District of Columbia salon inspections

District of Columbia salon inspection checklist

The DC Board of Barber and Cosmetology inspects District of Columbia salons against the state's sanitation rules. A new salon is inspected before it may open, and inspected again once it is running. Below are the 19 rules an inspector checks, from the state's own rules and inspection pages, each beside the rule's own words. Tick them off as you get ready, filter by the services you offer, and print the list.

Inspected by
DC Board of Barber and Cosmetology
Before opening
Inspected first
Rules on this list
19
Official form
Published
Foot spa log
Required
MMA nail liquid
Not stated

Read from the official sources on October 19, 2026.The full rules District of Columbia salon license

How it works

How District of Columbia inspects salons

Inspections are done by the DC Board of Barber and Cosmetology. A new salon is inspected before it may open or before its license is issued, so have everything below in place before you book it.

DC Health may enter and inspect all aspects of a barber, cosmetology, or personal grooming facility.

“The Department may enter and inspect all aspects of a barber, cosmetology, or”
dchealth.dc.gov
The board's own form: Barber, Beauty, Braid Shop, Nail Salon and Personal Grooming Inspection ChecklistPublished by the DC Board of Barber and Cosmetology on dchealth.dc.gov. The checklist below puts the rules behind it in plain words you can tick off.

The checklist

What District of Columbia inspectors check

Every rule below is from the state's own rules, beside its own words. An inspector can check anything in the rules, so read them in full once before you open.

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  1. Licenses on display

    The first thing an inspector looks for: the salon's license and every working license, current and where clients can see them.

    • 1.Have a valid business license and certificate of occupancy posted.

    • 2.Have valid owner and manager licenses posted.

  2. Other required postings

    Some states also want their rules, a consumer notice or the last inspection report on the wall.

    • 3.Keep required hand washing signs properly posted and restrooms stocked with required toiletries.

  3. The disinfectant

    What the disinfectant must be, how it is mixed and how often it is changed.

    • 4.Keep an adequate supply of EPA-approved disinfectants in properly sized containers, and use them.

    • 5.Use a bactericidal, viricidal and fungicidal disinfectant in accordance with the manufacturer.

  4. Cleaning tools between clients

    How combs, shears, nippers and other reusable tools are cleaned and disinfected after each client.

    • 6.Clean and then disinfect materials used in cosmetic procedures immediately after each use.

  5. Storing clean and used tools

    Clean tools kept covered and apart from used ones, so nothing dirty touches the next client.

    • 7.Store disinfected tools in closed and covered containers.

  6. Single-use items

    What must be thrown away after one client because it cannot be disinfected.

    • 8.Throw away single-use gloves after completing a procedure.

  7. Towels, capes and linens

    Clean towels stored closed, used ones in a covered container until laundered.

    • 9.Keep an adequate supply of clean, laundered linens, hair capes, shampoo capes and neck strips with a dispenser.

    • 10.Store laundered linens at least six (6) inches above the floor.

  8. Water, sinks and restroom

    Hot and cold running water, sinks and a restroom with a place to wash hands.

    • 11.Provide adequate hot water.

    • 12.Keep sinks, mop sinks, hand wash sinks, shampoo bowls and other plumbing fixtures in good repair.

  9. Pedicure equipment

    How foot spas and pedicure basins are cleaned after each client and at the end of the day, and the log some states require.

    • 13.Disinfect and sterilize manicure and pedicure equipment after each client.Pedicures

    • 14.Keep a log book of the dates and times of all pedicure cleaning and disinfection.Pedicures

  10. Banned products and tools

    Products, tools and practices the state's rules forbid outright.

    • 15.Keep pets and other live animals out of the salon, except fish tanks and service animals.

    • 16.Do not use ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect or sterilize equipment or instruments.

  11. The premises

    Floors, walls, light, air, waste bins and keeping living space and food out of the work area.

    • 17.Keep covered, foot-operated waste containers with liners.

  12. First aid and safety

    A first aid kit, what to do after a cut or blood exposure, and other safety rules.

    • 18.Keep Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals present in the salon.

    • 19.Keep an adequate supply of blood stopping agents, such as styptic powder, powdered alum and astringents, with dispensers.

Questions

District of Columbia salon inspections, answered

What do salon inspectors check in District of Columbia?
the DC Board of Barber and Cosmetology inspectors check the salon against District of Columbia's sanitation rules (DC Municipal Regulations, Subtitle 25-E, Barbering, Cosmetology and Personal Grooming Facilities). The rules we read cover licenses posted, required notices, disinfectant, tool cleaning, tool storage, single-use items, towels and linens, water and restroom, pedicure equipment, banned items, premises and safety: 19 rules in all, listed on this page with the rule's own words. An inspector can check anything in the state's rules, so read the full rules once before opening.
Is a new salon inspected before it opens in District of Columbia?
Yes. the DC Board of Barber and Cosmetology inspects a new salon before it may open or before the license is issued, per the state's official pages. Have every item on this list in place before you book that inspection. The license steps are on the District of Columbia salon license page.
How are salons inspected in District of Columbia?
DC Health may enter and inspect all aspects of a barber, cosmetology, or personal grooming facility.
Does District of Columbia have an official salon inspection checklist?
Yes. the DC Board of Barber and Cosmetology publishes its own: Barber, Beauty, Braid Shop, Nail Salon and Personal Grooming Inspection Checklist. This page lists the rules behind it in plain words, each with the rule's own text, so you can tick them off and print them.
Do District of Columbia nail salons need a foot spa cleaning log?
Yes. District of Columbia's rules require a written record of foot spa or pedicure basin cleaning. Inspectors ask to see it, so keep it next to the pedicure station.

Plan the rest

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Salon inspection checklists for other states

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District of Columbia Salon Inspection Checklist (2026) | SalonAI