EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso city officials are moving to tighten oversight of tattoo and body art studios, proposing new rules that would require shops to pass an inspection before they can receive or renew their city registration.

Code Enforcement Director Steve Alvarado presented a first reading of several proposed changes during an El Paso City Council meeting. Alvarado said the city is working to support tattoo businesses while also ensuring public safety.

“They’re a part of our community, and it’s our responsibility to provide them what they need and make sure that they’re operating safely for the community,” Alvarado said.

A key change in the proposed ordinance would require tattoo shops to complete an inspection before a registration is issued or renewed.

Alvarado said once a shop passes, “Once they pass, they take that passing score to the one-stop shop in. The permit will get issued after that.”

Emily Schmalz reports on El Paso officials propose pre-inspection requirement for tattoo shop registration renewals (Credit: KFOX14)

RECOMMENDED: Texas hospitals expect to lose $27 million a day in Medicaid funding starting Tuesday

Under the proposal, city officials would conduct the inspection within 10 business days.

Shops would be required to provide proof of an approved inspection, and refusing city officials access could result in a registration being denied or revoked.

Omar Esparza, the city’s code enforcement field operations supervisor, said the city has found compliance issues in the industry.

“There’s a fair amount of either unlicensed shops or shops where their license has expired,” Esparza said.

Esparza said code enforcement has also found some shops where hygiene and cleanliness were not up to par.

He said the goal is to educate owners and bring them into compliance with city and state requirements.

Local tattoo artists said stronger enforcement matters, especially because they believe it is easy for someone to obtain a license.

Sergio “Sketch” Alarcon of After Ten Tattoo said, “I’ve been 13 years in the industry, and honestly, it is really easy to get a license.”

Alarcon said poor practices can have serious consequences.

“If you give a license to someone that’s not up to par with how to set up and how to break down and how to handle blood pathogens, like having a needle and ink in the wrong hands can actually lead to HIV, Aids or even hepatitis,” he said.

The proposed changes would also affect individual artist licensing.

RECOMMENDED: Commercial vehicle tolls rise at three El Paso international bridges under new rates

City documents show artists applying for a city license would be required to disclose the name and address of the studio where they work, something that is currently optional.

Orlando Rodriguez, owner of Renegade Tattoo, said tattoo artists want a voice in how the industry is regulated.

“There hasn’t been a meeting like this since the 90s,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the industry has changed over the decades, making consistent enforcement more important.

“One of the frustrations with the existing tattooers and owners is that it’s oversaturated,” he said.

It’s basically a big picture that we can’t really regulate. It’s just the beast we’re dealing with right now.

Alvarado said meetings with tattoo artists will now be held quarterly. A public hearing on the proposed ordinance changes will be held at City Council on Sept. 15.

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.