LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- You may not be as safe as you think getting a tattoo in Southwest Florida. Almost 100 tattoo parlors in the area failed the state health inspection in the last year.
The Department of Health listed the shops as unsatisfactory, meaning the violation was a significant threat to public health and sanitation.
Tattoo shops are required to follow several OSHA standards.
Shops are required to sterilize needles and wear gloves so bacteria or infections don't spread. Tattoo licenses are also required to be displayed in the shop.
A local tattoo shop in Port Charlotte said the state’s requirements are important for both the customers and employees. “With any business, you have people who follow the law strictly for the benefit of their business and customers and then there are other people who cut corners,” said Will Anthony, the owner of After Inked the Guest Spot.
"There are really good shops that I’m sure do have a violation but it could have been for something so simple,” Anthony added.
The state said each tattoo shop that is unsatisfactory has until the next inspection to fix the violation.
Recent Lee County 'unsatisfactory' inspection results
Recent Collier County 'unsatisfactory' inspection results
Recent Charlotte County 'unsatisfactory' inspection results
**NOTE: Many of the parlors listed in these links have since achieved 'satisfactory' status. You can check individual parlors on the Department of Health website.
