Tanning Mom Salon Owner -- I'm FIGHTING Health Fine!!!

The owner of the salon where Tanning Mom allegedly scorched her 5-year-old's skin plans to fight $5,200 in fines levied by the local health department -- TMZ has learned.

The Department of Health and Senior Services in Nutley, NJ announced today ... it's fining City Tropics Tanning for violations including consumer overexposure and misusing sunlamp equipment.

According to the health department, inspectors discovered the salon's customers were exceeding the legal weekly limit for UV exposure.

But City Tropics owner Anthony Ruccatano tells TMZ he's refusing to pay -- and wants to take the health department to court over the fine.

Ruccatano insists his business never broke the law and wants a judge to dismiss the fine entirely.