The Rolling Ink Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 830

Short Title: The Rolling Ink Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Almond.
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Health, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
House
April 10, 2025
*H830-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ALLOWING MOBILE TATTOO PARLORS. 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
SECTION 1. Part 11 of Article 8 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended 4
by adding a new section to read: 5
"§ 130A-283.1. Mobile tattoo parlors. 6
(a) Purpose and Authorization. – A motor vehicle, as defined in Article 1 of Chapter 20 7
of the General Statutes, may be used as a mobile tattoo parlor for the practice of tattooing, as 8
defined in G.S. 130A-283, as long as it meets the requirements of this section and all applicable 9
rules adopted by the Commission. 10
(b) Permitting Process. – The Department, through local health departments, shall issue 11
a permit to operate a mobile tattoo parlor to any applicant who meets all of the following criteria: 12
(1) Submits a completed application on a form provided by the Department. 13
(2) Pays an initial permit fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or an annual 14
renewal fee of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), as appropriate. 15
(3) Passes an inspection co nducted by the local health department confirming 16
compliance with this section, laws pertaining to fixed -location tattoo parlors 17
under G.S. 130A-283, regulations pertaining to fixed -location tattoo parlors 18
under 15A NCAC 18A .3200 , and rules adopted by the Commission under 19
subsection (c) of this section. 20
Permits issued under this section are valid for one year and may be renewed annually upon 21
payment of the renewal fee and a satisfactory reinspection by the Department. 22
(c) Additional Compliance. – In addition to the requirements of this Part, individuals 23
operating mobile tattoo parlors shall comply with all of the following: 24
(1) Chapter 20 of the General Statutes (Motor Vehicles). 25
(2) Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, includin g 29 26
C.F.R. § 1910.1030 (Bloodborne Pathogens). 27
(3) All local ordinances regulating business operations, parking, and the practice 28
of tattooing. 29
(4) Federal regulations set forth in 40 C.F.R. Part 261 regarding the disposal of 30
hazardous waste. 31
(d) Facility and Equipment Requirements. – A mobile tattoo parlor shall comply with all 32
the following requirements: 33
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 830-First Edition
(1) Be equipped with a functional sink with hot and cold running water, soap, and 1
single-use towels. 2
(2) Include a separate, accessible toilet facility or written agreement with a nearby 3
facility for client and operator use. 4
(3) Maintain an adequate supply of clean water of not less than 20 gallons and a 5
wastewater storage tank of not less than 25 gallons. 6
(4) Contain a sharps container and biohazard wast e receptacle compliant with 7
State and federal law. 8
(5) Be equipped with an autoclave or other Department -approved sterilization 9
device for reusable instruments. 10
(e) Operational Restrictions. – No tattooing or related services may be performed in a 11
mobile tattoo parlor while the vehicle is in motion. The operator of a mobile tattoo parlor shall 12
remain parked in a legal parking space, in compliance with local zoning and parking laws, at all 13
times while clients are present. Each o perator shall maintain a log of all tattoo procedures, 14
including client names, dates, and descriptions of services, that is available for inspection by the 15
local health department upon request of the local health department. 16
(f) Permanent Address. – The permanent address of the owner of a mobile tattoo parlor 17
shall serve as the location for receipt of all correspondence from the Department or local health 18
department. 19
(g) Recordkeeping. – The owner of a mobile tattoo parlor shall maintain a permanent 20
physical business address in North Carolina where the following records shall be kept and made 21
available for inspection by the Department or local health department upon request: 22
(1) Appointment logs. 23
(2) Weekly itineraries of the mobile parlor's locations. 24
(3) Permit numbers. 25
(4) Vehicle identification numbers (VINs) for each operating mobile tattoo parlor. 26
(5) Proof of biohazard waste disposal contracts. 27
(h) Rules. – The Commission, in consultation with the Department, shall adopt rules to 28
regulate the operation, permitting, and inspection of mobile tattoo parlors. These rules shall 29
include, but are not limited to, all of the following: 30
(1) Minimum standards for facilities, including ventilation, lighting, and 31
sterilization equipment. 32
(2) Personnel requi rements, including training in bloodborne pathogens and 33
infection control. 34
(3) Safety and sanitary requirements, including proper handling and disposal of 35
needles, inks, and biohazardous waste. 36
(4) Procedures for documenting compliance with local zoning an d parking 37
regulations. 38
All requirements applicable to fixed -location tattoo parlors under G.S. 130A-283 and 15A 39
NCAC 18A .3200 apply to mobile tattoo parlors unless they conflict with this section or rules 40
adopted under this section. 41
(i) Penalties and Enforcement. – Any person that violates this section or rules adopted 42
under this section is subject to all of the following: 43
(1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services may assess a civil penalty, not 44
to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each violation. Each day of a 45
continuing violation shall constitute a separate violation. The clear proceeds 46
of civil penalties provided for in this section shall be remitted to the Civil 47
Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with G.S. 115C-457.2. 48
(2) The Department may suspend or revoke a mobile tattoo parlor permit issued 49
by the local health department for a violation of this section. Repeated 50
violations, defined as three or more within a 12 -month period, may result in 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 830-First Edition Page 3
permanent revocation of the permit an d a prohibition on reapplication for a 1
period of two years after notice and opportunity for a hearing under Chapter 2
150B of the General Statutes. 3
(3) A willful and knowing violation of this Part constitutes a Class 1 4
misdemeanor. 5
(j) Appeals. – Appeals concerning the enforcement of rules adopted by the Commission, 6
concerning the suspension and revocation of permits by the Department , and concerning the 7
imposition of administrative penalties by the Secretary shall be governed by Chapter 150B of the 8
General Statutes, the Administrative Procedure Act." 9
SECTION 2. G.S. 130A-29(c)(8) reads as rewritten: 10
"(8) Establishing permit requirements for the sanitation of premises, utensils, 11
equipment, and procedures to be used by a person engaged in tattooing, 12
tattooing under G.S. 130A-283 or G.S. 130A-283.1, as provided in Part 11 of 13
Article 8 of this Chapter." 14
SECTION 3. The Commission for Public Health shall begin rulemaking to 15
implement G.S. 130A-283.1(h), as enacted by this act, and G.S. 130A-29(c)(8), as amended by 16
this act. The Department of Health and Human Services shall notify the Revisor of Statutes when 17
the rules adopted pursuant to G.S. 130A-283.1, as enacted by this act, and G.S. 130A-29(c)(8), 18
as amended by this act, become effective. 19
SECTION 4. Section 3 of this act is effective when it becomes law. The remainder 20
of this act becomes effective July 1, 2026. 21