Texas tattoo laws for opening a shop

[cracker]

Hi everybody, what a great forum this is, I've been looking for something like this for so long, all the other forums are full of a bunch of guys who just want to degrade a person that wants to learn about tattooing.

basically i started back in 94 experimenting with the tattoo machine, had some friends that were willing participants, and let me work on them, then I left my hometown to attend art school in dallas, after I finished school, I found work in the animation biz, and thats where I currently reside, but I have allways had a love for the art of tattooing, and have been luckey enough to be blessed with a wife that loves them just as much, so I've been luckey enough to keep my skills up on her and myself, we only use disposable, right now, and i strictly follow all the CC rules and sanitation rules, bagging machines, inks, clip cords, squirt bottles, change grommets and bands after every tattoo, and give the machine a thuro cleaning after.

I also use medicide whipes to whipe down my surfaces before and after the session, i also use barrier cloths, and films to keep everything in a sanitary fashion, basically I play like I'm doing it at a shop.

which leads me to my next questions.

I am wanting to put up a private studio at the moment, and keep my day job, so I can still take care of me my wife and our child, I would be basically doing tats on people that i know and who like my work, so it would be a strictly by appointment only, basically bringing the people i want to tattoo into my shop, no walk ins at first starting off.

I have been on the phone with the state trying to talk to the right person about what types of places you can setup shop in, does it have to be retail space or can it be office slash whearhouse space, ya know these type of questions that the vague ass laws don't cover, or mention.

I've read thru every thing i can find on the subject, all the laws on the state of texas pertaining to tattooing.

is there anyone on here that might be able to answer these questions for me, thanks in advance.

1. can a studio be located in office / wearhouse space
2. If i have a seperate building located on my property, can it be turned into a private studio.
3. does the autoclave need to be located in a seperate room from where the tattooing is being preformed.
4. how many tubes and needles need to be on hand at all times in the studio.


thanks again,

cracker

[skullman]

Here is a good site that will help you. I was looking in to moving to Amarilo last year and I found this sight www.ablazable.com/laws/texas.html I hope this will help. by the way were about in texas are you. I'll be in Amarilo in 10th through the 15th. visiting my aunt.
:D

[cracker]

hey thanks guys, yeah i've looked at most of the stuff on these sites, but I guess I have some pretty spacific ?'s so i might have to just keep calling until I talk to someone who can help me at the state, I'm sure I will eventually get the right person.

thanks again, oh and skullman I'm located in dallas area.

[skullman]

yeah just a bit out of the way! Amyway your home shop is considered temp. space so re read thoughs. All you need is to be state registered, so they know who you are then to show prof of a clean enviroment,autoclave, or disposible, and to see if you have taken health classes.

[iLL]

First post here, i'v read ALOT on the forums and i love it all.. im in dallas and it seems we are in the same boat. i want to setup a studio in my garage. drywall and running watter. the works but acording to state law. i may not be able to
RULE §229.404 Physical Facilities

(a) A studio must be in a permanent, nondwelling building or portion of a building which must be in a location which is permissible under local zoning codes, if any. The studio shall be separated from living quarters by complete floor to ceiling partitioning and shall contain no access to living quarters.

so i guess we would need to get ahold of someone in charge of zoning laws

[Choppers4Life]

1. can a studio be located in office / wearhouse space
2. If i have a seperate building located on my property, can it be turned into a private studio.
3. does the autoclave need to be located in a seperate room from where the tattooing is being preformed.
4. how many tubes and needles need to be on hand at all times in the studio.


Ok let me jump in here....

1. yes if it is completely non-dwelling.
2. yes, IF and only if zoning allows, which in most cases in Texas a no.
3. yes
4. No minimum tube, grip, needle requirement in Texas.

[cracker]

thanks choppers4Life

I appreciate all the info, Based on my looking around for properties, I've found that most offices and office / wearhouse, are gonna be cheaper on the monthly rent, then retail space, hell in dallas, it seems to be pretty pricey for retail space.

But for now my goal isn't to bring walkins in the door, it's to work on close friends, and anybody that I want to tattoo, in a state approved shop (in my case a private studio)

thats why office space seems like the perfect choice for me, that way I can keep my day job, and tattoo when the occasion arises.

If anybody else has any info on the subject, post it here,

thanks all

cracker

[cracker]

iLL,

Let me know if you get to talk to anybody, I can't seem to get anybody that knows whats going on everytime I call to austin, they will connect me with a person, then that person will come on, and say ummmm we don't do that on this level of the building, let me transfer ya, etc etc, it's really frustrating, they should want to help people who want to take the correct path in setting up a shop.

it would be nice to have an email, to an inspector, that way you could bounce questions off of that person, but I've tried emailing, no response, left voice mails, no response.

I just want to make sure I'm doing all the right stuff, that way I'm not wasteing my time or money.

cracker

[iLL]

i'v decided to just ink friends, family, and friends of family unlicienced and under the TDH(texas department of health) radar untell i can rent out space in a studio. i'v thought about asking about laying ink under a more experianced artist localy, but i would only be able to do it about 8 hours a week. and how much of that would be acually putting ink on skin?
ATM im looking for a class i can take to learn more about the spreading of blood born pathagyns thats in my price range that i can take in the next 2 weeks. then atleast i will feel a bit better about practicing outside a studio. not to mention its a TDH requirment. i'd find the qoute but im short on time

[STARMedic]

unlicienced and under the TDH(texas department of health) radar

Not meanin to be a smartass but the whole concept of workin under the radar is not to tell anyone.

Bruce