the short version
- countyyou register with the county you tattoo in, not the state. a few cities do their own.
- $54+a year, at the cheapest county. the most is about $200.
- yearlyyou renew, and you redo your bloodborne pathogen training.
last checked: october 9, 2026, against each county's own page and fee schedule (linked in every section). fees change every year or two, so confirm before you pay. this is a guide, not legal advice.
start here
find who registers you
it depends on where the shop is. find your city or county, then jump to that section.
which office covers me?
yearly practitioner fee from each county's current fee schedule. the city programs are below.
everywhere
the basics are the same in every county
all of california follows the same state law, the safe body art act. so wherever you work, expect to need these:
what every county asks for
- a photo id showing you're 18 or older.
- a bloodborne pathogen training certificate from a course your county approves. you redo it every year.
- your hep b vaccination record, proof of immunity, or a declination form.
- a shop with its own health permit. counties only register artists who work at a permitted shop.
- the application and the fee. then you renew every year.
in a row you can work in another california county on your home registration.
total a year. past that, register where you're working.
source: los angeles county form and san bernardino county faq
coming from out of state? you register before your first day. there's no grace period. more in moving to socal as a tattoo artist.
los angeles county
$54 a year, at the baldwin park office
the county has its own full guide on goodwork: what to bring, where to go, and the 14-day rule for missing papers.
in short
- $54 a year, plus 5 things: the form, a photo id, a passport-style photo, your bloodborne pathogen certificate and your hep b record.
- in person by appointment in baldwin park, or by mail.
read the step-by-step: los angeles county body art registration. official page: los angeles county body art program.
city programs
pasadena, long beach and vernon register you themselves
these three cities run their own health departments, so the county doesn't register you there. call the city before you start.
the city pages don't list a practitioner fee. ask when you call.
official pages: long beach body art, pasadena environmental health, vernon health. long beach says practitioners also keep an annual health permit with the city.
orange county
$134 a year, and you apply online
what to send
- the application.
- a government id, like a driver's license or passport.
- a bloodborne pathogen certificate from an orange county or los angeles county approved provider.
- the fee.
renewing in orange county
the county emails a reminder about two months before your registration expires. reply by the deadline with everything it asks for, including a current bloodborne pathogen certificate, or the registration expires. reinstating an expired one costs extra.
registration only goes to people who own or work at a shop with a valid permit.
sources: oc body art program, oc environmental health fees, apply online.
san diego county
$179 a year, by email or in person
what to send (first time)
- the application for practitioner registration.
- a practitioner location of operation agreement, signed. that's the shop you'll work at.
- a bloodborne pathogen training certificate from a county-approved trainer.
- your hep b vaccination record, declination form or antibody lab results.
- a photo id showing you're 18 or older.
to renew: a new bloodborne pathogen certificate, the location agreement, and the fee. sources: san diego county body art, approved fees fy 2026-27.
riverside county
$70 a year, and you send it all in one email
what to send
- the practitioner application.
- proof you work at an approved body art shop.
- a bloodborne pathogen training certificate.
- your hep b vaccination record.
- a photo id that shows your age.
put everything in one email as pdfs so it isn't held up. in person or by mail works too. after you submit, the county tells you how to pay the $70.
renewal invoices go to the shop's address. moving to a new shop? email the county. source: riverside county body art.
san bernardino county
$140 a year, from environmental health services
what to send
- the application and the fee.
- a bloodborne pathogen training certificate. the trainer has to be approved by san bernardino county.
- a photo id showing you're 18 or older (first time).
- your hep b vaccination record, immunity, or a declination form.
you renew every year. the office is at 385 n. arrowhead ave., 2nd floor, san bernardino. call 800-442-2283.
sources: san bernardino body art faq, ehs fee schedule.
ventura county
$199.61 a year, and new artists can apply online
what to send
- the application.
- a bloodborne pathogen certificate from an approved course in the last year.
- your hep b vaccination record or the osha declination form.
- your id.
office: 800 s. victoria ave., ventura. sources: ventura county body art program, body art fees.
next
registered? now get found
what to do with this
- going somewhere for a few days? read guest spots in socal for the 5-day rule and how to fill your week.
- once you're working at a permitted shop, list on goodwork for free. socal clients find you by your work, and goodwork takes 15% only on the first booking of a new client it found for you.
on goodwork
registered? now get found
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