The Environmental Division of the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District permits body art establishments (tattoo parlors, body piercing, and cosmetic tattooing) and licenses individual body art specialists in Wichita Falls. Permits and licenses are valid for one year. There are currently over 12 Body Art Establishments with over 40 licensed individuals that are inspected and checked routinely throughout the year by Health Inspectors.
Individuals must have one of following licenses in Wichita Falls:
- Tattoo Only (includes Cosmetic)
- Piercing Only
- Tattoo (includes Cosmetic) and Piercing
- Apprentice: 1, 2, or 3 above
In addition, the State of Texas requires Body Art Establishments to have a license:
"We (State of Texas) require any business engaged in tattooing (for example, the practice of producing an indelible mark or figure on the human body by scarring or inserting pigments under the skin using needles, scalpels or other related equipment) or body piercing (for example, the practice of creating an opening in a person's body, other than the earlobe, to insert jewelry or another decoration) to be licensed with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). In addition, we require temporary locations at which tattooing or body piercing is performed for not more than seven days in conjunction with a single event or celebration to be licensed with the Department. To learn more on how to become licensed, visit the licensing requirements webpage."
To file a complaint on a Body Art Establishment, Body Art Individual, or an illegal Body Art Establishment/Individual, please call 940-761-7820.
