§16-38-6. Registration requirements; inspections by local or regional boards of health; permit fees.

(a) Tattoo studios in West Virginia shall obtain a West Virginia business registration certificate and shall register with their local or regional board of health.

(b) Each local or regional board of health shall conduct annual inspections of each tattoo studio to determine compliance with this article. Every person, firm or corporation operating a tattoo studio in West Virginia shall apply to their local or regional board of health for the inspection. The local or regional boards of health shall attempt to conduct the inspections within ten days of the receipt of the request for inspection: Provided, That if it is impracticable for the local or regional board of health to conduct the investigation within ten days after receiving the application, the boards may issue to the applicant a temporary operating permit which shall be valid for thirty days or until a regular inspection is made, whichever occurs first.

(c) Upon a determination by the inspecting authority that any tattoo studio is not in compliance with the provisions of this article, the inspection authority shall have the power to order the tattoo studio to cease operations until a time as the inspecting authority determines that the studio is in compliance.

(d) Upon a determination by the inspecting authority that the tattoo studio is in compliance with the provisions of this article, there shall be issued to the studio an operating permit that shall be posted in a conspicuous place, clearly visible to the general public.

(e) The fee for the issuance of an operating permit issued pursuant to this article shall be $200 and shall be paid by the tattoo studio receiving the permit. The fee shall be collected by and paid to the local or regional boards of health.