Chapter 4 — Health and Sanitation›Article 2 — Health Regulated Businesses and Activities
San Diego Municipal Code Div. 2 Personal Services
San Diego Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-18 · San Diego
Cite as: San Diego Municipal Code Division 2 · Text as of 2026-10-18
§42.0201 Barber Shop, Beauty Parlor, Tattooing — Regulated¶
Health Regulated Businesses shall include tattooing and the business of conducting, operating or managing any tattooing establishment, barber shop and beauty parlor. (Added 2–10–1953 by O–5486 N.S.)
§42.0202 Barber Shop, Beauty Parlor, Tattooing — Posting of Regulations¶
The owner, proprietor or manager of any of the foregoing establishments shall keep a copy of regulations posted in a conspicuous place in his establishment, which copy shall be furnished by the Department of Public Health. (Added 2–10–1953 by O–5486 N.S.)
§42.0203 Barber Shop, Beauty Parlor, Tattooing — Adequate Plumbing, Clean Floors¶
Required — Sleeping on Premises Prohibited
All of the foregoing establishments shall be equipped with running hot and cold water, with adequate toilet facilities and with all such appliances, furnishings and materials as may be necessary to enable persons employed in and about such establishments to comply with the requirements of this chapter.
The floors of such establishments shall be kept free from hair at all times and shall be swept and mopped daily and all furniture and equipment shall be kept free from hairs and dust.
No such establishment shall be used as a sleeping room or dormitory. (Added 2–10–1953 by O–5486 N.S.)
§42.0204 Barber Shop, Beauty Parlor, Tattooing — Regulations¶
The owners and managers of barber shops, beauty parlors and tattooing establishments, and personnel employed therein, shall conform, or secure conformance, to the following regulations:
(a) TOWEL LAUNDERING. No operators shall use for service of any customer,
any towel or wash cloth that has not been boiled or laundered since last used.
Ch. Art. Div.
4 2 2 1
San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 4: Health and Sanitation (7-2001)
(b) OPERATORS’ UNIFORM. All operators shall wear clean, washable coats or
aprons while serving customers.
(c) WASHING OF HANDS. Every operator shall clean his hands thoroughly
immediately before serving such customer.
(d) TREATMENT OF BLOOD FLOW. No operator shall use alum or other
material to stop the flow of blood unless the same is applied as a powder and
with a clean towel. The use of styptic pencils, alum blocks or other solid
styptics is prohibited.
(e) CUSTOMER’S SKIN DISEASES. No shaving, hair cutting or tattooing
operations shall be performed upon any person affected with any disease of
the skin or scalp. No skin disease shall be treated in any such establishment.
(Amended 12–8–59 by O–8208 N.S.)
§42.0205 Barber Shop, Beauty Parlor — Regulations¶
The owners and managers of barber shops and beauty parlors, and personnel employed therein, shall conform, or secure conformation, to the following regulations:
(a) STERILIZING AND WASHING OF TOOLS. All combs, hair brushes,
dusters and other articles must be washed with soap and water at frequent
intervals and shall be kept clean at all times. All mugs, shaving brushes,
scissors, pincers, needles, clippers and other instruments must be sterilized
after each separate use, in a solution approved by the Director of Public
Health.
(b) HEADREST. No operator shall permit any person to use the headrest of any
barber chair or chair under his control, unless the headrest is covered by clean,
new paper, or by a fresh, clean towel.
(c) REMOVAL OF CUT HAIR. No operator shall remove the cut hairs from the
face or neck of a customer by the process of blowing (i.e., blowing through
the lips); mechanical bellows or sanitary brush may be used.
(d) RUBBER COLLAR PROTECTOR. The use of rubber collar protectors is
prohibited.
(Added 2–10–1953 by O–5486 N.S.)
Ch. Art. Div. 4 2 2 2
San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 4: Health and Sanitation (7-2001)
§42.0206 Barber Shop — Regulations¶
The owners and managers of barber shops, and personnel employed therein, shall conform, or secure conformance, to the following regulations:
(a) RAZOR DISINFECTING. The blade of a razor, which has been dropped
during the operation of shaving a customer, shall be immersed in a
disinfecting solution, approved by the Director of Public Health, and then
wiped, before being again applied to the face of the customer.
(b) CUSPIDORS. Adequate cuspidors must be furnished, which shall be cleaned
daily; shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, and shall be provided at
all times with a disinfecting solution approved by the Director.
(Added 2–10–1953 by O–5486 N.S.)
§42.0207 Tattooing — Regulations¶
The owners and managers of tattooing establishments, and personnel employed therein, shall conform, or secure conformation, to the following regulations:
(a) STORING OF INSTRUMENTS. All needles and instruments shall be kept in
a closed glass case while not in use.
(b) STERILIZING OF INSTRUMENTS. Steam sterilizers, approved by the
Director of Public Health, shall be provided and all needles and operating
instruments shall be sterilized before using on each customer.
(c) STERILIZING SOLUTION. Sterilizing solutions, approved by the Director,
may be used on instruments whenever it can be shown to the Director that
such instruments, other than needles, are damaged by boiling in a sterilizer.
(d) ANTISEPTIC ON SKIN. The customers’ skin shall be thoroughly cleansed
with an antiseptic solution, approved by the Director, before commencing any
tattooing.
(e) OPERATING TABLES. All operating tables shall be constructed of metal
with white enamel or porcelain finish, or stainless steel.
(f) MINORS. It shall be unlawful to tattoo any person under the age of twenty–
one (21) years, unless the written consent of the parent or guardian is
obtained, and such written consent shall be kept on file for two years in the
office of said establishment.
Ch. Art. Div.
4 2 2 3
San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 4: Health and Sanitation (7-2001)
(g) INFECTIONS. All infections resulting from the practice of tattooing shall be
reported to the Health Officer by the person owning or operating the tattooing
establishment.
(h) CUSPIDORS. Adequate cuspidors must be furnished, which shall be cleaned
daily; shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, and shall be provided at
all times with a disinfecting solution approved by the Director.
(i) MINIMUM FLOOR SPACE. Such establishments shall have not less than
one hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor space, and the light and ventilation
shall be of a standard approved by the Director.
(Added 2–10–1953 by O–5486 N.S.)
§42.0215 Massage Businesses and Technicians — Regulated¶
Health regulated businesses shall include massage businesses and massage technicians. (Amended 12-5-2000 by O-18907 N.S.; effective 7-1-2001.)
§42.0216 Peep Show Establishments — Regulated¶
Health regulated businesses shall include peep show establishments as defined in Section 33.3302 of this Code. (Amended 7–23–1990 by O–17498 N.S.)
Ch. Art. Div. 4 2 2 4
San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 4: Health and Sanitation (6-2000)
Article 2: Health Regulated Businesses and Activities
Continue researching
San Diego sources →San Diego local, state and federal sources. Edit the document title or filters, then run your search.
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code