In 1999, the Florida Legislature passed Florida Statute 381.0075, regulating the body-piercing industry and authorizing the Department of Health to write rules and regulations to administer the program. Chapter 64E-19, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) prescribes the minimum sanitary and safety requirements related to the design, operation, and maintenance of body-piercing salons and temporary establishments.

Body piercing is an invasive procedure that presents the potential for infection and transmit blood borne pathogens, such as Hepatitis B, if minimum sanitary and safety standards are not met. Operators and piercers must be trained in infection-control procedures prior to licensure of a body-piercing salon. Training courses are reviewed and accepted by the Department of Health, Bureau of Facility Programs.

Body Piercing facilities - both permanent and temporary - must obtain a permit from the Department of Health and are inspected annually by an Environmental Health Specialist and a Health Department Nurse. 

Body piercing facilities are required to provide pre-piercing instruction on how the procedure will be performed, possible risks and consequences, and after care instructions and restrictions.  Prior to the piercing, the customer must sign and date a statement that they have received and discussed this information with the piercer. The piercer must also sign the form. A customer record must filled out and kept but the facility. This includes the customer name, address, phone number, physician name, address & phone, emergency name, address & phone, a list of allergies, history of bleedings disorders, date of all visits to the facility regarding piercing, body part to be pierced, description of the jewelry used in piercing, and description of any complications during the piercing, and the name of the piercer.

Minors under 18 years of age and at least 16 years of age must have a notarized consent  form signed by their parent or legal guardian.  The consent form must have a description of the type of piercing to be performed on the minor. Minors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by the parent or legal guardian.

The piercing facility must display a notice of where and how to file a report of any injury resulting from the piercing. A copy of an injury report form (PDF 8kb) should be supplied by the piercer.

All body piercing facilities located in Orange County must apply to the Orange County Health Department for a permit (PDF 10kb) . 
The annual permit fee is $150.00.

Make all checks payable to: Orange County Health Department
All forms should be mailed to:
Orange County Health Department
Environmental Health
800 Mercy Drive., Orlando, FL 32808

For more information about this program, please contact:

Orange County Health Department
Sylvette Morales - 407.445.7453

The Bureau of Community Environmental Health in Tallahassee
HSEC, 4052 Capital Circle SE, BIN A08, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1710

Ed Golding - 850.245.4277

If you are from another county, please visit Body Piercing Coordinators for contact information.