the short version
- $54to register with LA county. you do it every year.
- 5things to hand in: the form, your id, a photo, your bloodborne pathogen certificate, and your hep b record.
- 14days to get any missing papers in, or the county won't process it.
last checked: october 9, 2026, against the county's own registration form and body art page. rules change, so confirm with the county before you go.
who
if you tattoo in LA county, you have to register
that goes for tattooing, piercing, permanent makeup (microblading too) and branding. you have to be 18 or older, and you can only work at a shop that has its own health permit.
to register.
you register again, and you redo your bloodborne pathogen training.
what to bring
5 things, and the $54
download the form, the hep b declination form and the list of approved training courses.
what to do with this
- book your bloodborne pathogen course first. it has to be on the county's approved list, or it won't count.
- get the passport photo last, so it's inside the 30 days.
- bring everything at once. missing papers have to land within 14 days, or you pay again.
how
register in 4 steps
- 1take an approved bloodborne pathogen coursepick one from the county's approved list. keep the certificate.
- 2sort out your hep b recordvaccine record, lab proof, a doctor's note, or the county's declination form. any one of the four.
- 3fill out the formit asks for the shop you work at, so have its name, address and owner handy.
- 4hand it in with the $54in person by appointment, or by mail. details below.
where
in person in baldwin park, by appointment
you can also mail it, with a check, cashier's check or money order made out to "county of los angeles". the county lists two slightly different mailing names, so call the number above and ask which one to put on the envelope before you send it.
which office
pasadena, long beach and vernon do their own
those three cities run their own health departments. if your shop is in one of them, you register with the city, not the county. everywhere else in LA county goes through baldwin park.
who to call
source: LA county body art page.
guest spots
your registration works outside LA county, for a little while
in a row, in another california county.
total per calendar year, outside your home county.
it works the other way too. an artist registered somewhere else in california can guest in LA county within the same limits. stay longer than that and you register where you're working.
source: county registration form and county events faq.
conventions
working a convention booth costs extra
the event organizer has to be approved first. source: county body art events faq.
good to know
a few more things
can clients check if i'm registered?
yes. the county publishes a list of registered body art practitioners.
is the $54 refundable?
no. the form says the fee is non-refundable and the registration can't be transferred to someone else.
what if i miss the 14 days?
the county won't process an incomplete package, and you'll pay another application fee.
this is a plain-english summary, not legal advice. the county and the state can change the rules, so check the county's page or call (626) 430-5570 before you hand anything in.
once you're set
registered and working at a permitted shop? get found
clients across socal search goodwork by style and book with a deposit. listing is free, and goodwork only takes 15% on the first booking of a new client it brings you. see how it works.
on goodwork
registered? get found by clients
free to list. 15% only on the first booking of a new client goodwork finds for you. repeat clients and your own link are 0%.
create your free profile