Weld County updated body art health rules to strengthen safety

Published on November 24, 2025

The Weld County Board of Commissioners has adopted changes to Ordinance 2025-14, updating Chapter 14 (Health & Animals), Article V of the Weld County Code to modernize health and safety requirements for tattooing, piercing, and other body art practices.

The updated code strengthens licensing, sterilization, and safety standards for both body art establishments and practitioners. In addition, these code changes bring the county into alignment with national standards, which provide additional safety to consumers and a standardized playing field for the industry.

Other key changes include:

• Procedure-specific rules for responding to a positive spore tests, tattooing, branding, and scarification, including new PPE, sterilization, and age requirements.

• Approval of electronic record keeping for industry, including enhanced definition library to improve and clarity communication between regulatory authority and businesses.

• Updated jewelry standards to require implant-grade materials and prohibit plated or gold-filled jewelry for initial piercings.
• Written exposure and waste management plans to ensure safe handling and disposal of biohazardous materials.

The ordinance took effect Nov. 12, and the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment will be conducting risk-based inspections to ensure compliance. For more information about licensing or if you have concerns, visit www.weld.gov/go/inspections or contact Weld County Environmental Health at (970) 400-6415.