{"id":117,"date":"2016-01-29T15:31:39","date_gmt":"2016-01-29T15:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/radiological-health\/?page_id=117"},"modified":"2025-09-05T17:44:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T17:44:33","slug":"tanning-bed-operators","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/radiological-health\/radiological-health\/tanning-and-tanning-beds\/tanning-bed-operators\/","title":{"rendered":"Tanning – Bed Operators"},"content":{"rendered":"

Laws regarding the use and operation of tanning beds in Virginia can be found in the Code of Virginia \u00a7 59.1-310<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 Authority for the enforcement of the tanning law rests with local jurisdictions; that is, by the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the jurisdiction in which a violation is alleged to have occurred.<\/p>\n

The Food and Drug Administration <\/a>(FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission<\/a> (FTC) share responsibility for the federal regulation of sunlamps and tanning devices.\u00a0 The FDA enforces regulations that deal with labeling while the FTC investigates false, misleading, and deceptive advertising claims about the devices.\u00a0 When these agencies determine that device labels don\u2019t comply with the regulations or that advertisements are not truthful, they may take corrective action.\u00a0 The FDA may, at its discretion, remove products from the marketplace.<\/p>\n

The FDA considers tanning bed owners to be assemblers according to the definition in their regulations.\u00a0 This means that FDA will ensure that the timers are operational and accurate, and that the lamps are matched with the timer according to the manufacture’s specifications.<\/p>\n

Frequently Asked Questions – Tanning Bed Operators<\/h3>\n

Question:<\/strong> Do I need a license to operate a tanning facility?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong> The state does not license tanning bed operators nor does the state have a registration program for the possession of a tanning bed.\u00a0 Check with your locality’s requirements for obtaining a business license.<\/p>\n

Question:<\/strong> Can a minor use my tanning facility?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong> No. \u00a7 59.1-310.5 subsection G states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

No individual under the age of 18 shall be allowed to use any tanning device, other than a spray tanning device that does not emit ultraviolet light, at a tanning facility. The owner shall be responsible for ensuring that each customer using the tanning facility is of legal age to do so.<\/p>\n

Question:<\/strong> Will the FDA inspect my tanning device?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong> The FDA has the right to inspect a commercial tanning device.<\/p>\n

Question:<\/strong> What will the FDA inspector look for during his inspection?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong> The FDA inspector will check the timer to determine whether it is operable, that is the machine will turn off after the time has elapsed, and ensure that it is accurate according to manufacturer’s specification; the lamp matches the manufacture’s specifications. In other words the ratio of the UVB to UVA for the lamp matches the timer limits for that ratio. Also the tanning bed is inspected to ensure there are no modifications of the tanning bed not authorized by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n

Question:<\/strong>\u00a0 May I allow my clients to come into my facility to use the tanning bed\/booth whenever they want to?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong> No, you must have an operator available at all times when the tanning bed is in use.\u00a0 See State Law Section 59.1-310.5 paragraph A.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Office of Radiological Health | 109 Governor Street | Richmond, VA 23219<\/p>\n

Telephone (804) 864-8150<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Laws regarding the use and operation of tanning beds in Virginia can be found in the Code of Virginia \u00a7 59.1-310.\u00a0 Authority for the enforcement of the tanning law rests with local jurisdictions; that is, by the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the jurisdiction in which a violation is alleged to have occurred. The Food and Drug […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"parent":110,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nTanning - Bed Operators - Radiological Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/radiological-health\/radiological-health\/tanning-and-tanning-beds\/tanning-bed-operators\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tanning - Bed Operators - Radiological Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Laws regarding the use and operation of tanning beds in Virginia can be found in the Code of Virginia \u00a7 59.1-310.\u00a0 Authority for the enforcement of the tanning law rests with local jurisdictions; that is, by the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the jurisdiction in which a violation is alleged to have occurred. 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