The Bismarck City Commission made it harder to "swing ink on the fly" at its meeting Tuesday night by passing an ordinance establishing minimum operational and sanitation standards for tattooing-body art parlors as well as require the businesses to obtain an annual permit and subject them to annual inspections.

Melvin Fischer, of Bismarck's Fire and Inspections Environmental Health Division, drafted the ordinance with the help of local tattoo-body artists, who supported the regulations. The ordinance follows the model set by the city of Fargo a few years ago.

Chuck Swiftbird, of Bismarck, has been doing tattoos as a hobby for about 12 years. He said he was glad to see positive aspects coming from tattooing in Bismarck but encouraged the commission to take the guidelines further.

Swiftbird said he thinks it's necessary for the tattooist to hold a permit, not just the shop manager. Also, he said having private bathroom facilities for body art shops is a must. While the commission amended the ordinance to call for private bathrooms, they said the ordinance looks to regulate the operations, not the operators.

Charlie Whitman, Bismarck city attorney, said violating the ordinance would result in the loss of permit or will be treated like a Class B misdemeanor, with up to a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail. Inspections would be conducted by Fischer's department, who he assured tattooist Justin Marter of Michael Jays Hair Garage Tattoos and Body Piercing would receive training in what to look for at a body art establishment.

Marter said he was glad the city developed the ordinance.

"This is something the city definitely needs and that professional body artists … appreciate," he said.

Only Commissioner Dave Jensen voted against the ordinance. He said he protested protecting businesses, not people. He asked that the minutes note his objection to the "possibility of liability the citizens of Bismarck could be subject to."

(Reach reporter Angie Buckley at 250-8255 or angiebuckley@ndonline.com.)