Body Piercing
| Contact Info: Gina Vallone-Hood or Penny Barwick
DOH-HSEC
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN A08, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1710.
(850) 245 4444 ext 4273 or 4444 ext 2336
FAX (850) 487-0864
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| More Info:
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Body piercing, a form of body art, is the act of
penetrating the skin to make, generally permanent in nature, a hole,
mark, or scar. It does not include the use of a mechanized,
pre-sterilized ear-piercing system that penetrates the outer perimeter
or lobe of the ear or both.
In 1999, the Florida Legislature passed section
381.0075, Florida Statutes (F.S.) 
, providing guidance for operation of the body-piercing industry.
Chapter 64E-19, Florida Administrative
Code [F.A.C.] (40kb PDF)
contains the rules that were written to implement the statute.
Making an Informed Decision
To assist in making an informed decision, the department also has developed a brochure containing 10 common questions
related to body piercing. You can download the brochure in
pdf format (1.6mb
)
or it is available by contacting the body piercing program.
Training for Piercers and Operators
Operators and piercers (defined in section
381.0075, F.S. , and section
64E-19.002, F.A.C.(40kb PDF ),
respectively) need training in infection control procedures prior to licensure
of a body-piercing salon. Upon request, training course curriculum is
reviewed by the Department of Health, Bureau of Community Environmental Public Health,
to ensure that good infection control procedures are taught to minimize the risk
of injury and infection that can result from body piercing procedures. Training
providers must have the required knowledge, experience, and
credentials (12kb PDF).
News in the Program
Chapter 64E-19, F.A.C., has been updated.
There is a new version of Chapter 64E-19, F.A.C. (40kb PDF)
The following is a summary of the changes.
The body piercing statute,
section 381.0075, F.S., , contains the word "instruments" and the phrase "instruments that pierce the skin"
when referring to devices used in a piercing procedure. The original body piercing rule language deviated from the statutory language by allowing "only single-use needles" and thus disallowed the use of other devices commonly
used in the body piercing industry. We removed the rule word "needles" and inserted the word "instruments" in order to maintain consistency with statutory language and provide flexibility to body piercers who use devices other than needles.
We also removed the words "scalpel blades" from the rule language because scalpel blades should not be used by body piercers.
The statute states that jewelry used in body piercings must be "free of nicks, scratches, or irregular surfaces." This is to reduce the jewelry surface area that might harbor pathogens. We included rule language that also states that
instruments used during a piercing procedure must be "free of nicks, scratches, or irregular surfaces."
We also deleted two rules that were time-limited when the code was originally promulgated because those time limits were long expired. The first of those stated that building and equipment requirements were to be in compliance within six months after the start
of the program and the second established the time frames for original training of body piercers and salon operators.
Questions or comments can be directed to (Under Florida
law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address
released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to
this entity. Instead contact these offices by phone or in writing (F.S. 668.6076)) Gina Vallone-Hood or
Penny Barwick at the Bureau of Community Environmental Public Health, HSEC, 4052 Bald
Cypress Way, BIN A08, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1710. Ms. Vallone-Hood and Ms. Barwick can be
reached by telephone at (850) 245-4277.
Dermal Anchoring
Dermal anchoring, also referred to as microdermal(s), anchors, and transdermals are single
point piercings that consist of a point of entry but not a point of exit.
Uniquely designed jewelry is inserted into the pierced area and sits below the
skin where it becomes anchored. Jewelry removal sometimes only may be accomplished through surgical removal by
a medical professional. Additional information about dermal anchoring can be
found in
The Point (pdf <1mb, opens in new window), a publication by the Association
for Professional Piercers.
Jewelry
Subparagraph 381.0075(11)(a)5, F.S., states that body piercing salons must use only
jewelry that is made of implant grade, high-quality stainless steel, solid gold
of at least 14K weight, niobium, titanium, platinum, a dense, low-porosity
plastic, or silver and that is free of nicks, scratches, or irregular surfaces
for new piercings.
It has been found that new body piercings heal quicker with highly polished
jewelry, which is fabricated from high-quality metals, such as implant grade
stainless steel and titanium. ASTM International (ASTM) has developed
standardized specifications for steel mills that manufacture the various grades
of metals. Implant grade, high-quality stainless steel must be manufactured to
meet ASTM F 138-08 and implant grade titanium must be manufactured to meet ASTM
F136 - 08e1.
Rules, Applications, and Forms
All the files are in pdf format. If
your computer cannot read pdf files, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader, at
no charge, from the Adobe Internet site at
http://www.adobe.com .
In accordance with
section 381.0075, F.S ., and
Chapter 64E-19, F.A.C. (40kb PDF), body-piercing salons and temporary
establishments need an operating license that is renewed annually. To apply for a license, complete the
application form (10kb PDF) and
submit it along with the license fee to the licensing
county health department.
The statute and rules also state that operators of body-piercing salons and temporary
establishments must report any injury or complaint of injury, suspected infections
that required treatment by a licensed practitioner, or any notifiable diseases
resulting from the body piercing procedures. A completed
injury-report form (11kb PDF) should be sent to the licensing county health department within 72 hours
of the operator becoming aware of the complaint or condition.
Additionally, the following four forms are provided as a service to assist body
piercing salons in following the record keeping guidance set forth in Chapter
64E-19, Florida Administrative Code. Use of these specific forms is voluntary
and you may design and use your own forms if you prefer.
Autoclave Log (19kb PDF)
Customer Record (20kb PDF)
Piercer/Operator Record (16kb PDF)
Notarized Consent Form (15kb PDF)
Contacts - Comments and Suggestions
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are
public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a
public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead,
contact this office by phone or in writing (F.S. 668.6076)
General questions concerning the body-piercing program may be directed via
e-mail to
Gina Vallone-Hood or
Penny Barwick at the Bureau of Community
Environmental Public Health, HSEC, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A08, Tallahassee,
Florida, 32399-1710. Ms. Vallone-Hood or Ms. Barwick can be reached by telephone
at (850) 245-4277.
We welcome your comments and suggestions. They will be used to improve the
services provided by this website and can be directed via e-mail.
