ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Virginia law requires tattoo parlors to be licensed in the Commonwealth.
But conversations with tattoo artists and a representative with the Board of Barbers and Cosmetology, which regulates Virginia's tattoo industry, reveals several tattoo parlors are illegally operating in the Roanoke Valley and little is being done to stop the practice.
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"I've never had an inspection and I don't think anyone in (Roanoke) has ever had an inspection," said Chip's Custom Tat2 owner Chip Thomas. "I've been here since 2001."
Thomas has operated shops in Champaign, Illinois and Las Vegas. He said both spots had regular inspections from the health department. In fact, Virginia is in the minority when it comes to regulating the tattoo industry.
31 states use the health department or a similar agency to regulate tattoo artists and parlors. Virginia uses the Board of Barbers and Cosmetology.
"You can't put a sign up in front of a restaurant, open the doors and no one checks on you," Thomas said. "The health department would be there."
He wonders why tattoo parlors would be any different since needles are involved. While he disagrees with how licenses are run, Thomas is more concerned about what he calls a lack of enforcement.
Several tattoo shops without licenses in Southwest Virginia are not only operating, they're advertising in the Yellow Pages and on Facebook.
"Certainly, we've seen those advertisements as well," said Mary Broz Vaughan, the Communications Director with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations (DPOR), which oversees dozens of professions from architects to tattoo artists. "Is it well advised to get a tattoo in somebody's home? No. It's not legal and it's probably not sanitary."
SEARCH: Click here to search for licensed tattoo parlors in Virginia. (See the graphic in this post for search instructions.)
While the agency has the authority to investigate tattoo parlors, Vaughan said regular inspections are not conducted. Instead, they act on consumer complaints.
Vaughan said the goal is to get businesses in compliance, not to close any doors.
"Based on the complaint data we received, consumers are not indicating to us that they see a problem with our current process," she said. "We don't receive complaints from consumers on a large basis."
The DPOR operates solely on license fees with no help from taxpayers. Of the more than 300,000 businesses that fall under the agency's umbrella, there are only 37 investigators to keep up with compliance.
While touching up a tattoo on a client's leg, Thomas spoke about the number of unlicensed shops operating in the Star City.
"Every time someone gets sick or gets MERSA or gets some kind of infection, it looks bad on all tattoo shops," he said. "That's what I'm just tired of."
He hopes more tattoo artists will follow the law and protect the industry.