Body Art Establishments

A Body Art Establishment license is required of any person or company that performs body art procedures. Body Art procedures is defined as physical body adornment using, but not limited to, tattooing and body piercing.

Exempt from this requirement is any licensed medical or dental professional that performs such procedures within the professional's scope of practice.

Prohibited Procedures

The City of Maplewood prohibits the following procedures on any individual, regardless of age: Branding, Implantation, Scarification or Suspension.

Code Requirements

Guidance relating to Body Art Establishments is contained in the Maplewood City Code, Chapter 14, Article XVII. All license holders are required to be familiar with the provisions of this Chapter and with applicable Minnesota Statutes and federal regulations.

Apply for a License

Application for a Body Art Establishment license has been transitioned to an online licensing system (Accela) and is available for access via the Citizen Access portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted, unless applicants are unable to use the online system.

Each owner/partner/officer with >5% interest in the business and establishment manager must complete a Body Art Establishment - Supplement application and undergo a background investigation. This application is available via the Citizen Access portal.

The following documents are required to be submitted with this application:

Certificate of Insurance (see SAMPLE)
Permit to Self-Insure (if applicant is self-insured for workers' compensation)
Copy of the following for each technician performing body art procedures:
- Current technician certificate issued by the MN Department of Health
- Government issued photo ID

New establishments must also fill out and submit a MDH Body Art Establishment Exemption application to the MN Department of Health upon licensing the establishment with the City of Maplewood (see MN §146B.02 subdivision 9). THIS FORM SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY.

Guide to Using the Citizen Access Portal

Please use the reference guides below to assist you in registering for an account and applying for a license. If you need additional assistance, please contact us at 651-249-2005.

Expiration/Renewal

License term runs January 1 through December 31, annually. Prior to expiration of the license, notification of renewal will occur through email and licenses may be renewed online via the Citizen Access portal.