New health ordinance affects tattoo biz

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - The county commissioners passed a new ordinance Friday morning regulating tattoo and body-piercing businesses in Allen County.

Under the new ordinance , any tattoo or body-piercing business must get a permit from the Allen County Department of Health.

Allen County Department of Health Administrator Mindy Waldron said, “What we've done is incorporate a fee for each of those vendors just like you would if you were a food vendor in a festival. You would have to have your own permit so that you're responsible.”

Waldron said temporary tattoo businesses would be required to pay a $45.00 permit fee for every 48 hours of operation.

Also, each individual artist inside these businesses must be at least 18 years old, and hold a valid permit of their own.

Things like branding, dermal punches, and suspensions would now be banned at temporary events and at licensed facilities in Allen County.

Don Corah, owner of Artisan Tattoo Company in Fort Wayne, said he believes activities at the 2011 Pfunk-N-Ink Festival were the catalyst for some of these changes.

“They were using meat hooks to lift people up off the ground for I think it was $90.00. I think most of the changes came about because of that,” he said.

The Allen County Department of Health said it was important to look at some of those acts because of their invasive nature and potential for infection.

Events like the Pfunk-N-Ink Festival will also be required to have an events coordinator -- someone overseeing the entire function.

The Allen County Department of Health said the changes were implemented to protect anyone who's thinking about getting a tattoo or piercing in the county.