County to Hold Hearing on Rescinding Body Art Ordinance
On November 25 the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners announced a public hearing for December 3 to consider a request from the Health Department to rescind County Ordinance No. 3 Body Art, a move prompted by more stringent state rule updates from September 2025. The decision matters because state rules now exceed local requirements, Michigan law requires body art providers to be licensed, and residents and businesses may face changes in oversight and compliance.
The Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. on December 3 in the Commission Chambers at the Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue, to consider a Health Department request to rescind County Ordinance No. 3 Body Art. County leaders made the announcement on November 25 after the State of Michigan updated its rules governing body art facilities in September 2025. The state updates are more stringent than the existing county ordinance, and state law requires local regulations to be at least as strict as state rules.
The county Environmental Health Office will make both the current county ordinance and the updated state rules available for public review. Citizens may comment in person at the hearing or submit written comments by December 1 to gtchd@gtcountymi.gov or by mail to Environmental Health Director Brent Wheat at 2650 LaFranier Road. Michigan law requires body art providers to be licensed by the state, and unlicensed procedures are illegal under state law even if performed free of charge.
Rescinding the county ordinance would remove a local layer of regulation that now duplicates or conflicts with state requirements. For local body art businesses and practitioners that already comply with state licensing and standards, the change may streamline compliance and reduce regulatory complexity. For residents and public health advocates the update aligns local policy with more stringent state standards, potentially raising the baseline for sanitation and safety in facilities that provide tattoos, piercings, and other body art services.
The hearing offers a formal opportunity for residents, business owners, and public health stakeholders to make their concerns known to elected commissioners before any action. The Board will consider public input and the Health Department recommendation when deciding whether to rescind the ordinance. If the Board moves forward, enforcement responsibility and oversight will operate under the state regulatory framework, and licensed providers will remain subject to Michigan licensing requirements.
Local stakeholders seeking more information or wishing to submit comments should observe the December 1 written comment deadline or plan to speak at the December 3 hearing. The Board’s decision will determine whether Grand Traverse County maintains a separate body art ordinance or relies solely on the updated state rules for regulatory authority and enforcement.
