must register individually with DSHS. Training: 6 hours initial, then 4 hours per renewal — bloodborne pathogens, infection control, and aseptic technique.
Each sterilization unit must have a spore test performed each calendar month by an approved laboratory, with results available for inspection.
Reusable instruments are cleaned, packaged, dated, and initialed. Sterility is considered expired 60 days after processing.
Client records and sterilization records must be kept at least two years from the date of the last entry.
DSHS conducts routine, compliance, and complaint-based inspections. The rule authorizes inspection but does not set a fixed frequency.
How Texas compares
Spore-test cadence is where states diverge most — from weekly to quarterly. That's why a generic checklist misses; the schedule has to match your state.
| State | Spore-test frequency |
|---|---|
| Ohio | Weekly |
| Texas | Monthly |
| California | Monthly |
| Oregon | Monthly* |
| Florida | Every 40 hrs / quarterly |
| Missouri | Not set statewide |
* Oregon: per state Health Licensing Office guidance; confirm the current OAR. Missouri sets no statewide spore frequency for permanent shops — some counties do.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change and some requirements are set locally. Verify current requirements with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or your local health department before relying on anything here.